W: This heat is awful. I wish we had an air conditioner here. M: I know. But it’s supposed to cool off in a few days. W: A few days! I can’t stand it even now.
M: Well, have you thought about spending your time somewhere cooler? Maybe this house isn’t the best place to be. W: But where can I go?
M: You could go to an air-conditioned café and read for a while. You know, you don’t have to spend much money there.
W: No. Most cafes around here only allow you to use their table for two hours. Then they kick you out. I’ll be back in the heat again.
M: Well, the library downtown is nice and cool. And you can stay there for as long as you like. W: That’s the best idea. Text 9
M: Good morning. Can I help you?
W: Yes. I bought this iPad here three weeks ago, but now there is something wrong with it. M: Let me have a look. The screen seems clear. It looks fine. What exactly seems to be the problem?
W: Well, it just doesn’t play songs.
M: Are you sure you have followed the instructions carefully?
W: Yes. And I had lent it to my brother, but he returned it to me a week ago. It was working well until last week.
M: Did you drop it on the ground or in water? W: No. I’ve been very careful with it. M: Well, are you sure you bought it here? W: Yeah. Here is the package.
M: Sorry, I mean, do you have the receipt? W: Sure, here you are.
M: OK, it will be sent to the service center to be checked. We should get it back in two weeks. W: OK, my number is 67585235. Please call me when it has been repaired. Text 10
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M: Right, so here we are in Fairhaven. And we’re visiting Fairhaven because of its historical links with a man called Manjiro Nakahama. So I’ll begin by giving you a brief introduction to his life, and then you can take your time to explore the town.
Manjiro Nakahama was born in 1827 in a village by the sea in Tosashimizu, Japan. And like many people in that town, he became a fisherman when he was young. One day in 1841, he and some others were fishing far off the coast of Japan when they were caught in a storm. He was rescued by an American whale ship. And Manjiro became friends with the captain, William Whitfield, who came from the town of Fairhaven. That is where we are now. He chose to remain aboard, and to come with the boat to the USA. So Manjiro became the first Japanese to set foot on American soil. He studied Mathematics and Geography as well as shipbuilding in Fairhaven. But he missed his mother, and his own country. Eventually in 1851 he went back to Japan where he had a responsible position as a university teacher. He also served an invaluable role as an interpreter to build up and improve the relationship between Japan and the United States. Tosashimizu and Fairhaven now have the official status of sister cities. In Fairhaven there have been a number of visits by the people of Tosashimizu, in particular at the time of the Festival, which is held every two years to celebrate the life and achievements of Manjiro. It takes place in the fall, and there’s an ever-growing programme including drumming, singing, and small open shops selling Japanese and American food. So if you’re going to be in the area around then, it’s really worth a visit.
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