It’s All in the Slang

March 27, 2017

Although I have not had to adjust to a foreign language during my time studying abroad in Australia, the slang that is used here did take a little bit of getting used to. The week I arrived here, I attended a workshop where the teacher shared a video about common Australian slang that we foreigners might find helpful. Essentially, Australians tend to shorten words to their first syllables and then add “ie” to the end, making breakfast into brekkie toast into toastie etc. Afternoon is shortened to arvo, throwing a temper tantrum is referred to as ‘spitting the dummie’ (dummie is pacifier), sassy is replaced with the word cheeky, and ‘thank you’ is replaced with ‘that’s alright’. All in all the slang has not been too difficult to adjust to, and Australian’s are usually very understanding when I stare at them blankly after they introduce some strange word of which I do not know the meaning into the conversation. Unfortunately, no one particular moment where I was ‘lost in translation’ comes into mind, and I have yet to incorporate a lot of the language into my own repertoire. However, adjusted very quickly to asking for food to take away instead of asking for my food ‘to go’ like I would in the states. Even on the other side of the world, food is still one of my main priorities.

Claire Celestin

I am a premedical student interested in pursuing medical school after I obtain my undergraduate degree, and in my past few years at Northeastern University, it seems that I have gotten stuck in a routine of sorts. My days consisted of classes, volunteering, and studying in Snell library until I could not hold my eyes open anymore. Although all of this studying did allow me to maintain a high GPA, I have begun to feel trapped. Growing up, I had always dreamt of traveling, exploring, and immersing myself in different cultures and ways of living. I wanted to join the Peace Corps, build houses with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteer as a medical provider in impoverished countries. These are all things that I still want to do. My post graduate plans all point towards medical school and becoming a health care provider where I intend to serve not only those in the United States, but most importantly those areas where good doctors and health care are hard to come by. I believe that this study abroad opportunity will be a stepping stone into my future of world travel. I intend to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to me while I am abroad. I will say yes to sky diving, snorkeling, and hiking into beautiful sunsets. In between all of that I will also try not to scream when facing Australia’s notorious gigantic spiders. I hope to travel around Australia every chance that I get, take surfing lessons, wake up in time for the sunrises on the Gold Coast, and still ace all of my exams. I intend to say yes to all of these experiences and more and upon my return I then want to share my experience with other students like myself. I want to show other students like me, who are afraid to push the rigid boundaries of pre medical studies that it is okay to take a break from the pressures that they have set upon themselves.