Our family lives in an old apartment building that’s even older than I am. It’s the apartment my husband has lived in since he was a child, and I moved in after we got married.
There are a few things that really bring home how old the apartment is. Around 7 o’clock, when everyone is getting ready for work, a lot of warm water is used. In our unit on the 11th floor, we don’t get enough warm water. Also we sometimes experience power outages in the summer or winter, during times of peak electricity use.
When people hear about these inconveniences, they often tell us to move. But we hope our kids will grow up attending the same school in the same neighborhood where their dad grew up. One of the charms of this old apartment is its courtyard, which has mature cherry blossom and magnolia trees that create a beautiful sight in the springtime.
bring home - to make something clear or understandable, especially something unpleasant
power outage - a temporary loss of electricity to a home, business, or area
be well over - to a degree exceeding
우리 가족은 나보다 훨씬 나이가 많은 오래된 아파트에 살고 있다. 남편이 어렸을 때부터 살던 아파트이고 결혼 후에 나도 함께 살고 있다.
아파트가 얼마나 오래되었는지 실감할 수 있는 몇 가지가 있다. 모두가 출근 준비를 하는 7시 무렵에는 온수 사용량이 많아지면서, 11층인 우리 집은 따뜻한 물이 잘 나오지 않는다. 또한 전력 사용량이 많은 여름이나 겨울에는 종종 정전이 되기도 한다.
이런 불편한 점을 들으면 사람들은 빨리 이사를 가라고 한다. 하지만 우리는 아이들이 아빠가 자란 동네에서 같은 학교에 다니며 자랐으면 좋겠다. 이 아파트의 매력 중 하나는 봄이면 벚꽃과 목련이 만개해 아름다운 풍경을 연출하는 화단이다.
- The accident really brought home the importance of safety. / The test really brought home how much I have to learn.
- I wake up early to get ready for work. / I drink some coffee and read the news before I get ready for work.
- We bought the unit on the 11th floor. / They live in the unit on the 11th floor.
A: Our apartment building is well over 30 years old now.
B: Yeah, it was built in the early ‘90s, so you're right.
A: There are times when it’s a bit inconvenient to live in such an old apartment.
B: I sometimes feel that way, too.
A: But having so many places filled with memories is definitely a plus.
B: I suppose our apartment will go through reconstruction soo as well.
