Who is a Seppo? And What is a Seppo?

Dear Readers,


            Sorry for my lack of blogs but you'll have to excuse me because I've been up to my neck in work.  Just kidding, I've been lazy.  Seriously, it takes effort to write these blogs because I need to fine-tune my writing to accurately capture my experiences here as well as entertain you, the readers, to accrue a following on this online journal.  I appreciate the positive feedback and I welcome all comments and criticisms.  Away we go:

          After arriving in the Townsville Airport and making way towards James Cook Univ.,  I recounted my adventures in Sydney and tried to convince myself that Australia isn't a figment of my imagination.  I think being home for about two months and the lack of traveling conjured an idea in my head that home wasn't too far away and I'll hop on another plane to head back.  Oops, 10,000 miles away erases that thought.  Time to focus on Australia.  I arrived at my dorm to be greeted by the RA's and let into my suite where I would reside the following four months.  There are three singles inside of this suite with a common room and a shared bathroom/shower.  My two roommates are a girl named Bronte and a guy named Glen, both of which were fossils or returning students.  Yeah, you read that right: a girl roommate.  Guy and girl roommates just seem like a bad idea and I wasn't too pleased about that for some obvious reasons but after meeting her, she seems fun and entertaining.  The only people on campus the first few days were Americans or Aussie students who elected to take an intensive course right before the semester so that left us Americans to entertain ourselves.
        
      Once the Australians started to arrive, campus began to look a bit more lively yet there was a lot of clean up work to be done due to the disastrous effects from Cyclone Yasi.  Uprooted trees and branches lying everywhere:

       Blending with the Aussies is quite the undertaking.  They speak in a quick tongue, shorten most words, and the accent distracts you from actually listening to them.   They have a variety of differences in terms for instance instead of "mandatory", they tend to use "compulsory" or  they'll say "piss" or "grog" as opposed to "alcohol".  It's like the 1800s sometimes.  Many of the differences likely stem from their relationship with Great Britain.  Only speculating here, but Aussies are predisposed to their culture and mannerisms far greater than Americans (we fought for our independence).  However, they have developed their own jargon for sure; another word for an American is a "Seppo".  This is short for septic tank because they feel as though Americans are full of it.  Pshhhh outlandish, I tell them.  Nahh, I suppose there lies a derivation of truth but my American in me refuses to acknowledge it.  They call that a paradox.  Other terms are alluring and I have since tried to incorporate them into my everyday vocabulary.  If you are "keen", then you are excited, stoked, psyched, or down for the aforementioned activity.  Many others are actual words but only shortened yet supplemented with a 'y':  sunglasses are "sunnys" and the city of Brisbane is "Brizzy".  There are copious amounts of derogatory terms but I do not want to ruin your virgin eyes.  Those Aussies have a potty mouth. 

      Integrating with the Aussies became quite easy when everyone's favorite social lubricant is introduced: alcohol.  Turns out alcohol is expensive here and they do not have Natty Light thirty's for 16 dollars.  In fact, a thirty of a decent beer is upwards of 40 dollars and the only American beer I could find, Budweiser, is 55 dollars due to importation.  Luckily for the broke college kids, they have a boxed-wine similar to Franzia (except many more types) for only 9 -15 dollars depending what kind.  As I digress....  Our orientation week at James Cook, or o-week, began with a tremendous showing of a time-honored, college tradition -  a campus-wide TOGA party.  Pretty Epic all around and let's just say the Colby Mules (pictured right Caroline Maguire '12) came to show Aussies a thing or two:

  You may wonder why I have a yellow head band that displays "CHASE ME" on it.  Oh that's because they openly haze here in Australia .. forgot to mention that.  George Roberts, the dorm I live in, gave everyone of their freshmen and new internationals a head band with their name on it and the dorm president elected to write "Chase Me" on mine.  If found without the headband, then the fossils are obliged to write anything on your forehead with a permanent marker.  Luckily this was the only item of hazing I encountered because for one, I am not a fan of being made to do something I don't want to do, and two, I am older than most of the returning students at George Roberts.  Hardly anyone on campus is 21 or has been to college for more than 2 years, both of which I have achieved.  Anyways, when in Rome.  The rest of o-week had themed nights at bars including dressing up in hideous attires; I have never seen so many drag-queens in my day.  Aussie's have some crazy style here.


   That topic would be a great one to explore in a blog or maybe, I should write about my adventures in the o-zone free sun here in Aussieland.  I have a genius/American idea.  You, the readers, can vote for my next topic.  Give me freedom or give me death.  Give the people what they want.


Vote or die,

Cheers,
Alex