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1. How many public holidays do you have in your country? Well, I cannot be accurate but can give it a try. The festival season starts with Ganesh Chaturthi in August. From then on, we have an array of festivals till Christmas in December. Then we have the national holidays like Republic day in January and Independence Day in August. So, there's a fairly good number of holidays for us. 2. Which public holiday is your favorite? Diwali, without a doubt. I enjoy the fireworks and sound of the crackers and burst them too. I love to light the flower pots and rockets. Also, I cannot forget the number of delicacies that are prepared on that day. It is lovely to see the smiling faces of people and the love and affection with which they wish "Happy Diwali" to each other. 3. What do you usually do on a public holiday? It depends on the nature of the holiday. If it is a festival, we thoroughly enjoy the day. If it is a day of national importance like Independence Day, we revere the sacrifices of our ancestors. 4. Do you think people need more public holidays? Yes, I do think so! Corporate companies are so smart that they have introduced a concept called optional holidays. So, we don't get to enjoy all the holidays in a year. This concept should be abolished, and everyone should get to enjoy all the holidays. VOCABULARY Festivals (noun) - a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons. Eg: She celebrates festivals in a grand manner Firecrackers (noun) - A firecracker (cracker, noisemaker, banger,) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang, usually for celebration or entertainment. Eg: People enjoy bursting firecrackers on Diwali. National holiday (adj phrase) -a nationally recognized day when most businesses and other institutions are closed. Eg: All shops are closed on national holidays Optional holiday (adj phrase) - The holiday is optional for each individual employee and each employee can decide whether he/she wants to take a leave on that day or not. Eg: Ramzan was an optional holiday for Hindus in ABC Company. 1. When do you listen to music? I listen to music, whenever and wherever I can. I usually enjoy listening to my playlists when going on a long drive in my car. Listening to music at such moments will raise your spirits. 2. How much time do you spend listening to music every day? Almost every day, when I’m back from work. I listen to music when I prepare dinner. After a hard day at work, it is very relaxing and refreshing to listen to music. It replenishes your energy. 3. What kinds of music do you enjoy listening to? I like to listen to a variety of music from Carnatic music to film songs. I like the fusion kind of music where you have both classical and western renderings. I also like Ghazals. 4. Have you ever been to a concert before? Sadly, No. But given a chance, I would like to attend the Bryan Adams concert. I want to see him performing live. I have just moved to the UK for work, and I look forward to attending one, very soon. VOCABULARY Carnatic music (adj phrase) - a form of music that is associated with the southern part of India with its area roughly confined to five states of India i.e. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Eg: Saritha visited the Carnatic vocal concerts in December. Renderings (noun) - a performance of a piece of music or drama. Eg: It was an exotic rendering of “Eye of the tiger”. Concert (noun) - a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers or of several compositions. Eg: A pop concert was being organized in Oregon Ghazals (noun) - (in Middle Eastern and Indian literature and music) a lyric poem with a fixed number of verses and a repeated rhyme, typically on the theme of love, and normally set to music. Eg: She attended classes for Ghazals which is why she is able to sing them well. 1. Do you like your current age? Yeah, definitely. I’m happy to be the age I’m in right now, because it has made me wise. It feels great to be alive and to have experienced so much about the world. 2. What do you like about it? As you get older, you are settling in your life. Your accomplishments bring you a sense of joy. It is surprising that you get rid of petty qualities like jealousy and contempt, with age. You tend to become more loving and magnanimous. 3. At what age do you think people are the happiest? I think people are happiest in their fifties. It is neither young nor too old. Most of them would have been settled by then. It is my opinion that people would be wise and content at this age. 4. What was the most important decision you have made? The most important decision I made is to settle in the UK. I moved to the UK for work reasons but later the opportunity extended and I felt fairly at home in the UK. I thought I could manage myself well here. So, I got my parents to stay with me. VOCABULARY Alive (adj) - (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead. Eg: They captured the tiger alive. Experienced (adj) - having gained knowledge or skill in a particular field over time. Eg: Sita was an experienced gynecologist. Settling in life (adj phrase) - what someone does when they have a job/career that makes them happy and provides for their needs, and they have a husband/wife (and possibly children) and have a home. Eg: Ram is in his late forties and has settled down in his life. Decision (noun) - a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. Eg: Jack takes his own decisions. 1. Do you like traveling? I would like to go on a world tour. The fact that I’ve started earning in the UK gives me confidence that I can make my dream come true. I want to travel both by air and by sea. I have read “Adventures of Rusty” when I was very young and that inspired me for sea travel. 2. Which cities have you traveled to? I have been to many places in India. I have seen the India gate and Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Dakshineshwar Kali, and the snow in Kashmir. 3. What kind of cities do you like to travel to? I love History. I want to explore historic places that I have read in books. So, I prefer to visit cities with a rich cultural heritage and there are plenty of them in India. 4. Which city left the deepest impression on you? Undoubtedly Calcutta. It was the original British Capital. I loved it so much. I have a photograph of me, standing on the Howrah Bridge. I experienced the spiritual vibes of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in the Dakshineshwar temple. I also visited the “Missionaries of charity” and got an autograph from the current superior General. I treasure it. VOCABULARY Tour (noun) - a journey for pleasure in which several different places are visited. Eg: Swetha went on a tour of Europe. Explore (verb) - travel through (an unfamiliar area) in order to learn about it Eg: They explored the forest. Cultural Heritage (adj) - an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions, and values Eg: We are determined to preserve our unique cultural heritage for future generations. Bridge (noun) - a structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc. across a river, road, or other obstacles. Eg: He made his way up to the Bridge