Sofia: I remember that the decision to end my seven-year-old relationship did not come easily to me. That was not due to the amount of time I put in — though the fact that my failed love story was practically a second-grader did discourage me — but the fear that I would never find anyone else ready to date not only me but also the army of demons my twisted mind possessed (and still does). My demons and I, unfortunately, come as a package deal.

Yet post-breakup I found out that boyfriends are not that hard to come by. Sure, the quality of candidates may lack at times, but Moscow still has its share of decent enough guys to go out with.

What proved truly difficult to find in my not-so-early thirties is not romance but sincere, deep friendships. Mona Chalabi, an award-winning writer and a host of a ‘Am I Normal?’ podcast, agrees. The video I picked to base my lesson materials on addresses this very question (how to make friends when you’re a grown-up) and raises even a more interesting one (how to keep friends we already have). Take a look — I promise you, it will be well worth your while!

Today, I have shared a personal story no one asked for yet again. Since you have suffered through another one of my pensive pieces, you definitely deserve a treat. And I have just that for you: a set of speaking tasks based on the video and a quizlet set with interesting vocabulary from this same episode. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. I know I don’t say it enough but I am grateful for each every one of my friends. Who else would agree to hang out with my demons so much?

👩‍🏫 Quizlet
💻 Video