Aberdeen is awesome

I love it here in Aberdeen. The pace of life is different than it was in Canada. Tonight we were walking on busy streets in the rain and everyone seemed so calm. I appreciated that! Drivers are generally more considerate and seem to be less rushed than I remember them back home, too. The weather is never too hot and never too cold. We are minutes from the North Sea. There are numerous castles and cool places to take day trips to. We have some great friends and a church family we love. Our flat is cozy and warm and we have a great little garden out back.

Okay, this is Eilean Donan on the west coast, but we have castles around here, too!

One of the funnest things about living here has been learning the lingo and listening to Elijah and Brady pick up Scottish accents and sayings. I’ve been working on a list of some of the words we’ve learned or started using since moving here almost 15 months ago. I’m quite certain that I’m missing lots, but here’s a start.

Clothing:
wellies = rubber boots
vest = undershirt
waistcoat = vest
jumper = sweater/sweatshirt
trousers = pants
pants = underwear
winter hat = toque
nappies = diapers

Places and Things:
football = soccer
North American football = football
cot = crib
flat = house or apartment
garden = yard
sitting room/lounge = living room/family room
vestibule = entry hall
toilet = restroom
loo = toilet
rubbish = garbage
rubbish bin or just bin = garbage can
city centre = down town
pavement = sidewalk
dual carriageway = highway
roundabout = traffic circle
lorry = cargo truck
petrol = gasoline
boot = trunk
bonnet = hood
wind screen = windshield
surgery = doctor’s office
paddling pool = wading pool
flumes = water slides
queue = line
rota = schedule
head teacher = principal
depute head teacher = vice-principal
nursery = playschool and/or daycare
creche = nursery
jotter = notebook
rubber = eraser
floor brush = broom (you brush the floor, you don’t sweep)
hoover = vacuum (also used as a verb and a noun)
corn flour = cornstarch
bicarbonate of soda = baking soda
biscuit = cookie
crisps = chips
chips = fries
pudding = dessert
courgette = zucchini
aubergine = eggplant
fizzy drink = pop/soda
squash = concentrated juice
bloke = man
mobile = cellular phone
bairn = child
mate = friend
ben = mountain
loch = lake
pram = stroller
trolley = grocery cart
drugs = street drugs not over the counter or prescription medications
sick = puke (to say you were sick means you threw up, not that you were unwell)
fortnight = 2 weeks
redundant = here you are not laid off from a job, you are made redundant

Descriptive words:
moreish = said of something that makes you want more
daft = foolish; stupid
fit = good looking
gutted = disappointed
mingin’ = dirty
cracking = great/very enjoyable (ie. ‘We had a cracking time.’)
cheeky = cheeky (but they say it a lot here)
chuffed = very happy/excited

Sayings and phrases:
‘sling your hook’ = ‘get out of here’
‘have a blether’ = to ‘have a chat’ (Jesse was called a blether when he was talking a lot)
‘ring’/’bell’ = here you don’t say you’ll call someone, you say you’ll ‘ring them’ or ‘give them a bell’
‘ta’ = thank you (said by people of all ages, not just babies)
‘ah dinnae ken’ = ‘I don’t know’
‘nae bad’ = ‘not bad’
‘aye’ = ‘yes’
‘cheerio’ = ‘goodbye’
‘cheers’ = ‘thanks’

Things you hear much more often:
‘as well’ (you don’t hear ‘too’ or ‘also’ much)
‘brilliant’
‘clever’
‘f*#k’
‘Ace!’
‘hiya!’
‘wee’
‘baddies’ = ‘bad guys’
‘goodies’ = ‘good guys’

So tell me, what else am I missing?