Views #697 | Intermediate 5

Hong Kong

Adrienne talks about Hong Kong and her recent visit.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Adrienne	Todd

Todd: Adrienne, you said you mother lives in Hong Kong.

Adrienne: That's right.

Todd: Wow. Why is she in Hong Kong?

Adrienne: She's there for work actually.

Todd: Oh, yeah. What does she do?

Adrienne: It's difficult to explain because I don't really understand it myself but she works for a corporation in the States and she's on assignment in Hong Kong.

Todd: So what does your mother think of Hong Kong so far?

Adrienne: Oh, she loves it. Of course, she misses being home with her family, with all of us, but it's quite an adventure of course to live overseas and she has a great apartment and a view of the harbor and she's really enjoying doing a lot of traveling and stuff so she's having a good time.

Todd: So have you actually been out to Hong Kong to see her?

Adrienne: Of course. Many times.

Todd: So what was it like when you were in Hong Kong?

Adrienne: It's hot and humid like a lot of places in Asia especially in the summer. But it's very hot, very humid but a beautiful city. It's like I said, a harbor city, so there's water everywhere, and I think actually the name Hong Kong, maybe someone will correct me about this, but I think it means like fragrant harbor, or good harbor, something like that, so it's an interesting name, but it is, it's just all water. It's beautiful.

Todd: What things did you really enjoy about Hong Kong?

Adrienne: The shopping of course. Hong Kong has great shopping. There's Stanley Market.

Todd: Stanley Market? What's that?

Adrienne: It's just a market area. It's on the other side of the island from downtown and it's well-known for having lots of souvenirs, but lots of things like purses and scarves and shoes and clothes and everything, and very reasonably priced.

Todd: So when you went to Stanley Market, did you buy anything?

Adrienne: Of course. I bought lots of purses and shoes and accessories. All of the fun stuff.

Todd: Multiple? You bought more than one purse?

Adrienne: Oh, yes, of course.

Todd: Why would you buy more than one purse?

Adrienne: A couple reasons. One, it was very cheap. Two, it was.... I was planing ahead for Christmas.

Todd: So, in Hong Kong, when you buy something, is it standard to haggle about the price, or is it pretty standard... do you pay the price that's written?

Adrienne: Um, at the regular shops, you know, any kind of standard mall or boutique, that kind of place, of course the prices are set, but if you go to the market you can usually get a bargain.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

on assignment

My mother works for a corporation in the States, but she's on assignment in Hong Kong.

When you are 'on assignment' somewhere, it means that you are living and working there for a designated amount of time to do a specific task. Notice the following:

There have been many journalists who have been injured on assignment.
He is here on assignment and is only interested in his work.

quite an adventure

She misses being home with her family, but it's quite an adventure of course to live overseas.

Something that is 'quite an adventure' is exciting and fun because it is always different or very different from what you have experienced in your life until now. Notice the following:

Road trips with her are always quite an adventure.
It sounds like your vacation was quite an adventure.

fragrant

Maybe someone will correct me about this, but I think Hong Kong means fragrant or good harbor.

When something is 'fragrant,' it has a nice scent or odor. Notice the following:

She always has fragrant candles burning in her house.
Lilies are my favorite flowers, because they are really fragrant.

well-known for

Stanley Market is on the other side of the island, and it's well-known for having lots of souvenirs.

If a place is 'well-known for' something, it is famous for that particular thing. Notice the following:

My school is well-known for its academic intensity.
Seattle is well-known for its great food.

reasonably price

It has lots of things like purses, scarves, shoes and clothes that are very reasonably priced.

Something that is 'reasonably priced' is not too expensive, but it also isn't really, really cheap. It is accurately priced for what you get. Notice the following:

This perfume is actually very reasonably priced.
I prefer to buy the clothes here when they go on sale, because then they are more reasonably priced.

Answer these questions about the interview.

Vocabulary Quiz

assignment • adventure • fragrant
well-known • reasonably

You are wearing some very lotion.
This furniture store has become popular, because it is really priced.
He was a very painter during his lifetime.
My brother has been on in Germany for the past 2 years.
Anytime you are with him it is always quite an . You never really know what he is going to do.