3 Read the page from Lisa's diary and check your answers.
When I woke up, my cabinmates had already got dressed. I noticed that Mary had put on a very cool T-shirt and a pair of very tight jeans and Belle was looking at her with jealousy. I quickly got dressed and ran to the dining hall. I was hoping to see Dima and ask him about his first night in his cabin.
The dining hall was full of people. Everybody was hugging, shaking hands, and clapping each other on the back. I got the impression that all the campers had known each other for a long time. I felt very lonely.
After a very basic breakfast of eggs, orange juice and hot chocolate, I decided to wait for Dima and discuss how we would meet, but instead I bumped into David. He told me that Dima had finished his breakfast earlier, but he hadn't had time to wait for me. I got a bit upset. My little bro had never been my best friend, but he was the only person I knew in this camp. I wondered how he was feeling. Didn't he want to talk?
Obviously I looked totally miserable, so David smiled and sat down next to me.
David: Look, Lisa. Let me tell you about your brother. He is in one of the boys' cabins called Dakota and you can visit him in your free time. Follow his example — look for friends. I myself have spent every summer of my life in different camps since I was seven. So I know it's hard in the beginning. May I give you some advice?
Lisa: Thanks, David, I'd like that.
David: OK, so here goes piece of advice number 1: Don't worry about your brother — he'll be fine and if he gets in trouble, you can be here to sort his problems out. Think about the fact that you are lucky to have him so near, and don't get jealous if one day you'll find out that your little brother has become the most popular guy in camp.
Lisa: Of course, I'd be so happy for him. I'm really not a jealous type, you know.
David: OK. Good for you. Piece of advice number 2: Say "hello" to everybody. I know it's hard to believe, but if you just say "hello" and introduce yourself, it can be enough to start a new friendship. Other campers are feeling the same way and are looking for new friends too. So don't wait too long. Start now or it'll be a lot more difficult later. And that brings us to piece of advice number 3: Start looking for friends in your cabin. You are going to spend most of your time at camp with your cabinmates, so do your best to get to know them. Try to find things that you have in common: tell your cabinmates about yourself and ask them questions. Be sympathetic, be friendly, be easygoing, be trustworthy and most of all — be fun to be around.
Lisa: But here is the problem, David. My cabinmates aren't so happy to have me in the cabin. They have known each other for many years.
David: Were they nasty or unfriendly to you?
Lisa: No, they were nice. One of them even lent me her sleeping bag.
David: You see? By the way, my piece of advice number 4 is: Accept help. If you let somebody help you, you may become friends later because of it.
Lisa: But all my cabinmates are already friends and they don't need any new ones.
David: I've seen situations like this all the time. You can't have too
many friends. Piece of advice number 5: Always be yourself. I've only known you for a day, but I have noticed that you are smart and fun to be around. I'm sure you have a lot of talents. Your personality is what will help you make friends, so don't be shy.
Lisa: Yeah, I know. I'll try to follow your advice, but I'm still not sure.
David: Even if you don't find close friends in your cabin, there are
always other people in other cabins. So piece of advice number 6 is: Catch the spirit. Sign up for different activities and take part in all the cool games that Pineland offers. There are a lot of clubs for you to join: "Newspaper", "Nature", "Football", "Art", "Music", "History", wild animals and others. Be in the centre of all the events: when people do something together and have common interests, they usually get along and become friends.
Lisa: But I get the impression that everybody in this camp has known each other forever.
David: Oh, but this is not true. Last year I myself came here for the first time but I made great new friends and kept in touch with them during the school year. Now, listen. My final and very important piece of advice number 7 is: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Find out about the history and traditions of Camp Pineland. Learn the camp songs, the camp jokes and the camp dances. And most importantly, learn the unwritten rules: be loyal to your cabin, never speak badly about them and never praise another cabin, be prepared to share your clothes and snacks, and don't even think of smiling at somebody else's boyfriend. That would be the WORST MISTAKE EVER.
When David finished this last sentence, we both noticed Belle and the rest of my cabinmates. The shocked expressions on their faces let me know that I had probably just made the WORST MISTAKE EVER.
"Oh, hi, Belle," said David with surprise, "Hi, girls. Where've you been?"
When I woke up, my cabinmates had already got dressed. I noticed that Mary had put on a very cool T-shirt and a pair of very tight jeans and Belle was looking at her with jealousy. I quickly got dressed and ran to the dining hall. I was hoping to see Dima and ask him about his first night in his cabin.
The dining hall was full of people. Everybody was hugging, shaking hands, and clapping each other on the back. I got the impression that all the campers had known each other for a long time. I felt very lonely.
After a very basic breakfast of eggs, orange juice and hot chocolate, I decided to wait for Dima and discuss how we would meet, but instead I bumped into David. He told me that Dima had finished his breakfast earlier, but he hadn't had time to wait for me. I got a bit upset. My little bro had never been my best friend, but he was the only person I knew in this camp. I wondered how he was feeling. Didn't he want to talk?
Obviously I looked totally miserable, so David smiled and sat down next to me.
David: Look, Lisa. Let me tell you about your brother. He is in one of the boys' cabins called Dakota and you can visit him in your free time. Follow his example — look for friends. I myself have spent every summer of my life in different camps since I was seven. So I know it's hard in the beginning. May I give you some advice?
Lisa: Thanks, David, I'd like that.
David: OK, so here goes piece of advice number 1: Don't worry about your brother — he'll be fine and if he gets in trouble, you can be here to sort his problems out. Think about the fact that you are lucky to have him so near, and don't get jealous if one day you'll find out that your little brother has become the most popular guy in camp.
Lisa: Of course, I'd be so happy for him. I'm really not a jealous type, you know.
David: OK. Good for you. Piece of advice number 2: Say "hello" to everybody. I know it's hard to believe, but if you just say "hello" and introduce yourself, it can be enough to start a new friendship. Other campers are feeling the same way and are looking for new friends too. So don't wait too long. Start now or it'll be a lot more difficult later. And that brings us to piece of advice number 3: Start looking for friends in your cabin. You are going to spend most of your time at camp with your cabinmates, so do your best to get to know them. Try to find things that you have in common: tell your cabinmates about yourself and ask them questions. Be sympathetic, be friendly, be easygoing, be trustworthy and most of all — be fun to be around.
Lisa: But here is the problem, David. My cabinmates aren't so happy to have me in the cabin. They have known each other for many years.
David: Were they nasty or unfriendly to you?
Lisa: No, they were nice. One of them even lent me her sleeping bag.
David: You see? By the way, my piece of advice number 4 is: Accept help. If you let somebody help you, you may become friends later because of it.
Lisa: But all my cabinmates are already friends and they don't need any new ones.
David: I've seen situations like this all the time. You can't have too
many friends. Piece of advice number 5: Always be yourself. I've only known you for a day, but I have noticed that you are smart and fun to be around. I'm sure you have a lot of talents. Your personality is what will help you make friends, so don't be shy.
Lisa: Yeah, I know. I'll try to follow your advice, but I'm still not sure.
David: Even if you don't find close friends in your cabin, there are
always other people in other cabins. So piece of advice number 6 is: Catch the spirit. Sign up for different activities and take part in all the cool games that Pineland offers. There are a lot of clubs for you to join: "Newspaper", "Nature", "Football", "Art", "Music", "History", wild animals and others. Be in the centre of all the events: when people do something together and have common interests, they usually get along and become friends.
Lisa: But I get the impression that everybody in this camp has known each other forever.
David: Oh, but this is not true. Last year I myself came here for the first time but I made great new friends and kept in touch with them during the school year. Now, listen. My final and very important piece of advice number 7 is: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Find out about the history and traditions of Camp Pineland. Learn the camp songs, the camp jokes and the camp dances. And most importantly, learn the unwritten rules: be loyal to your cabin, never speak badly about them and never praise another cabin, be prepared to share your clothes and snacks, and don't even think of smiling at somebody else's boyfriend. That would be the WORST MISTAKE EVER.
When David finished this last sentence, we both noticed Belle and the rest of my cabinmates. The shocked expressions on their faces let me know that I had probably just made the WORST MISTAKE EVER.
"Oh, hi, Belle," said David with surprise, "Hi, girls. Where've you been?"