Let’s talk about the national cuisine of an English-speaking country.

Let’s talk about British national cuisine. What can you tell me about eating habits in Britain?

British people have their own cuisine and eating habits. The first meal of the day is breakfast. Some people eat a bowl of cornflakes with milk and toasts with juice or tea. Others may eat traditional bacon and eggs with tomatoes. The British have lunch at around 1 pm. They usually have some kind of sandwiches, for example, meat sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, cheese sandwiches or fish sandwiches, or some soup and bread. Some people have fish and chips for lunch. Actually, it’s the most popular traditional food in Britain.

British people have dinner at around 6 or 7 pm. It is usually a cooked meal of meat or fish and some vegetables. Different kinds of pies are very popular, like pork pie, cottage pie, or fisherman’s pie. Pizza and pasta are popular, too.

Do you know any traditional British dishes?

The most typical foods eaten in Britain include the sandwich, fish and chips, pies and roasts dinners. The British also make a variety of puddings and cakes. They also have some traditional food connected with holidays such as Christmas. For Christmas lunch British people usually have roast turkey and also Christmas cake or Christmas pudding.

What questions can you ask a British friend about their national cuisine?

Your friend can’t stop eating fast food. Try to persuade him that is unhealthy.

No doubt that fast food is easy and convenient and many people like its taste. But it may be dangerous for your health. Foods like pastas, pizzas and burgers taste nice because of artificial colours and flavourings. There are more calories there than in traditional food. People, who often eat fast food, become overweight and may have other health problems. So, fast food can never give nutrients and vitamins of a healthy homemade food.

Do you think British cuisine differs from Belarusian cuisine?

I think that British cuisine doesn’t differ much from Belarusian cuisine. Our eating habits are different, but the food we eat and the way we cook it are often alike. In both countries people eat meat, fish, vegetables, and dairy products. Both the British and Belarusians fry, roast or boil meat, fish and vegetables.

But people in Britain don’t always eat British food. Britain has a lot of foreign restaurants, and British people like food from all over the world.

13. Let’s talk about shopping.

1) Let’s talk about shopping. Who does the shopping in your family?

Well, it goes without saying that we can’t do without shopping. My mother usually does the shopping in our family because she does most of the cooking, so she knows what she needs to buy. But when it concerns everyday things like bread and milk it is usually me who buys them. There is a supermarket near our house, so it doesn’t take me much time to do the shopping. I usually drop in there on my way from school.

2) Do you like shopping? Why (not)?

I can’t say that I’m very fond of shopping, but it is a part of our daily life and it is a chore that needs to be done. As I have already said I usually drop in at the supermarket on my way from school and buy some foodstuffs there. What I really enjoy doing is calling at the confectionary department. I have a sweet toothandI nearly always manage to talk mother into buying me some sweets, a bar of chocolate, some biscuits or the like.

3) What questions will you ask your friend who has bought an expensive telephone?

4) What can you advise a person who wants to buy many things (clothes, foodstuffs, etc.) but has little time?

I’m sure that a supermarket is a good place for those who want to buy many foodstuffs but have little time. They can buy bread and buns at the baker’s counter; milk, cottage cheese or sour cream at the dairy department; pork or beef at the butcher’s; and potatoes, onions and cabbage at the greengrocery.

Those who want to buy clothes or other things can go to the Central Department Store. You can buy everything you need there. It is composed of many departments: ready-made clothes, fabrics, footwear, headgear, leather goods, hosiery, china and glass, household goods, electric appliances and so on. Thereisusually a widechoiceofgoodsthere.

Parents usually give pocket money to their children. How do you usually spend your pocket money?

Nearly all teenagers can afford to buy small things because parents give them pocket money. I think it is quite reasonable. We spend a lot of time at school and we need money to buy something to eat during the day. We can also buy some small things for ourselves, like exercise-books, toothpaste, or perfume. My parents are quite happy about the way I spend my pocket money because I don’t spend money on trifles, I try to be thrifty.

14. Let’s talk about leisure time.

Let’s talk about your hobbies. What do you like doing in your free time?

Sunday is my day off. On Sundays I don’t go to school but that doesn’t mean that I have a lot of free time. Just on the contrary, I often have more work than on my working days. And the teachers of our lyceum probably think that the best way of making good use of our free time is to give us as much homework as possible. But I sometimes manage to have some fun. I usually do some sport, read a book, play a computer game or go for a walk.

Do you find useful to go to the theatre or cinema? Why (not)?

I certainly find it useful to go there as visiting such places is not only a pastime but a means of education as well. As for me, I'm fond of going to the cinema. It's a pity, I don't always have time for it. If I manage to go there I usually prefer watching comedies.

What questions can you ask a British friend about his/her free time?

Have you got much free time? Do you often go to the theatre or to the cinema? Do you go in for sports?

Give me some advice on what to do in my free time?

There are a lot of things to do in your free time. Your plans may depend on several factors: time, your mood, money and may be weather. Sometimes it is very pleasant to go for a walk to the park, to eat out, to go to the cinema or to the museum.

Many parents complain that teenagers don’t want to spend their free time with them. What do you think about this?

I think that it is not very easy to spend free time with parents. You see, planning how to spend week-ends is a difficult question for our family because everyone has a hobby of their own. For example, mother is a home sort. She likes watching TV and knitting. Father is always ready to go fishing. My favourite pastime is listening to music (playing computer games), but unfortunately I’m too pressed for time now and I can’t indulge in my hobby.

15. Let’s talk about customs and traditions of Belarus.

Let’s talk about customs and traditions of Belarus. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday in Belarus?

We have a lot of very interesting customs and traditions in Belarus. But my favourite is the tradition of celebrating the New Year. I suppose it is the favourite holiday of most Belarusians. This holiday is so colourful and beautiful that everybody looks forward to it months beforehand. First of all, we decorate a real fir tree. Father is responsible for bringing home a nice New Year tree and I’m in charge of decorating it. We go on long shopping rounds trying to buy beautiful toys. Mother is busy with cooking tasty things for the New Year festivities. She is especially good at cakes. Traditionally, her special dish is cake “Napoleon”. It is very delicious.

I always look forward to this holiday because everybody is in a good mood, we do everything together. There is a lot of music, tasty food and very good company.

Are you proud of our national holidays and traditions?

There are a number of national holidays and traditions that I’m proud of. For example, Kupalle is a very spectacular holiday. Probably, the favourite Belarusian holiday is Christmas carols or ‘Kalyady’. Songs, fortune-telling and many other exciting events take place on this holiday. ‘Dozhinky’ is a harvest festival which takes place every year in a different place. There are many more interesting traditions and holidays in our republic that we all can be proud of.

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