Our LIVING ROOM (lounge) has recently been furnished and includes:

• A large leather sofa with two armchairs and many colorful cushions.
• A dresser, a closet, and a round coffee table.
• Ceiling lights and wall lights illuminate the room.
• Along the wall, there is a big bookcase with numerous intriguing books.
• The walls display beautiful paintings and photos of our family.
• My mom loves houseplants, so our living room is filled with them.
• There are also the drapes / curtains (UK) and shades / blinds (UK) on the windows.
• We also have modern electronic gadgets in our living room, including a television, a streaming device, a soundbar, and wireless speakers.

We enjoy spending time in this room. It’s a place where we can relax, watch TV, listen to music, read books or magazines, or simply take a nap.

Our BATHROOM isn’t very large.

• It includes a shower, a bathtub, a sink / basin (UK) with a mirror above it, and a toilet.
• You’ll find towels for drying your body, soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, body lotion, a hairbrush or comb, tissues, perfume, and a razor for men.

In the bathroom, we:

• Brush our teeth
• Take a bath
• Take a shower
• Wash up after work / school
• Shave
• Get dressed
• Get undressed
• Comb our hair

I’d like to describe my BEDROOM.

• It has been newly decorated and furnished.
• It includes a twin bed with a fitted sheet, two pillows, and a comforter (UK = quilt)
• There’s a nightstand / bedside table (UK) with a bedside lamp, a big closet / wardrobe (UK),and a chest of drawers.
• In one corner of the room, there’s a desk with a chair, a computer, and a desk lamp.
• On the walls, you’ll find numerous posters of my favorite singers and pop bands.

My bedroom serves as a space where I:

• Sleep
• Play computer games
• Do my homework
• Chat with my friends online
• Read books
• Dream about my promising future
• Listen to music

Sometimes, common problems arise in our household.
For instance:

• The lamp isn’t working, and I try to change the light bulb.
• The radiator is leaking or there’s a dripping faucet (UK = tap). In those cases, I call a plumber who repairs it.
• The TV isn’t working properly, and I call an electrician who repairs it.
• There’s a stain on the carpet that we try to remove with some detergent.
• Sometimes, the desk gets scratched, and my dad and I try to fix it.
• The bedroom needs to be redecorated, so I assist my father with the task.
• When there’s an issue with the door, I apply oil to the hinges.
• Occasionally, I use a hammer to drive in a nail, and I use a drill to make a hole.
• The drawer is jammed/stuck (UK).

EXTERIOR

Both Slovaks and British people love gardening. Slovaks tend to have larger gardens
behind their houses, and they spend quite a lot of time growing vegetables and fruit.

There is a lot of work around the house, including:

• mowing the lawn,
• sowing seeds,
• weeding the flower beds, planting flowers and watering them,
• building a greenhouse,
• building a summerhouse / a gazebo (UK) for relaxation,
• trimming the hedge,
• cutting tree branches.

BUYING A HOUSE / FLAT

Currently, it is not easy to buy a flat or a house. The prices of property are extremely high. It is nearly impossible for a young family to buy a flat without their parents’ help or a mortgage. They have to pay it off in regular monthly installments.

Some houses are shared by two families (e.g., grandparents, their children, and grandchildren). These families often take out a loan for the reconstruction of the house or flat.

These days, living in rented flats and houses is becoming quite normal, especially for younger families.

LIVING IN TOWNS AND CITIES

We are all very much influenced by the place where we grow up. Living in towns and cities has both advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand:

• There are many job opportunities,
• better schooling possibilities,
• opportunities to have a rich social life (many cultural events are held there, such as
  concerts, operas, theater performances, and so on), and sports facilities (a swimming pool, tennis courts, a stadium, an ice rink, and others),
• there are many shopping malls where one can buy all sorts of goods under one roof,
• there are usually a few local hospitals that provide healthcare,
• public transport connections are fine,
• you get a lot of privacy.

On the other hand:

• City inhabitants live in a polluted, noisy, crowded, and hectic enviroment, the air is often polluted by fumes from factories and cars,
• there is a high rate of crime caused by pickpockets, shoplifters, burglars, drug
  dealers (it is not an ideal place to raise children), homelessness is another big
  problem,
• there are traffic jams,
• problems with parking,
• the cost of living is high.

Proverbs about how special home is:

• East or west, home is best.
• My home is my castle.
• There is no place like home.
• Home is where the heart is.
• Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.