In this advanced English conversation, two digital nomads meet at a coffee shop and talk honestly about the freedom, the lower cost of living, and the homesickness that come with working abroad. It’s written for C1 learners. Watch Camille and Calvin read it together, then learn the advanced vocabulary, a real-life expression, and a fast-speech pronunciation tip.
Level: C1 (advanced)
Reading time: About 1 minute
Topic: Remote work, travel, living abroad
From the book: 50 Advanced English Conversations, page 102
How to use this lesson
First, watch the video and listen to Camille and Calvin read the conversation. Next, read it below and study the vocabulary, paying attention to how each phrase is used in context. Then practice the conversation out loud, focusing on the fast-speech tip. Finally, take the quiz and try the discussion questions.
The conversation: The Nomadic Life
Juan: Excuse me, are you the one who posted about the Wi-Fi being down at the hostel? I’m Juan.
Aria: Oh, hey! Yeah, I’m Aria. I moved over here because the coffee shop’s backup generator is a total godsend. Where are you from?
Juan: Spain, and you? I’ve been up since 4 AM to sync up with my team in Madrid. I love my job, but this schedule is starting to wear me out.
Aria: I don’t envy you. I love the freedom of being a graphic designer out here, and the cost of living is so much lower than in the States. But honestly? I’m starting to get homesick. My sister just had her first baby and I haven’t even met her yet.
Juan: I feel that. It’s a tough trade-off, isn’t it? We can save so much more of our income out here, but we’re thousands of miles away from family.
Aria: Exactly. I dunno if I’m cut out for this life. It seems so glamorous, but then at the end of the day, no place is perfect.
Juan: It’s true. There is a cost. But hey, as soon as I finish this script, I’m going to unplug and head into the water. Do you surf?
Aria: I love surfing. It’s one of my main pulls to be here. I’m going to push through this last design and then join you.
Advanced vocabulary from the conversation
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example from the conversation |
|---|---|---|
| godsend | something or someone that helps you at exactly the right moment | The backup generator is a total godsend. |
| sync up (with) | coordinate with someone so everyone is on the same page | I’ve been up since 4:00 a.m. to sync up with my team. |
| I don’t envy you | I’m glad I’m not in your difficult situation | I don’t envy you. |
| cost of living | how much money you need for rent, food, bills, and daily life | The cost of living is so much lower than in the States. |
| the States | an informal name for the United States | …lower than in the States. |
| homesick | sad because you miss your home and family | I’m starting to get homesick. |
| I feel that | I understand, I’ve felt the same way (informal) | I feel that. |
| trade-off | giving up one good thing to get another | It’s a tough trade-off, isn’t it? |
| income | money you earn regularly, usually from work | We can save so much more of our income. |
| be cut out for | have the right personality or qualities for something | I don’t know if I’m cut out for this life. |
| glamorous | exciting and attractive, often more than it really is | It seems so glamorous. |
| at the end of the day | when you consider everything, in the end | At the end of the day, no place is perfect. |
| unplug | take a break from technology and screens | I’m going to unplug and head into the water. |
| pull | something that attracts you to a place | It’s one of my main pulls to be here. |
| push through | keep going even when something is hard or tiring | I’m going to push through this last design. |
From Camille and Calvin’s real life
Camille and Calvin have lived a nomadic life themselves, so many of these phrases come straight from their own experiences.
Godsend: “I was driving in Braga, which is a pretty hard city to drive in. I found a parking garage, but it was private, and I couldn’t turn around. Out of nowhere, a delivery man asked if I needed help. He stopped traffic on the busy road so I could back out. He was such a godsend!” (Camille)
Trade-off: “We’re choosing to live here in Portugal, and it has its trade-offs, because it’s not America, where we grew up and where all of our family is. But there are also beautiful things, which is why we’re choosing to stay.”
Unplug: “I need to go unplug. I’ve been in front of a screen for eight hours.”
Real life English tip: wear someone out
If something wears you out, it makes you feel extremely tired or exhausted over a long period of time.
- This schedule is starting to wear me out.
- Working two jobs is really starting to wear me out.
- The long commute to the city wears me out every single day.
- Some of the weather patterns here are wearing me out. (Calvin)
Try it: What’s wearing you out right now? Write one sentence using this expression.
Listen and speak: “who posted” in fast speech
Listen to how Juan says “who posted” in the video. In fast speech, the h in who is often very light, and the oo sound links right into the p in posted, so it sounds like “oo-posted.”
Practice the first line slowly, then at natural speed: “Are you the one who posted about the Wi-Fi being down?” Then read the whole conversation out loud.
Check your understanding
- Why did Aria move to the coffee shop?
a) The coffee is better b) The coffee shop has a backup generator c) She wanted to meet people - Why has Juan been up since 4:00 a.m.?
a) To go surfing b) To catch a flight c) To sync up with his team in Madrid - What is Aria’s job?
a) Writer b) Graphic designer c) Teacher - Why is Aria starting to feel homesick?
a) Her sister just had her first baby b) She lost her job c) The Wi-Fi is always down - What does “I’m not cut out for this” mean?
a) I don’t have enough time for this b) I don’t have the right qualities for this c) I was removed from this - What will Juan do after he finishes his script?
a) Call his family b) Unplug and go into the water c) Start another project
REVEAL THE QUIZ ANSWERS
Answers:
1-b, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b, 6-b
Discussion questions
These questions are great for speaking practice with a partner, tutor, or conversation group.
- Would you like to live a nomadic life? Why or why not?
- What trade-offs would be hardest for you if you lived far from family?
- What does the cost of living look like where you live?
- How do you unplug after a long day?
Practice with 49 more advanced conversations
“The Nomadic Life” is one of 50 conversations in 50 Advanced English Conversations. The book is packed with natural, advanced vocabulary and real-life situations, and it comes with free audio of Camille and Calvin reading each conversation, so you can improve your listening and speaking at the same time.
More real-life English from Camille and Calvin:
Visiting Doctors Around the World (Intermediate Conversation)
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What does "godsend" mean?
A godsend is someone or something that helps you at exactly the moment you need it, often unexpectedly. For example: “The stranger who helped me find my keys was a godsend.”
What does "be cut out for" mean?
It means to have the right personality or qualities for something. People usually use it in the negative: “I’m not cut out for working night shifts.”
What does "wear me out" mean?
It means something is making you very tired. For example: “Working two jobs is wearing me out.”
What level is this English conversation?
It’s for advanced learners (C1). If it feels too difficult, try Camille’s intermediate conversations first.
Where is this conversation from?
It’s from 50 Advanced English Conversations by Camille Hanson, page 102.
Your turn!
Have you ever lived or worked abroad? What was the biggest trade-off for you? Tell us in the comments on the YouTube video!
