reunion
A Farmer in Reunion
Aime talks about vanilla and life on Reunion.
Vocabulary
| island | vanilla | enterprise |
| set up | miserable | pay attention |
| base | aspects | base of the pyramid |
| prize | cheer up | be able to |
| palm | overseas | too much |
| heart | quality |
Video
Transcript
My name is Aimé Leichnig. I’m 47 years old. I live in Saint-Philippe on the island of Reunion.
What do you do for a living?
I’m a farmer. I grow vanilla. I set up a small enterprise 20 years ago.
What does globalization mean to you?
Too much attention has been paid to the economic and political aspects, multinational corporations for example.
We need to pay attention to the social aspects — the base of the pyramid is important.
What worries you?
When I see people who are miserable and sad. I try to cheer them up.
What makes you happy?
To be able to make people around me happy.
What’s your favorite food?
Since I come from Reunion, I love seafood, especially with a delicious hearts of palm salad.
Which country would you like to visit?
Last year I went to New York to receive an international prize for quality. I’d like to visit the Caribbean and other French Overseas Territory I don’t know yet.
Questions
1. Who is this person? What’s his name? How old is he? Where is he from?
2. Aimé is a cabbage, eggplant, onion, potato and watermelon farmer. Is this true or false?
3. How does he feel about globalization? Is he concerned with government and business? What does he mean by “the base of the pyramid”?
4. He is worried about his vanilla crops. Yes or no?
5. Sports cars and luxury cars and mansions makes Aimé happy. Is this right or wrong? What makes him happy?
6. Are his favorite foods vanilla cake, ice-cream and pastries? What are his favorite foods?
7. Has he traveled overseas? Would he like to visit France? Aimé would like to visit . . . . . .
A. Do you live on an island? Have you ever been on an island?
B. What foods contain vanilla? Do you or your friends like vanilla and chocolate?
C. Do you know any commercial farmers? What crops do they raise?
D. Is seafood popular in your city?
