Oh, hello, Li Ming. Come on in, and how're you been keeping recently?
Quite all right, thanks, Dr. Francis. How's your project going?
Very smoothly, I should say. I'm playing a consultancy role, really. I've only been here in China a month, but I'm already on very good terms with my colleagues in the Department of Computer Science. Well, I'm happy that you could come. Do sit down, please.
Dr. Francis, do you know I've got a chance to go to Cambridge in August? I wonder if you could tell me something about Britain.
Certainly. Well, I was actually brought up in Scotland. Enn, in fact, I've never been to Cambridge. But well,.., yes, I'm sure I can give you some useful tips. Now, what do you want to know, Li Ming?
Things like weather. What's the usual temperature there?
Mmm, the temperature in Scotland is 22, or 23 degrees Centigrade, on average, I think. But Cambridge would be warmer, around 25, I would guess, because it's down south.
Oh, that's nice. Do you know it is 34 here? Last year it reached 39. By the way, where do you think I should stay?
Oh, that's important. You can, err,.., I suppose, stay in the college-owned flats, which are often near where you have your classes, and some are even on the campus. That would certainly be convenient.
Yes, it would.
But it can also be a disadvantage because you are, in a sense, separated from ordinary society. You're a language teacher, and I think learning from society is a valuable experience.
Yes, yes, exactly, so what's the alternative?
Maybe finding an English host family. I know of a student Ali from the Middle East. He told me that he had learnt a lot by staying with a British family.
Thank you, I think it's quite a good suggestion. By the way, Dr. Francis, do you think I could...?