ESL Podcast 225 – Feeling Homesick

Annie: Why the long face?

Luis: I don’t know. I guess I’m feeling a little homesick.

Annie: I thought you got over that. I know the adjustment was hard when you first got here, but I thought you were coping pretty well.

Luis: I was. It’s just that the holidays are coming up and I won’t be able to go home because I can’t afford the airfare. I’m just longing¹ for some of the comforts of home, like my mom’s cooking and being around my family.

Annie: Yeah, it can get pretty lonely over the holidays. When I first got here, I’d get depressed² and nostalgic for anything that reminded me of home. But, you know, I think I was just seeing things through rose-colored glasses.

Luis: What do you mean?

Annie: Well, things back home weren’t really that idyllic³, but from this distance, all I could think of was the good stuff and none of the bad.

Luis: I see what you mean, but I’m still bummed⁴ out.

Annie: I have an idea. Why don’t we put on our own little holiday celebration? We can have it at my place and we can invite all of our friends who are on their own this time of year. We’ll each do something that’ll remind us of home. What do you say? Misery⁵ loves company, as they say.

Luis: You know, I could really go for that. You don’t mind all of the trouble?

Annie: What trouble? As long as I don’t have to cook, I’m up for it.

Luis: Cool. I’ll ask around to see who else wants to come.

Annie: Okay. I’ll do the same.

Luis: Thanks. I’m feeling better already.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

2 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

3 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

4 bummed   

失望的，沮丧的

参考例句：

• I was really bummed out that there were no tickets left. 没有票了，我非常恼火。
• I didn't do anything last summer; I just bummed around. 去年夏天我游手好闲，什么正经事也没做。

5 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。