Getting Connected

Mari Goes to Australia - Part 4 of 7

Mari talks with her landlady, Shirley, about how to get the internet connected in her apartment.

Script
Vocab
Quiz



Shirley	Mari

Shirley: Hi Mari.

Mari: Hi Shirley.

Shirley: Yeah, I just popped down to see how you are getting on after the first week. I got those papers all fixed up for you. Thank you for bringing them in. So I just thought I'd drop them off and see how things are going.

Mari: Yeah, it's been really nice. The view is just gorgeous.

Shirley: It is lovely, isn't it? Yes. And is everything fine, all the facilities and the machines, the washing machine, everything is working okay?

Mari: Everything works ok, I just have one question. I'd like to get an internet connection in the room.

Shirley: Oh right. Yes, actually I think quite a few of the residents do have an internet connection. I don't know a lot about it myself but I can certainly help you. I think that you can either get a telephone connection or I believe a lot of people are getting broadband, at the moment. You know, Telecom is the main service provider, I think, for communications here so have you actually got the phone connected since you've moved in?

Mari: I have the phone connection.

Shirley: Okay. So, you could possibly talk to your phone company. We don't have a building service connection available so most people are doing it individually.

Mari: Alright. Yeah, I just was curious about that so I thought I'd ask.

Shirley: Yeah, actually a friend of mine who lives in the States now has told me that we are really way behind the technology here compared to what it's like for you in the States so maybe you should be prepared for things to be a little bit slower and a little bit more provincial than what you are used to.

Mari: Okay, thank you.

Shirley: Okay and if there is anything else I can help you with, just let me know.

Mari: Oh, one more thing, can you tell me about trash separation?

Mari Goes to Australia

Part 1: Any Vacancies?
Part 2: About the Apartment
Part 3: Money Details
Part 4: Getting Connected
Part 5: Quiet Foo-foo!
Part 6: Dinner
Part 7: Leaving

Shirley: Oh right, oh, you mean garbage. Yes, of course. Ok, I'm guessing that you found the area downstairs where the garbage is to be put out. Yeah ok, well we do have a separation system in fact I can bring you down a pamphlet if you like that is issued by the local council and it shows you which days you need to put out which type of garbage.

Mari: Oh, that will be very helpful. Thank you.

Shirley: No problem. I'm sorry that I didn't bring it down earlier for you.

Mari: No worries.

Shirley: Okay.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

all fixed up

I got the papers all fixed up for you.

When something has been fixed up that means it has been prepared and is ready to use. Notice the following:

I have your room all fixed up for you. (Ready for use)
We should have the documents are fixed up and ready to sign by noon.

drop off

I dropped the papers off.

When you drop something off, such as some documents, you take them to a place and give them to someone or leave them there for them.

You can also drop off people, as in, dropping off the kids to school. Here are a few other examples:

I need to drop off my laundry at the dry-cleaners.
Just drop the papers off at my desk.

service provider

Telecom is the main service provider.

A service provider is a company that provides a service, usually access to something.

People usually need a service provider for their phone, internet, and cable TV. Notice the following:

My internet service provider just raised my rates again.
I want to change my service provider for my phone. The range of my phone is terrible.

separation system

We have a separation system for the trash.

A separation system is just a way of separating something, in this case trash.

In most countries, a trash separation system consists of dividing paper and food products from plastic products, or glass and cans. Notice the following: