СРСП 10-11

TRAVELLING

Практические цели: Практиковать студентов в устной речи по теме, в изложении текста и в высказываниях проблемных вопросов.

Travel is the name of a modern disease which started in the mid- fifties and is still spreading. The patient grows restless in the early spring and starts rushing about from one travel agent to another collecting useless information about places he doesn’t intend to visit. Then he or she will do a round of shops and spend much more than he or she can afford. Finally, in August, the patient will board a plane, train, coach or car and go to foreign places along with thousands of his fellow – countrymen, not because he can afford to go but simply because he cannot afford not to. The result is that in the summer months everybody is on the move.

What is the aim of all this traveling?

Each nationality has its own different one. The Americans want to take photographs of themselves in different places. The idea is simply to collect documentary proof that they have been there. The German travels to check up on his guide- books. Why do the English travel? First, because their neighbour does. Secondly, they were taught that travel broadens the mind. But lastly, and perhaps mainly, they travel to avoid foreigners. I know many English people who travel in groups, stay in hotels even the staff is English, eat roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Sunday and steak- and – kidney pies on weekdays, all over Europe. The main aim of the Englishmen abroad is to meet people, I mean, nice English people from next door or from the next street. A Roman friend of mine told me:”I no longer travel at all. I stay here because I want to meet my friends from all over the world.” “What exactly do you mean?” I asked. “Whenever I go to London my friend Smith is in Tokyo and Brown is in Sicily. If I go to Paris my friends are either in London or in Spain.But, if I stay in Rome all my friends, I’m sure, will turn up at one time or another. The world means people for me. I stay here because I want to see the world. Besides, staying at home broadens the mind.” (After G. Mikes)