Road Trips (English Topic) by Vadim Zakharov

Road Trips A road trip is when friends or family pile into the car and go on a vacation. Normally, the term 'road trip' is used when the distance from the point of origin to the destination is great, and/or when there are several planned stops along the way. A road trip is one of the classic types of American vacations which has been popular since the invention of the automobile. It has become a tradition for university students to take a road trip together during Spring Break. Because students are usually on a tight budget, they can save money by riding together in the same car and splitting the cost of fuel. It allows them to save money on airfare, and it has the added benefit of giving them a way to get from their hotel to local places of interest at their destination. In general, it is necessary to have a car in most American cities in order to get around. Often, local transportation and buses do not run as frequently as in Russia, because most Americans own cars. Also, most American cities are generally more spread out than typical Russian cities. Therefore, road trips are convenient and economical, especially for students. The drawback of road trips is that travel time from the point of origin and the destination is greater than by flying. Another selling point of road trips is the fact that it allows everyone to chat and bond with each other. On long road trips, having friends and family around is also beneficial so that everyone with a driver's license can take turns driving. That way, no one gets tired, and everyone has a chance to take a nap somewhere along the way. Before starting a road trip, it is always interesting to plan your route and your itinerary. It is also important to pack plenty of snacks and drinks so that no one gets hungry or thirsty between stops. In the United States, there are many exits on the highways (sometimes called freeways). At almost every exit, you have the opportunity to refuel and get something to eat. In order to save time, most people eat fast food while on their road trip. Fast food places such as McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and KFC are probably the most common places for road trippers to grab a bite to eat at. There are also places called 'rest stops' along almost all major highways of the United States. Rest stops are funded by the state government, and they provide a place for drivers to stretch out their legs, use the restroom for free, and find information about popular attractions in that state. Usually, there are also picnic tables at the rest stops, so it is possible for anyone to stop and have a picnic.

Because many road trips are long and time consuming, different people find different ways to pass the time. Some people simply listen to music or the radio the whole time, and others like to play games. One common game during a road trip is trying to spot license plates from all 50 states. For example, while driving on the freeway, everyone looks at the license plates of passing cars. When someone sees a car from Florida, someone calls out “Florida!”. Of course, it is very rare to see cars from all 50 states, especially from Hawaii! Are road trips popular in Russia? What kind of games would you play on a road trip? What kind of snacks would you pack? Who would you go with on a road trip? To pile into the car = To get into the car, usually when there is more than one person. [We spent the whole day hiking in the hot sun, so when we piled into the car and turned on the air conditioning, it felt great.] Spring Break = [NOUN] A week of vacation in both high schools and colleges in the United States, usually timed around Easter. [John, where are you going during Spring Break? I'm going with my friends to Daytona Beach. It's going to be a blast!] Spread out = [ADJECTIVE] To NOT be concentrated in one place; To be placed in several different areas within a given space. [Valerie, why are you making such a mess? Your books are spread out all over the living room.] Drawback = [NOUN] Negative aspect; Bad point of something. [One of the drawbacks of living in Russia is that it is nearly impossible to find real peanut butter!] Selling point = [NOUN] Positive aspect; Something about a thing or product which makes people want to buy it or use it. [Although they were actually looking for a bigger place to live, the selling point of that house was the fact that it was right on the beach!] To bond = [VERB] HERE: To become closer; To get to know someone better and find that you have something in common. [At first, Jim's dog was not very friendly and didn't want me to pet her, but later we bonded while playing at the lake, and now she follows me wherever I go.] Itinerary = [NOUN] The plan of where you will be and when you will be there. [Adam has a very ambitious itinerary – he is going to be in Berlin from August 1st-5th, then Warsaw from the 6th to the 11th, and then he's going to spend the last two weeks of his vacation in St. Petersburg.]

DIRECTIONS REVIEW At our meeting, you will be given a map and will have to give directions to each other on how to get from one place to another place.

PLAN YOUR OWN ROAD TRIP Create your own road trip through Russia or the United States. Tell the group about who you will be taking the road trip with, your itinerary, and what you will do at your final destination.

CONVERSATION Vadim: Viktor, did you pack the snacks? Viktor: Yep. Vadim: What about the sodas? Viktor: Check. Vadim: And the maps are in the glove compartment? Viktor: They sure are. Katya: Hey guys, what's going on? Viktor: We're going on a road trip! Alla: Cool, where are you two headed? Viktor: We're driving Vadim's 1987 Volga to Vladivostok from St. Petersburg. Alla: Wow, that's a really long, timeconsuming road trip! Katya: It sure is. How long will you two be gone, and what cities do you plan on hitting up? Vadim: Well, the problem is that we'll have to drive not only TO Vladivostok, but also BACK to Piter, so it's going to take close to two months. Alla: Wow, you're going to be at each other's throats after being together that long in the car! Viktor: Nah, we're just going to have fun. Alla: Maybe. Katya: And why didn't you answer the second part of my question, Vadim? Vadim: Oh, sorry! Well, we're going to stop for a little bit in Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, and of course Vladivostok. Alla: Why Ulan-Ude? Viktor: It has the world's largest statue of the head of Lenin! Katya: Okay, so why are you stopping into Ulan-Ude, then? Vadim: Oh, you girls just don't appreciate Russian culture! Alla: Oh please, Vadim! You were born in Leningrad, but you've never even been to the Russian Museum! And Viktor's idea of “Russian culture” is attending every Banderos concert in Northwest Russia! Katya: That's right. You two never come with us to the theater or art galleries. Don't try to lecture us on Russian culture!e Viktor: Well, I guess that's our cue to leave! Alla: At least take lots of pictures for us to see when you get back. Vadim: We will. Katya: I'll believe that when I see the pictures! After all, we're still waiting on your pictures from Victory Day in Moscow! Alla: Yeah Vadim, what's the deal with those? Vadim: Okay, settle down, ladies. I've just been really busy with work..... Katya: Yes, so busy that you've planned a 2-month road trip.... Viktor: Alright, ladies we've got to get on the road..... Alla: Bring me back something nice! Katya: And me, too! Vadim: I guess our road trip just got more expensive.....oh well, let's hit the road! Viktor: I've got shotgun! Vadim: Ummm, there's only two of us in the car.....of course you do..... Copyright©2010 EnglishRepublic.ru All rights reserved

Glove compartment = [NOUN] The small storage space in a car directly in front of the passenger side front seat. [Many people like to keep their car insurance cards and owner's manuals in the glove compartment.] To head (somewhere) = [VERB] To go in a certain direction or to a certain place. (synonym for “to go”) [I'm headed to Lenta – does anyone need me to pick up anything for dinner tonight?] To be at each other's throats = To be ready to kill each other = To be frustrated with each other and therefore in a bad mood in relation to each other. [NOTE: This is normally used in a figurative sense] [Although Jerry and Max have been best friends since 1st Grade, they were really at each other's throats in high school when they both wanted to date Lucy.] That's our cue (to do something) = That is our sign to do something. [As soon as the baby started crying, I knew that she had soiled her diaper, so that was my cue to leave. I may be her uncle, but I don't change dirty diapers!!] To hit the road = Colloquial way of saying to leave or to start on a journey. (NOTE: This is often expressed through the phrase “Let's hit the road!” which means “Let's go!” or “Let's get started on our journey!”) [I'm not sure how far they'll get tonight, but they hit the road this morning at 0900.] I've got shotgun! = Colloquial phrase meaning “I want to sit in the front of the car on the passenger's side.”

Just Speak!

Written by Bunny