Traveling is not my cup of tea. I’ve been avoiding it at any given opportunity, and I remember, I’d made a terrible mistake not so long ago. Recently, I had made a trip to Nagaland with my wife. Embarking on the journey, I started feeling a bit green around the gills in the beginning of the trip itself. It took me almost three days to reach there by train. I was very happy to meet a lot of friends there and my in-laws.

People in Nagaland eat different kinds of food, especially insects. The second day, though reluctant at first, I started savouring on some local cuisines, and it felt quite nice. However, after two or three hours, I started feeling some kind of uneasiness, and to make the long story short, I was hospitalized immediately. The chips were down, and everybody was on pins and needles, particularly my dear wife. It was found out that I was actually allergic to the food I was offered. However, by the grace of God, I was able to come out of the hospital in one piece.

After this journey, I made a decision that I would never ever travel, especially to any places that are far away, and I would never ever ingest any unfamiliar or exotic foods. This incident has been a disastrous but learning moment in my life, and it changed my perspective about food and travel. I will just settle for things that familiar to me and only explore proximal sites for my own wellbeing.

Note: this is a made up, spontaneous story and was framed by Jomon during one of the IELTS sessions. There is nothing to be feared when comes to Naga food.

Idioms and phrased used:

1. “Not my cup of tea”: Indicates something is not to one’s liking or preference.
2. “Green around the gills”: Describes looking pale or sickly, often due to nausea or illness.
3. “The chips were down”: Suggests that the situation became difficult or critical.
4. “On pins and needles”: Expresses feeling nervous, anxious, or tense.
5. “In one piece”: Indicates emerging from a difficult situation without harm or injury.
6. “Embarking on the journey”: Refers to starting a journey or undertaking a new endeavor.
7. “Savouring on some local cuisines”: Enjoying or tasting local foods.
8. “To make the long story short”: Used before summarizing or providing a brief version of a lengthy story.

List of vocabulary used

1. Cup of tea – something one likes or is good at.
2. Avoiding – keeping away from or preventing something from happening.
3. Embarking – beginning a journey or undertaking.
4. Green around the gills – looking or feeling ill.
5. Reluctant – unwilling and hesitant.
6. Savouring – enjoying and appreciating something, especially food.
7. Cuisines – styles or methods of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment.
8. Uneasiness – a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.
9. Hospitalized – admitted to a hospital for treatment.
10. The chips were down – a situation in which things are not going well.
11. On pins and needles – in a state of nervous anticipation or anxiety.
12. Allergic – having an allergy to a substance.
13. By the grace of God – a phrase expressing gratitude or relief that something fortunate has happened.
14. In one piece – safe and unharmed after a dangerous experience.
15. Disastrous – causing great damage or distress.
16. Perspective – a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something.
17. Ingest – take food or drink into the body.
18. Exotic – originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country; unusual and exciting.
19. Learning moment – an experience from which one gains knowledge or insight.
20. Proximal – situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment; in this context, meaning close or nearby.
21. Wellbeing – the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.

Tenses used: Break down.

Traveling is not my cup of tea –idiom. simple present

I’ve been avoiding it at any given opportunity, – present perfect continuous

and I remember, – simple present

I’d made a terrible mistake not so long ago. – past perfect

Recently, I had made a trip to Nagaland with my wife. – past perfect

Embarking on the journey– phrase, I started feeling a bit green around the gills in the beginning of the trip itself. – simple past

It took me almost three days to reach there by train. – Simple past

I was very happy to meet a lot of friends there and my in-laws. – Simple past

People in Nagaland eat different kinds of food, especially insects. – simple present

The second day, though reluctant at first, I started savouring on some local cuisines, – simple past

and it felt quite nice. – simple past

However, after two or three hours, I started feeling some kind of uneasiness, – simple past

and to make the long story short, I was hospitalized immediately. – simple past

The chips were down, idiom – Simple past

and everybody was on pins and needles, – idiom – Simple past particularly my dear wife.

It was found out that I was actually allergic to – Simple past passive

the food I was offered.- Simple past passive

However, by the grace of God, I was able to come out of the hospital in one piece- phrase. – Simple past passive

After this journey, I made a decision – Simple past

that I would never ever travel, – Simple future

especially to any places that are far away, and

I would never ever ingest any unfamiliar or exotic foods. – Simple future

This incident has been a disastrous – Present perfect

but learning moment in my life, and it changed my perspective about food and travel. – Simple past

I will just settle for things that familiar to me – Simple future

and only explore proximal sites for my own wellbeing. – Simple future

Has this helped you? If it did, please pen down your precious thoughts in the comments section. Thanks