Tell me about a time you took part in a celebration that wasn't really 'yours' — a different family, culture or community.

B Natural answer

Last year I went to a friend's family wedding that followed a lot of traditions I'd never seen before. I was definitely excited, but I was also a little out of my depth when I arrived, because I didn't know the schedule, the dress code, or even when to speak and when to stay quiet. My friend walked me through everything and showed me around the venue before the ceremony started, which helped a lot. What surprised me most was how warm everybody was. Even though I was clearly the outsider, everyone went out of their way to include me in the dancing, the food, and the photos. I ended up learning a few basic phrases, and honestly, that made the whole evening more memorable. I even remembered the songs afterward, which was a nice surprise. I left feeling like celebrations can be shared in a respectful way even when they aren't part of your own background.

Key phrases in this answer

• a little out of my depth — not fully confident because the situation is unfamiliar“I felt a little out of my depth at first.”
• showed me around — guided me through a place or event“My friend showed me around the venue.”
• everyone went out of their way — people made extra effort to help or include me“Everyone went out of their way to include me.”
• made me feel welcome — made me feel accepted and comfortable“Her family said hello right away and made me feel welcome.”
• By the end of the night — after everything had finished“By the end of the night, I was dancing with everyone.”
• stepping into somebody else's memory — entering a tradition that feels deeply personal to other people“It felt like stepping into somebody else's memory.”