Tell me about a time a place turned out completely different from what you expected.

A natural way to answer

I once visited a town that everyone described as dull, but it turned out to be lovely. I had pictured something grey and quiet, yet it was full of life. It really exceeded my expectations, and I left wanting to go back.

Key phrases to use

• blow away — impressed or amazed me very much“The view from the top blew me away.”
• stumble upon — found something by chance, without looking for it“We stumbled upon a tiny café down a side street.”
• exceed my expectations — was much better than I thought it would be“The hotel exceeded my expectations in every way.”
• catch off guard — surprised me when I wasn't ready for it“The sudden rain caught me off guard.”
• grow on you — becomes more likeable the more time you spend with it“I didn't like the city at first, but it grows on you.”