An email from a friend
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.
Preparation
Hi!
I've been meaning to write for ages and finally today I'm actually doing something about it. Not that I'm trying to make excuses for myself, it's been really hard to sit down and write, as I've been moving around so much. Since we last saw each other I've unpacked my bags in four different cities. This job has turned out to be more of a whirlwind than I expected, but it's all good!
I went from London to Prague to set up a new regional office there. You know I'd always wanted to go, but maybe I was imagining Prague in spring when I used to talk about that. Winter was really hard, with minus 15 degrees in the mornings and dark really early in the evening. But at least it was blue skies and white snow and not days on end of grey skies and rain, like at home. It's tough being away from home over Christmas, though, and Skype on Christmas Day wasn't really the same as being with everyone.
From there I was on another three-month mission to oversee the set-up of the office in New York. Loved, loved, loved New York! It's like being in one big TV show, as everywhere looks just a little bit familiar. I did every tourist thing you can think of when I wasn't working, and must have spent most of my salary on eating out. It was really hard to leave for the next job, especially as I kind of met someone (!) More about Michael later ...
So then I was posted to LA, which felt like a whole other country compared with the East Coast. I could definitely get used to that kind of outdoor, beach lifestyle, but I didn't spend as much time getting to know California as I could have because I was flying back to see Michael every other weekend. He came to see me when he could, but his job means he's often working at weekends, so he couldn't make the flight very often. Those three months flew by and then I was off again, to Frankfurt, which is where I am now. And … so is Michael! He got a month off work and we're trying to work out how we can be in the same place at the same time for a while. We figure the first step in that direction is getting married, which is also why I wanted to write – I can't get married without my oldest friend there! The wedding's going to be at home in London in September and I hope you can come!
Anyway, tell me all your news and I promise not to leave it so long this time!
To communicate with my oldfriends, I often use instagram or discord. I was emailing them when we was younger, because we didn't get social medias, but know, every of them have instagram. We can create groups of message, communicate together... But if we want to call, we better use discord.
When I need to tell my friends important news, such as getting married, I can’t imagine doing it any other way than face to face. Maybe this is because I don’t have many friends who live far away, for example in another country. My family and closest friends mostly live relatively nearby.
I prefer to use digital tools to communicate with old friends. For example, I enjoy sending text messages through chat apps, and sending audio messages is also a good way to communicate. Furthermore, I usually use email if I do not have their contact numbers. Sometimes, I also use social media platforms to contact old friends. I always do my best to keep in touch with my friends.
I would use text messaging to tell old friends important news. It allows me to reach them instantly without interrupting their daily schedule. This form of communication gives them time to process the information before responding. I choose this method because it is convenient and respects everyone's time.
If it’s important news, I’d definitely call them or even arrange a video call. I want to share the moment with them in real time, see their reactions, and have a proper conversation instead of just sending a short message
Maybe it's kind of old-fashioned style, but I'm used to calling them. Personally, I think it's something totally different to hear someone's voice and be able to express yourself immediately than just text. And I have to say that - I hate voice messages!
What form of communication would you use to tell old friends important news?
Nowadays I'm livingin Ireland, but I'm from Mexico, so I'm using social networks to stay in touch with my boyfriend, family and friends (almost all of my friends are old friends).
Mainly we use instant messages by WhatsApp or Instagram, sometimes we have had videocalls but it's no possible all the time, every each of us has differents schedules and its a bit complicated. No doubts that the social networks help us a lot to keep in touch with our family or friends and feel them closer even if they're miles away.
I use whatsapp ot telegram to tell something to my friends and it's unbelievable this days, but I can even phone them, if something really significant happened.
Hello Dil,
That sounds like a very smart approach! I'm glad to hear that you're finding the site useful.
Good luck with your continuing studies!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team