Words to know

take more on a trip than you will need

send it before you travel so it's waiting when you arrive

be very heavy (informal)

Step 1 of 5

Listen first

No text yet. Listen for who, where and what goes wrong.

OmarGrace

Practice · 3 min

Shadow Omar first. He calms Grace down by slowing the problem into steps, so keep his voice level and let the numbers land: "fifty", "Tuesday", "two pairs". Then take Grace's part. Her lines start stressed and get lighter; let "That's actually smart" sound like real relief.

  1. OmarGrace, you're still here? Your flight to Dubai leaves at six tomorrow.
  2. GraceI know. I'm trying to close this suitcase, and it won't close.
  3. OmarWow. That thing weighs a ton. What's in there?
  4. GraceClothes for four days, and three hundred brochures for the booth.
  5. OmarThree hundred printed brochures? In your personal suitcase?
  6. GraceMarketing forgot to send them. I found the boxes under my desk an hour ago.
  7. OmarOkay, don't panic. The show opens on Wednesday, right?
  8. GraceWednesday morning. So if I don't carry them, they won't be there.
  9. OmarNot necessarily. We've shipped things ahead to Dubai before. Two days, door to door.
  10. GraceTwo days means Tuesday. That's cutting it close.
  11. OmarIt is. So take fifty in your bag and ship the rest tonight. Fifty covers the first morning.
  12. GraceThat's actually smart. And the clothes? Have I overpacked?
  13. OmarFour pairs of shoes for four days? Yes, you've overpacked.
  14. GraceOne pair is for the hotel gym.
  15. OmarHave you ever used a hotel gym on a work trip?
  16. GraceNo. Fine. Two pairs.
  17. OmarThere you go. Now it closes. I'll call the courier before they stop picking up.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.