Speaking
Practice

A special day out that did not cost very much was a Sunday I spent at a large public park with two close friends last spring.

We wanted to meet but were all trying to save money, so instead of going to a shopping centre or restaurant, we chose a park with free entry. The weather was mild, which made the plan easy.

We each brought something from home and packed a simple picnic with sandwiches, fruit and drinks. After finding a shaded area, we ate, talked and listened to music. Later, we walked around the lake, took photos and watched people playing badminton. The only money I spent was on a bus ticket and an ice cream, so the whole day cost very little. We stayed until late afternoon without feeling bored because we had plenty of time to talk properly.

I enjoyed the day because it reminded me that a good time does not need to be expensive. We spent next to nothing but still laughed a lot and enjoyed each other's company. Simple pleasures such as good weather, food from home and relaxed conversation can sometimes be more memorable than an expensive activity.

A uniform I wear is the simple work uniform provided by my company. I wear it on days when I work directly with customers rather than on office-only days.

The uniform consists of a dark-blue company shirt, black trousers and a small name badge. The company provided the shirts when I started the job, while I bought the trousers myself because they only had to follow a basic dress code.

I usually wear the uniform two or three days a week. Before work, I make sure the shirt is clean and ironed because the main purpose is to help staff look presentable and easy to identify. At first, I thought wearing the same style repeatedly would feel boring. However, I soon realised it saves time in the morning because I do not need to decide what matches. Customers can also quickly recognise who works there when they need help.

I feel neutral but generally positive about the uniform. It is comfortable enough, looks professional and takes the guesswork out of choosing clothes for work. I would not wear it outside the job, but for the workplace it is practical and creates a consistent image.

A time I lost something and later got it back was when I left one of my wireless earbuds on a train. It happened during a short trip last year.

I had been listening to music during the journey and removed the earbuds before getting off. I put one in the charging case but must have dropped the other one on the seat without noticing. I only realised it was missing after I reached my hotel.

At first, I thought there was almost no chance of finding such a small item. Still, I called the station and described the train, carriage and approximate seat number. The staff advised me to check the lost-and-found office the next morning. When I arrived, an employee showed me several small items collected from trains. I recognised my earbud immediately because it had a tiny scratch on the side. Someone had apparently found it during cleaning and handed it in.

I felt a real wave of relief because replacing only one earbud would have been expensive and inconvenient. It felt like a lucky break. Since then, I always put both earbuds into the case before standing up to leave public transport.

A time I bought something from a street market was during a trip to Hoi An last year. I visited a night market with two friends after dinner.

The market was busy and colourful, with rows of small stalls selling snacks, clothes, lanterns and handmade products. We did not go there with a specific shopping list. We mainly wanted to browse the stalls and enjoy the atmosphere.

After walking around for about half an hour, I found a stall selling simple handmade bracelets. One bracelet had dark wooden beads and a small metal detail, and I thought it would make a nice souvenir. The seller gave me an initial price, and I tried to haggle politely because buying at a street market felt different from shopping in a fixed-price store. We agreed on a fair price that was slightly lower. I also bought a small snack and continued exploring the market with my friends.

I enjoyed the shopping experience because it was more social and lively than shopping online or in a mall. Talking with the seller and seeing products directly made the purchase feel more memorable. I still have the bracelet, so it reminds me of the trip rather than simply being another item I own.

Something I own and want to replace is my old laptop. It sits on my desk at home and has been my main study and work computer for about five years.

I bought it with money I had saved during university. At the time, it was a good mid-range model and handled documents, online classes and basic editing without any trouble.

Over the last year, however, it has started to slow down. The battery health is poor, so it lasts less than two hours without charging, and the storage space is almost full. More demanding programs also take a long time to open. I have cleaned unnecessary files and replaced a few settings, but the improvement is limited. To replace it, I need to set a realistic budget and compare models that are strong enough for work but not unnecessarily expensive. I may also trade in the old laptop if possible.

I want a new computer mainly for reliability. I would like something lighter, with better battery life and enough memory to remain useful for several years. The current laptop has served me well, but it is no longer future-proof for the way I use technology now.