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Wanderlust
简体
Wanderlust
《漫游》

How to Use the Unreal Past Tense

Date: Feb 07 2012

Themes: Travel

Grammar: The Unreal Past

Intro

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There’s an expression in English, “the rat race,” that describes what life is like for many people who live in big cities and spend all their time trying to get ahead. They exhaust themselves by working too hard and running in circles in order to get more money and power. It’s a stressful way to live, but many people feel it’s the only way.

The new movie Wanderlust is about a couple who are caught in the rat race, living in New York City and working important jobs, until one of them gets fired. Then they both decide to leave the city and try to find a different, better way to live. Hear Amy and Mason talk about the movie, and their own desire for a different way of life.

英文中有个词句叫“老鼠赛跑”,指那些居住在大城市,分分秒秒都在努力提升自我的人的生活。他们工作过于辛苦,把自己累得精疲力竭,为了赚取更多的金钱和权力忙的团团转却没有结果。这样的生活方式充斥着压力,但是许多人觉得这是唯一的方式。
新电影《漫游》讲述的是一对身处激烈竞争的夫妇,他们生活在纽约,从事重要的工作,直到他们中的一个人被炒了鱿鱼。于是他们决定离开纽约,去寻觅另一种不同的、更好的生活方式。听听艾米和梅森评论这部电影以及他们自己向往的不同生活方式。

Dialog

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Amy

Amy

Mason

Mason

Amy:  I normally do not like Jennifer Aniston, but she is in a new movie called Wanderlust with Paul Rudd.

Mason:  Oh really, I haven’t heard about it.

Amy:  I have to say, it was pretty good.

Mason:  What’s it about?

Amy:  Well, she and Paul Rudd are this couple living this kind of fast paced lifestyle in Manhattan. He loses his job, and so they decide to kind of start over and figure out a different way to live. You know, get out of the rat race, hit the road, drop out. And they end up living on this hippie commune.

Mason:  So did you get thinking about any sort of changes in what you think is most important? Like would you ever leave it all behind and go do something totally different?

Amy:  Well, I think like most people probably, I always have that fantasy going on somewhere in the back of my mind, like, “What if I just could be a farmer and live on the land, you know, and not have to worry about having a regular job and all that?” What about you?

Mason:  Yeah, it’s funny. I went to a wedding this summer that was out on this farm. And it was more like an artist commune farm, maybe like this movie. The people who own it, they don’t really do any farming, they just have concerts there and events and weddings. It was so nice and so super chill, and I was like, “Wow, this is a thing that some people do for their life.”

Amy:  Right.

Mason:  Maybe that would be OK.

 

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Discussion

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Amy tells Mason about the new movie, Wanderlust. In the film, Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd play a Manhattan couple who leave the rat race behind and start a new life on a commune. Amy said she enjoyed the movie, even though she doesn’t usually like Jennifer Aniston.

Mason asks if the movie made Amy want to drop out and change her life, too. Amy says that she often thinks about how nice it might be to live a simple life in the country instead of living in the city and having a regular job.

Do you feel like you are caught in the rat race? Do you ever wish you could have a simpler way of life?

 

Comments

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Dinoraptor101

United States

I’m crying so often I have so many friends on English baby Chatroom,  Admin banned me and not only for a day.. he banned me forever!!!! he’s out of his mind..    why are they so cruel!

11:58 PM Mar 19 2013 |

1 person likes this

Crizsearch

Crizsearch

Indonesia

I can see that some people really wish to quit their job and get out of rat race. It necessity to feel peace and enjoy quiet time. Especially for those who live in fast paced society and busy streets. Thank God that I’m living in small town, so I don’t have to drop out everything just to spend a little time with nature. I’m sure everyone would agree that sighseeing and enjoy fresh air is better than playing fantasy games on computer hehehe….

06:31 AM Apr 09 2012 |

tutorheatherSuper Member!

United States

In terms of living in the rat race or leading a more simple life, I think there is a happy medium. I live in a small seaside town now, but have lived in major cities like NYC and Boston. I miss the hustle and bustle of city life.


I wouldn’t mind living a jet-set lifestyle – travelling all over the world on a whim for socializing, sight-seeing and shopping. Another benefit to travel is seeing how it feels to be immersed in a foreign culture. What a valuable experience it would be for me,  an English teacher,  to suddenly have to navigate life using a foreign language. I could truly understand on a personal level how my students feel on a daily basis!


:)


Heather

02:35 PM Feb 20 2012 |

AppleRome

AppleRome

Antarctica

I am in Law field right now.


And as Law-enforcer all over the world feel the same, working in Law field is very demanding. Very rat-race & dirty.


But, in my heart, I want to be National Geographic traveler for entire of my life! I think it’s the most happy, teachable, best job in the world. :-)


I will surely make my way out! I dont want to make my live standard like most people do, to take life for granted and not take much experiences, and to not living life without understand of life! Many things are out there. :D 


So, I will just make first here in Law-working field for next two-three years, so I can get much money to do some traveling experiences for my NG’s CV. :)

01:44 PM Feb 20 2012 |

1 person likes this

narges

narges

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hmmm, in my heart, i’d prefer to live in a country when i get up in the morning i hear the sounds of birds, but actually i’m a rat race girl :) maybe i just use to be ! but in other side living in country could have its own difficulties :/

09:29 PM Feb 18 2012 |

1 person likes this

j17

j17

Poland

I’ve been caught in the rat race for quite a few years now, and quite often I wish I wasn’t in such a hurry everyday and could just hang out for long hours with friends whenever I want without checking the clock. But still I wouldn’t like to drop out or leave the city life forever. It would be perfect to be able to take a few months off and travel to diffrent places around the world, but I guess just slowing down a little bit would be already something.

07:43 PM Feb 18 2012 |

1 person likes this

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

I don’t think I’m stuck in a rat race but I’d love to. The problem is I don’t have enough kills to lve such a hectic and busy life…yeah and also I’m very lazy.


So, my dream is quite opposite – I’d like to speed up my life instead of slow it down.

03:09 PM Feb 15 2012 |

oroba

oroba

Yemen

I don’t want to change my life now ,but I wish if my life is simple 

04:53 PM Feb 11 2012 |

nancy ghabboun

Jordan

Any style of life has its advantages and disadvantages, I like mine but I always try to do something that I most like as a sort of change so I can get power to continue. 

12:09 PM Feb 10 2012 |

1 person likes this

Maria del Alba

Spain

I’ve always been dreaming of that sort of life you don’t need to catch trains, bus or be hurry anymore, do what you really like and not what you should… but at the end it is almost impossible because you have to make ends meet, and the easier way is finding a regular job and give your dreams up, at least for some years…

08:19 PM Feb 09 2012 |

1 person likes this

Mexican Curious

Mexico

Ok thank you all…


I’ll keep this account… tree born crooked will never straighten its trunk 

01:03 AM Feb 08 2012 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

I love updating my profile, but I don’t sell fur boots, no :)

12:42 AM Feb 08 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

Parion, I also think that it is possible to change the profile. I believe that people that send trash mail are continuously doing so. 

12:32 AM Feb 08 2012 |

Mexican Curious

Mexico

Does someone knows how to change my profile name? I was looking for an option but i didn’t find it.

12:02 AM Feb 08 2012 |

Kropeczka

Kropeczka

Poland

I’m caught in the rat race and it’s so heavy addiction that I missed so many lessons on English.Baby… It’s really sad :(


Do we have any shrink here?

10:33 PM Feb 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

maher ho

maher ho

Syrian Arab Republic

I want to live in a small valley without any one ,just with my beloved.

10:09 PM Feb 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

They are very serious about tithing, you need to understand the pastor doesnt have a side job, the church it’s his main source of income, please give abundantly


:)


(Thunder roars ) > snoopy is hit by a lightning

06:44 PM Feb 07 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Hello Akifa

06:44 PM Feb 07 2012 |

Akifa

Azerbaijan

helllllllllllllloooo

06:41 PM Feb 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

thanks for the shared laughters and raised eyebrows


: )

06:41 PM Feb 07 2012 |

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