Views #864 | Intermediate 5

The Recovery

Shibika talks about how life changed once she was seriously injured.
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Fred: So, Shibika, we've been talking about your accident and how this has changed your life and how you spent almost a month in bed, so how did that month in bed change your daily routine, like, did you experience any trouble brushing your teeth at night? Was it hard for you to eat? Was it hard for you to go to the bathroom? What? How was that?

Shibika: Right. Every bit of it. Every bit of it changed because, like you use your hands to do everthing, you know, in your daily routine, from sleeping to eating to everything, so basically, yeah, and it was initially it was really frustrating because for everything, even while getting up from bed, to going to the bathroom as you said, or eating by yourself, I needed help. I needed assistance.

But then I just tried to do it by myself because it's not like to call my mom, or call somebody for every small pain you know, to help me, so I tried to do it by myself or I used to use my left hand while doing it, so it was interesting, rather and I developed new hobbies because I had to be in bed the whole time so I couldn't really go out so I started dreading. I picked up reading.

Fred: Really, what kind of hobbies?

Shibika: Yeah, exactly, like reading. I used to read a lot and then I used to play video games a lot. I got really hooked after that, so I used to play video games and watch movies and stuff. Activities that did not require a lot of effort.

Fred: So, on a daily routine, so for, could you eat your food at the same time, like breakfast, lunch, dinner? Could you eat regular food?

Shibika: Yeah. I could eat regular food, but I had to eat it from my left hand. I had to brush my teeth from the other hand, and like anything, I couldn't really move one hand completely. It was tied to a sling that was tied across my neck so, I couldn't move that hand at all, and if anything required both my hands, like if I had to wash my face or something I had to ask my mom to do it for me.

Fred: So how long did it take you to heal?

Shibika: It took me a month and a half to actually be you know allowed... after a month and a half the plaster was opened and the sling was taken out and then I could actually move the hand. But after that, also the doctor advised me not to pick up any heavy luggage or not to put any strain on the hand.

Fred: So, still today do you still have any constraints from your accident?

Shibika: Not really constraints, but sometimes, like I can not go to the gym and I can't exercise the hands, or sometimes I forget that that hand was injured so I can't really put a lot of weight on that hand still.

Fred: I'm really glad that you're healthier now and that you can start living your life normally.

Shibika: Thank you, Fred. Thank you, so much.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

experience any trouble

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Did you experience any trouble?

The phrase 'experience any trouble' means the same as 'have any problems'.  Notice the following:

  1. Did you experience any trouble at the border?
  2. Did she experience any trouble with the medication?

every bit of it

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Every bit of it changed.

The phrase 'every bit of it' is similar in meaning to the word 'everything'. Often they are interchangeable.  Notice the following:

  1. It was a big meal, but he ate every bit of it.
  2. Her new boyfriend takes every bit of her time.

hooked

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I got really hooked after that.

When we are 'hooked' on something, that means we want to do it as often as possible. It can be positive or negative.  Notice the following:

  1. Sadly, he got hooked on drugs at a young age.
  2. I'm hooked on exercise.

require a lot of effort

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Activities that did not require a lot of effort.

Something that 'requires a lot of effort' takes hard work to complete or do well.  Notice the following:

  1. It requires a lot of effort to speak English as a second language.
  2. Keeping your room clean doesn't require a lot of effort.

regular food

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I could eat regular food.

Regular food is the food we eat everyday. Sometimes people in the hospital, because of certain medical problems, can't eat regular food.  Notice the following:

  1. After my visit to the dentist, I couldn't eat regular food for three days.
  2. I could still eat regular food while in the hospital.

a sling

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It was tied to a sling.

The best example of a 'sling' is a special device, usually made of cloth that is fastened around the neck to support an injured or broken arm.  Notice the following:

  1. I had my arm in a sling for three weeks.
  2. The sling was a little uncomfortable.

constraints

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Do you still have any constraints?

A 'constraint' is something that reduces your ability to do what you want.  Notice the following:

  1. Do you have any physical constraints?
  2. The constraints of his job stopped him from commenting.

Vocabulary Quiz

any trouble • every bit • hooked
effort • regular food • sling
constraints
  1. The kids ate of the cake that I made for your birthday.
  2. The class takes a lot of , but you will learn a lot.
  3. At what age can babies eat ?
  4. They had to put on him so he wouldn't hit the doctors.
  5. Why is your arm in a ?
  6. If you have at the airport you can call me.
  7. He is really on his new video game.  He almost never leaves his room
Answer the following questions about the interview.

 

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