Relative Clauses

I’m so excited to see the neighborhood where you grew up.

Well, a lot has changed since I lived here, so it may not look the way I remember it.

Still, it must feel a little like home.

Not as much as you might think. The house where I grew up is no longer there.

Oh, that’s too bad. What happened to it?

The land that the house was sitting on was sold to a company that built a new stadium.

That’s such a shame. Was the house already in bad condition?

No, it was actually one of the few houses in the area that had been well maintained.

So the whole neighborhood has changed?

Pretty much. The neighborhood, which used to be quiet and affordable, has been completely gentrified.

How do you feel about that?

I have mixed feelings. The area was run down, but many of the families who lived here could no longer afford to stay.

Is there anything from your childhood that is still here?

The school that I attended is still open, and the park where I used to hang out hasn’t changed much.

I’d love to see them. Places that are connected to someone’s childhood usually tell you a lot about them.

Sure. We can swing by, although they’re not much to write home about.

What do you think of the new club that opened downtown?

The place itself is impressive, but the music they’re playing isn’t really my taste.

I know what you mean. The last song they played was much better, though.

Yes, it was one of the few songs that I actually recognized.

The people who are dancing seem to be enjoying everything the DJ plays.

They certainly do. Do you know the woman who’s dancing near the stage?

Yes, that’s Maya, the friend who invited us here tonight.

And who’s the guy she’s dancing with?

I’m not sure. He might be someone who works with her.

They look as though they’ve known each other for years.

Maya can make anyone she meets feel like an old friend.

That’s a useful skill in a place where most people don’t know each other.

Would you like to dance before we leave?

I’d rather not. Dancing is one of those things that I’ve never felt comfortable doing.

Fair enough. There’s a quieter room upstairs where we can sit and talk.

That sounds much better. Let’s find Maya first, so she knows where we’re going.

Tony, you’re from San Francisco, aren’t you?

That’s right. It’s the city where I was born and raised. Why do you ask?

My family and I are going there on holiday, and I was hoping you could recommend a few places.

The first place I’d suggest is Muir Woods, which is famous for its enormous redwood trees.

That’s already on our list. We’re looking for somewhere that the children will enjoy as well.

In that case, you should visit Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can see the sea lions that gather near the pier.

That sounds perfect. Is there anything else nearby that’s worth visiting?

The Presidio is another place I’d recommend. It’s a large park that lies next to the Golden Gate Bridge.

I read about that. Apparently, there are bikes that visitors can rent to explore the park and cross the bridge.

Yes, and there are audio guides that you can download, which explain the history of the area.

My father, who loves history, would really enjoy that.

Then he might also like the old military buildings that have been preserved inside the park.

Great suggestion. Are there any local dishes that we shouldn’t miss?

You should try a clam chowder bread bowl, which is served inside a hollow loaf of sourdough bread.

That sounds delicious. Is there a restaurant that you particularly recommend?

There’s a small place near the waterfront that my family has been going to for years.

Perfect. These are exactly the kinds of recommendations that I was hoping for.

I’ll send you a list that includes the addresses and the best times to visit.

Thanks for inviting me to go camping with you. This is exactly the kind of weekend that I needed.

I’m glad you came. The last thing I wanted was to spend the whole weekend out here alone.

You know I go camping all the time. The years that I spent in the army taught me how to survive in the wild.

That explains why you’re so calm. I’m the kind of person who starts worrying as soon as it gets dark.

You’ll be fine. This is a campsite where experienced hikers often stay, so it’s relatively safe.

That’s reassuring. At least the food that I brought should keep us happy.

It’s surprisingly good. How long did it take you to prepare everything?

Almost no time at all. Most of the food we’ve eaten was bought from a store that sells ready-made camping meals.

So the dinner that I thought you had cooked was actually prepared by someone else?

Exactly. Cooking over a fire is one of those skills that I’ve never managed to learn.

It sounds like you need to improve your survival skills. There are several things that I could teach you.

Such as?

I could show you how to start a fire, find water that is safe to drink, and choose a place where you can shelter from the wind.

Those are useful skills, but I prefer equipment that does most of the work for me.

What would you do in a situation where your phone and credit card were useless?

I’d stay close to someone who had spent years learning how to survive in the wild.

So that’s the real reason you invited me.

Let’s just say you’re the person whose experience makes this trip much less dangerous.