South African in London

BBC Learning 1 EnglishLondon LifeSouth African in London
Jackie:  Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton. You're listeningto BBC Learning English dot com.
　　Today: what's it like to be a foreigner living in London?
　　Clips 2 LindsayJackie:  We're going to talk to Lindsay, from SouthAfrica.
　　Lindsay introduces herselfJackie:  There's a big South African community inLondon, with people who've livedhere for years and years and others who've just come to geta taste of London Life. Lindsay grew up in South Africa,but she has a UK passport because her father is British,that's part of the reason she came here. What are the otherreasons why she decided 3 to come and live in London for awhile?
　　LindsayIt's my heritage 4, even though I've grown up in South Africamy dad has always instilled 5 the British pride in us and Ijust felt there was so much culture and so much history.
　　I've always been interested in the King and Queens. I stillfind it amazing that Big Ben goes off every 15 minutes. Mydad used to phone me in South Africa and he used to play itfor me over the phone - it's almost like we're still livingin the 1800s. The history really captivates me.
　　Jackie:  Did you catch the other reasons? Lindsaysaid her father had 'instilled her with British pride',which means taught her to feel pleased or proud that shehas a connection to Britain. She also said she wasattracted by the culture and history,especially Big Ben – the famous giant clock by the riverThames. Lindsay said London's history captivated her. Ifsomething captivates you, you are really interested in it.
　　Voice:  That book was really captivating – I couldn't stopreading it!
　　BBC Learning English dot comJackie:  So, apart from all the excitement of thehistory and culture, what is it really like coming to livehere for the first time? Two expressions we're about tohear:
　　'Novelty 6' and 'to be homesick'.
　　Novelty – something that's interesting because it's new.
　　Voice:  My son loved his new toy at first, but after awhile the novelty wore off and he got bored of it.
　　Jackie:  To be homesick – to miss your own home orcountry and wish you were there. Voice:  I hatebeing away from my family. It makes me feel reallyhomesick.
　　Jackie:  Now let's listen to Lindsay talking abouthow it felt for her when she arrived inLondon.
　　LindsayI think it's a process which I'm seeing a lot of SouthAfricans go through. I think when you move here first it'sa novelty, it's exciting, everyone is interested in why youare here and you're meeting so many new people. And thenyou go through- after three months you go through ahomesick period where you feel everybody you meet is new soI just got tired ofmeeting people that had only known me for like two months,I kind of missed the people that really knew me.
　　Jackie:  So at first everything was exciting, butafter a while, the novelty wore off and she began to feelhomesick. How does she cope 7 with homesickness and othernegative feelings?
　　LindsaySo you go through a homesick period, but I think for meI've always remembered that this is something that I'vealways wanted to do and I know there are 1000s of peopleback in South Africa that would kill for this opportunity.
　　So [I] keep my head up and remember the positives.
　　Jackie:  Did you get the answer? Lindsay copes 8 withhomesickness by remembering that she is very lucky to behere because lots of other people in South Africa wouldlove to be able to come to London, but can't. She used theexpression 'to kill for'. If you say you would kill forsomething, it means you really want it.
　　Voice:  I would kill for that dress, but it's just tooexpensive.
　　Jackie:  Lindsay says she 'keeps her head up', whichmeans to try to stay strong and confident in a difficultsituation.
　　Voice:  I know you hate your new job, but keep your head upand do the best you can.
　　Jackie:  The next expression Lindsay will use whichwe're going to looks at is 'open- minded', which means tonot have a fixed 9 opinion or idea about something.
　　Voice:  I know you think you'll hate everyone at thisparty, but you should keep an open mind. Not all herfriends are horrible and you might meet some people youreally like.
　　Jackie:  So, finally, back to Lindsay. What's heradvice to people from different countries coming to live inBritain for the first time?
　　LindsayI would say to be open-minded and to try and experience asmuch of the culture as possible. If they just open theireyes and their minds to what these people have gone throughand how they live and how they've been brought up I thinkit gives you a deeper understanding of who you are. Livethe English way for a while!
　　Jackie:  Good advice for anyone going to any foreigncountry – keep an open mind, and try to live how theylive!