Present Perfect eg. Mr. Brashov, "I have called them every morning and every afternoon for the past two weeks... I haven't still haven't spoken to anyone."
Have you ever been the victim of a clerical error? Did you get a bill for the wrong amount or maybe they sent the bill to the wrong address and it effected your credit. What did you have to do to fix the mistake? Did you have to call customer service? Did you have to write a letter?
Can you think of a time you had to deal with bureaucracy? Perhaps visa applications, applying to jobs or schools, getting qualifications translated or verified? This can also be called, "red tape". Is there a lot of red tape in your country?
Carol says, "I'm tired of professional politicians who promise everything and end up doing nothing. They only get elected because there's no real choice." Do you agree with her? Is there a politician you can think of that fits her description? What does running for public office look like in your country? Who runs for office, typically? What kinds of qualifications do they have or should they have?
The political consultant thinks Jess needs lots of money to be successful. Do you think this is true?
The US government has what is called "checks and balances" or the "division of power" into three branches of government: the Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch, and The Judicial Branch. How is your country's government organized and what kinds of checks and balances are in place to make sure the power is distributed among politicians?
Dan Miller and Andy Comstock protect business interests (in the episode, it was a parking garage) and they fund or support politicians who will promote their business agendas. Does this form of corruption occur in your country? Can you think of a famous example of businesses interfering with politics? Can you think of anyone you think is a political puppet?
Hassan gives Rosa a goat as a traditional way of asking her to marry him. Are there any gift which are traditional for engagement in your country? Are there gifts presented to family members?
Carol helps Jess realize that he's made a bad decision. Can you think of a time when you were doing something wrong and someone helped you to come to your senses?
Writing Prompts
Describe a time you had to deal with a clerical error or a lot of red tape. How did you handle it? What was the end result?
Pretend that you are running for city council or perhaps a local neighborhood position. What things would you put in your campaign platform? Create a poster and/or a speech to describe what you stand for and how you will serve your constituents.
Describe a time you were making a bad choice and a friend let you know.