Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Transcript

In 2018, Margot decided to take a break from retirement in her quiet little German village in Tonhonbach to embark on an adventure: a marathon motorbike trip to Iran.

No matter how painstakingly the sixty-four (64) year old prepared, there would be unforeseeable challenges ahead on her eighteen-thousand (18,000) kilometer tour.

Margot, Traveler: “Help! I can’t breathe!”

Margot got off to a bumpy start, suffering engine problems before she had even gotten out of Germany.

From Poland, she continued across Ukraine to Russia . . . and on through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

And that didn’t go smoothly either.

Still there was no stopping her progress to Iran. Until now.

Margot, Traveler: “The Honda made it! In first gear!”
Film Crew Member: “Margot actually did it! Time for the obligatory team selfie.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
NO LIMITS
Margot’s Incredible Journey
 
TAJIKISTAN: Osh — Kyzylart Pass — Murghab
 
MURGHAB, Tajikistan

Margot’s next stop is Murghab, in Tajikistan.

The sixty-four (64) year old has already put more than seven-thousand kilometers behind her.

Murghab has a population of seven thousand.

The market is a meeting place for everyone who lives in the surrounding mountains.

We’re still at an altitude of three-thousand six-hundred (3,600) meters. But at least the headaches are subsiding.

Margot, Traveler: “I got some proper clothing. I bought myself a nice, wool scarf: fifty-five (55) Tajik Somoni (55 TJS ≈ 5 EUR, in 2018).

Yak milk and a professional ice-cream machine. Tastes great.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
BORDER TO THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF GORNO-BADAKHSHAN

Margot, Traveler: “My leather gloves are soaked and my fingers are freezing. I can’t even use the clutch anymore. But this is great.

The motor is perfectly warm; I can protect my fingers from frost-bite.

How much longer?

Okay. Let’s go.”

Margot plans to stop off with the film crew in Alichur to visit the family of driver, Sham. He’s looking forward to introducing the freaks with the cameras and the crazy woman on the motorbike to his parents and siblings.

He’s also happy about the extra customers: $50 a head for bed and board.

Margot, Traveler: “He wanted to buy my motorbike. Actually, he wanted t swap his motorbike for mine. That would be a bad deal, I reckon.

What kind of motorbike is it? Maybe I should just take it.

But the tires are completely threadbare. Look at mine. They are much better.

It works anyway.

But he’s not getting mine. I’m keeping it.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

Margot, Traveler: “Oh, a stove. It’s cold. Yes.

Oh, that’s good. She doesn’t have money for additives. So it’s the best bread you can get. I could easily live off this bread and tea. This bread is so pure and nutritious. But some German butter and raspberry jam would be great.

Right now, I’m well aware that the raspberries in my garden are ripe. Big, fat, sweet, red raspberries. Every day. I’m sitting here, eating good, dry bread, while my raspberries at home wither.

Sham, Driver: “Here is my brother.”
Margot, Traveler: “Hi.”
Sham, Driver: “This is his baby.”
Margot, Traveler: “He’s big.”
Sham, Driver: “He’s a driver. A taxi driver.”
Margot, Traveler: “She has five sons, three daughters and seven grandchildren.

I would never have thought it. It usually doesn’t snow in summer in the mountains so high. More than four-thousand (4,000) meters high. And it doesn’t rain either. That’s what I thought anyway.

Now, I’m driving through rain and snow all the time.

It’s not fair.

It’s not so easy, a trip like this. It’s tough going.”

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

Germany. Margot has always traveled throughout her entire life. Yes, no, or we don’t know for sure.

Poland. Did she simply start motorcycling, or did she prepare in advanced? What did she do?

Ukraine. Margot’s itinerary was doing a circuit of Europe: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and back to Germany. True or false?

Russia. Was everything smooth sailing for her? Did her journey go exactly as planned? Did everything go perfectly?

Kazakhstan. In Murghab, Tajikistan, the main community center, social center or focal point are the cafes, restaurants and tea houses in the city center. Is this right or wrong? What did she buy there?

Kyrgyzstan. Was the weather always mild and ideal? Describe the weather conditions during much of Margot’s journey.

Tajikistan. In the town of Alichur, did she stay in a hotel? Did she interact with the locals?

Uzbekistan. At the guesthouse, Margot had a meal of soup, salad, roast meat and cake. Is this correct or incorrect? Was there any entertainment there?
 
 
 
Turkmenistan. I have traveled to many different places. Do you know anyone who has traveled around the world or traveled extensively? Do you know of any globetrotters or intrepid travelers?

Iran. What do people usually do when they retire? Do you know any active senior citizens?

Azerbaijan. Is Margot a role-model for others? Can she inspire other people?

Armenia. If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do? If I had lots of time and money, I would . . .

Georgia. What might happen in the future?

Turkey. What could or should people do?