ESL Podcast 502 – Storing Luggage on an Airplane

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/07/100714_witn_cuba_page.shtml

The first group of political prisoners are on their way to freedom, heading for exile [forced to leave and live in another country] in Spain.

Omar Ruiz, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for treason [the crime of being disloyal to your country]

he and six other inmates [prisoner] had been driven there, where they were reunited with their relatives in a special waiting room.

All the dissidents [people who publically criticise the government] were arrested under a major government crackdown [strict, repressive action against people who the authorities feel have broken the law] in 2003, when Fidel Castro was still in power

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http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=7527053

Yoshi: Can you hold my jacket while I try to get my roller bag down the aisle?

Tatiana: All right, but I have to roll my own bag down the aisle, you know.

Yoshi: Fine, give it back to me. All of these overhead bins are full. Where are we supposed to store them?

Tatiana: Look, there are two spaces in the back of the plane. You put our big bags in those bins, and I'll put our carry-ons under the seats in front of us.

Yoshi: Fine, but these seats are already cramped, and now, I'll have no legroom for the entire flight. Great! That's what we get for not getting seats in the emergency exit row.

Tatiana: If we had seats in the emergency exit row, you'd be complaining about not being able to recline in your seat right now. At least we don't have bulkhead seats. Stop grumbling and get moving before somebody else snags those overhead bins and we have to check those bags.

Yoshi: Whose idea was it to go on vacation?

Tatiana: It was mine. We both need some time to get away and unwind.

Yoshi: Yeah, right, I can't remember the last time I felt this relaxed!

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- roller bag : suit case on wheel
- overhead bin : space above the seat in airplane to keep things for you
- to be cramped : to be crowed
- to recline your seat: to lean backward
- to snag : to grab or get sth quickly
- to check their bag : to give the bag to air plane so that they are kept in basement of air plane
- to unwind : to relax



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Thanks,
Duy Lam