1 Descriptive essay

 A day on an island

I am a seasoned traveler and have visited countless places on my own, so it is rare when I experience an organized excursion. Last month, while I was on a cruise of the southern Mediterranean, I decided to try a group excursion for the first time. The eight-hour day trip was to an island called Djerba, off the southern coast of Tunisia. What a wonderful trip it was. 

Our travel group landed onshore at 9 a.m., and were greeted by a small and unassuming tour company bus. We hopped on the old Fiat and pulled away from the dock. As I looked out my window I noticed that the island has a monopoly on a single type of tree: the palm. Was I hallucinating? These trees seemed to be waving at me and saying hello: “Welcome to Djerba, traveler!”

After a short drive away from the port, we entered the resort area. I have seen countless resorts in my life, and I was looking up, waiting to see the high-rise building that I expected would line the coast. Instead I was greeted by low, squat buildings that were shaded by these breathtaking palms. 

At around 10:30 a.m. we got off the bus for a walking tour in the town center. What a relief it was to stretch out legs and take a leisurely stroll through the town. I immediately noticed the prevailing colors: blue and white. Every structure in this area was whitewashed and adorned with blue window shutters. The facades of the homes were porcelain faces with penetrating azure eyes. 

At 1 p.m. our tour group made its way down an old stone path to a local eatery that our guide had recommended. At this point I decided to separate myself from the other “cruisers” and meet some of the locals. Besides, I was used to traveling alone, and this guided tour was starting to bore me. I slowed my pace until I could not see the tour group anymore. This was the perfect time fro me to get to know the locals a bit. I particularly enjoy examining elderly people going about their daily routines. At one point, I stopped and smiled at a tanned, middle aged woman who was balancing a big jug of water on her head. She and her friend actually stopped walking and allowed me to take a picture with them. By this point I had forgotten all about lunch with my travel mates. The “water jug” woman, named Kaouther, then invited me to her home for Djerban sweets and tea. 

The late afternoon sun was trying to break through the magical blue shutters of Kaouther’s living room. How lucky I was, at that exact moment, to take a quick look at my watch and notice the time. I needed to head back to the port to board the cruise ship. Rummaging through my bag, I found a key chain that I had brought from home. I presented it to Kaouther, who then humbly gave me a small box of sweets to take with me. 

The combination of scenery and genuine kindness of the people is what made me fall in love with the Mediterranean island. I will continue traveling in the future, but it will be difficult to find a place that tops this one. 

2. Descriptive essay 2

On any given weekend, young people get together for an evening of fun. Friends gather to go to the movies, to a local meeting place, or to a trendy restaurant. These are normal activities, but not for me. I am a server. While my friends are socializing at get-togethers or in restaurants, I work in the dining room of a popular eating place. It is 8:00 p.m. and I scan the restaurant and take in all the action –people from all walks of life interacting with each other. 

In the left corner of the restaurant are several small round tables, and at this moment, they are all occupied. At one table, I can see a group of four young women. They are all laughing heartily. The thinnest one has just finished telling a joke. These women are wearing brightly colored career outfits; they probably decided to go out directly after work. It is, in fact, a Friday night. At the table next to the right of these women sits a couple. She is nervously playing with the diamond ring on her left hand. Are they arguing? They are hunched forward, and their faces are tense. Perhaps they do not want others in the restaurants to hear what they are talking about. The man is holding his cup tightly. The woman anxiously begins to tear her napkin into tiny pieces. I am glad that I cannot hear what they are saying; their body language speaks more loudly than any words that I could hear. 

In the center of the dining room things are happening. Five men in their thirties and forties are sitting around a table directly in front of a large tropical plant. They look happy to be here. They are talking and laughing. One guy whispers something to the guy next to him, and the other three insist that these two reveal what they are whispering about. The oldest guy is elegantly dressed in a cashmere sweater. The other four are wearing long-sleeved shirts. Because all five of them are wearing ties, they must have just come from the office. Every now and then, one of them will touch the table a few times as he is speaking, perhaps to emphasize a particular point. To me, it appears that they are having a very lively discussion, and each of them cannot wait to jump in to offer something to the conversation. 

In the far right corner of the restaurant, a middle-aged man is sitting alone. I can smell his top-of-the-line cologne wherever I pass by as I head to the kitchen. Although he is alone, he is definitely not lonely. His state-of-the-art cell phone has not left his ear since he came in. I cannot tell whether his phone call is business or pleasure because he alternates from serious tones to lighthearted chuckles. Every once in a while, he asks his server to refresh his cup of coffee. He adds sugar and stirs his coffee loudly, but the noisy clinking of the spoon against his coffee cup is drowned out by the music that is being played. 

This is my job. I take food orders and watch people, from couples fighting to people having a good time talking. I do not pretend to be a psychologist, but it is interesting to watch people interact. My job might not be the most socially rewarding job in the world, but every night I learn something new about the nuances of human interaction. That makes me happy.