Allison Shook

While abroad, I have quickly learned that just because you speak the language does not mean that you will understand it. Having been in Australia for a little over a month now I have started to pick up on a variety of different terms. Here are just a few of the phrases that I have learned up while living down under.

Bloke = Guy

So when you are walking down the street and your friends see a cute guy, they will say “Check out that bloke!”

Bogan = Redneck

Similar to the American Redneck, a Bogan is very Australian and maintains a strong accent that even I have trouble understanding.

Cheers = Thanks

Typically at the end of emails or when you say goodbye to your friend you will catch yourself thinking of that 80s television sitcom set at a bar.

Chook = Chicken

When friends describe the animals they have on their farm, try not to look too confused when they say chooks. I thought for a minute they were trying to say my last name!

Chunder = Vomit

If you are ever feeling sick and your friends ask if you feel like you are going to chunder, this is what they mean.

Cossie = Swimwear

Heading to the beach? Be sure to wear your favorite cossie! And when you say cossie, the “s” is actually pronounced like a “z.”

Daggy = Uncool

After the flurry of opening gifts and stuffing your face with your favorite holiday meals, it is no surprise that many of us get the post holiday season blues. Colorful lights all over town, decorations throughout your home, and days filled with family are truly enjoyable. However, like all good things, the season comes to an end. Here are a few tips to avoid the post holiday blues.

1.     Take your time– This time of year it is okay to be a little lazy. Take your time putting away your Christmas ornaments and stockings. There is no rush! Keeping your home filled with your favorite decorations will keep the holiday spirit alive a little bit longer!

2.     Eat right – Over the last few days you have probably indulged more than a time or two in your favorite desserts. C’mon, who can resist that delicious pumpkin pie or mountains of chocolate treats? Although these are tasty indulgences, trying to get back to your normal eating schedule and healthier options will make you feel better physically.

With flu season in our midst, here are some easy ways to keep from coughing and sneezing for the rest of the semester!

Pinterest – it’s the latest social media craze and a very successful procrastination tool. On Pinterest, we can spend hours scrolling through hundreds of pictures ranging from decadent chocolate cakes to future nuptial ideas. While this website gives anyone the opportunity to find ideas for their dream home or search for their fantasy destination spots, there seems to be an increasing presence of a new phenomenon, “thinspiration.”

When Pinterest first launched, it had several categories in which one could find “pins” relevant to their interests. With the emergence of fitness pins, women quickly started to make “thinspo” pinboards, which reflected photos, mottos, or brief ideas that encouraged losing extreme amounts of weight. This idea of thinspiration became widespread. Phrases like “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” and “sweat is just fat crying” became commonplace. In a country where an estimated 7 million American women have an eating disorder, this new Pinterest fad has only added fuel to the fire. Feelings of inadequacy run rampant among young women in this country; Pinterest offered yet another outlet through which women are bombarded images of the ideal body.