So today is the third day of class and just about the third week of my stead in the big OZ. Before I get started updating you on campus life, I want to share with you the strange, unique, and slightly hilarious list of Aussie slang words I’ve been collecting. Here’s what I have so far:
1. mate- friend
2. goon- boxed wine
3. thongs- flip flops
4. jumper- sweater/ sweat shirt of any kind
5. brekkie- breakfast
6. gammon- joking
7. gum boots- rain boots
8. maccas- mc donalds
9. skull- chug (as in beer)
10. nick- steal
11. tog- bathing suit
12. whingean- complaining
13. paid out- made fun of
14. cadberry- lightweight (1-2 drinks)
15. servers- gas stations
16. ute- pickup trucks
17. eskies- coolers
18. stubbie- 350 mL beer can
19. sunnies- sun glasses
20. uggies- uggs
Aussies also use “keen” and “reckon” ALL the time, which are rarely used in American jargon. And, if you’re interested in more silly Australian culture, here’s a (slightly edited) drinking song we sing here in the residence hall:
here’s to ______, he’s true blue
he’s a piss pot through and through
he’s an a** hole so they say
he tried to get to heaven but he went the other way
he went down! down! down! down! … (continued until the person chugs his drink).
Thankfully, no one has ever sung this song to me!
At 6:50 Monday morning, it was my phone alarm, (for once not the squawking birds outside my window), that threw me from a deep sleep into a very grumpy state of consciousness. The first day of school here at Griffith had officially begun. About 40 minutes later, after getting over my initial “dear god just one more hour” mood, Evan and I met for butter and vegemite toast in the cafeteria. And then it was off to my first lecture: Chemistry A.
Dr. Andrew Chan is one of the happiest lecturers I’ve ever met. In his thick Mandarin accent and with a constant smile, he tried to get us excited about coming to lectures. “You must be keen to learn, and I must be keen to teach. And if one of us isn’t, well, we need to leave!” He followed up his inspirational words with an even more inspirational picture. A slide of Harry Potter holding a bottle of potion appeared on the screen. Dr. Chan told us that if we want to be rich and cool like Harry, we need to learn chemistry like Harry. Well played, Andrew Chan.
My favorite tag line of the lecture had to be one that was typed out on almost every single slide; “Imagine the Submicroscopic World!” This sentiment was at the top of the “Tips to Learning Chemistry” list and one he repeated after telling us about how he can see the molecules in his water bottles, a skill we will hone if we learn “the language of chemistry.” I want to see the molecules, Dr. Chan! Good thing I picked up my super awesome lab coat and safety glasses after class…
On Tuesday, I had four hours of one class with an hour break in-between. Apparently, that’s how they do it here in Australia. There is no MWF or TR class; students normally have a week’s worth of a class in about one or two days. Anyway, Tuesday was Language, Communication, and Social interaction day. I don’t have much to report on this class except that we watched the opening scene of “The Social Network,” and as the token American in class, I had to explain SATs, how a 1600 used to be a perfect score, and what a stair-master is. Thrilling, I know.
Fortunately, something actually thrilling happened on Tuesday: I discovered the Griffith University Food Co-Operation. They are just getting started, so there were still many empty shelves, but I think it’s really going to be great. They have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free hot foods, dozens of huge jars of nuts you can pick and choose from to create your own trail mix, soy milk, almond milk, organic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, organic boxed teas, plus $1.20 coffees and $.60 teas! This little place has truly been my best find yet!