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Unit 3 - Listening 1

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47 views2 pages

Unit 3 - Listening 1

Uploaded by

Trieu Tran
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Gary McBride: Hello everyone.

My name’s Gary McBride, and I’m here to


talk to you today about the benefits of (1) downshifting. By “downshifting” I
mean getting out of the rat race and living a simpler life, one with less power
and (2) responsibility and, of course, less money but with more free time and
opportunity to enjoy life. It’s something we probably all think about from time
to time, but I’ve actually done it…so thank you for giving me this opportunity
to tell you about my (3) experience.

A few years ago I worked on Wall Street for a big bank. I was a typical city
trader, buying and selling stocks day after day…and it was very (4) well-paid. I
mean, I earned hundreds of thousands of dollars. I wore designer clothes, drove
a (5) luxury sports car, lived in a huge apartment downtown. I felt like I was
king of the world. But there was a price to pay. I couldn’t really (6) handle all
the stress. I had headaches and stomach problems the whole time. My personal
life also (7) suffered, as I was never home to build a steady relationship…and
then the financial (8) crisis came along. You remember that, right? Like many
others, I lost my job. But instead of looking for work in other companies, (9)
retraining, or starting my own business, I felt I needed to do something
different. I was curious about the world out there and I needed to (10) justify my
place in it. I needed a change.

Gary McBride: So, for six months, I traveled around Mexico, then South
America, and over to Europe. It gave me the time and space I needed to think
about what I wanted to do…and when I got back…I decided to leave Wall
Street. I sold my car, and my (11) apartment, and went to live in a small town in
Iowa, to be near my parents. After a couple of months, I started looking for
work. I (12) earned a lot as a city trader, but I also spent a lot… so I didn’t have
any savings. I wanted to try something new, something different. The first
position I was offered was a (13) home care assistant in the local hospital. It
seemed a friendly place, so I took it!

These days I’m still a home-care assistant. I go to the homes of sick or elderly
people who need help, and I help them wash, I do their (14) housekeeping,
prepare their meals. I talk to them. Being a home-care assistant is a very
different job from what I was doing before. Of course, the salary is (15)
considerably lower, so I don’t eat out often, I can’t buy a new car, and I
certainly can’t afford an (16) overseas vacation anymore…but you know what?
I’ve adapted, and now I’m very (17) fulfilled. Living life at a slower speed
means I have time to make friends, real friends! I have a better relationship with
my family, and I feel (18) healthier too!
As a city trader, I was always busy. I only thought about myself. But now, my
job is to care for other people, and helping other people has helped me to be a
better person. I’ve achieved the goal I set for myself when I came back from
traveling—I finally know what it is to be happy. Now, are there any questions?

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