American to English Translator

Having been here a grand total of a week, I've come across a series of new words that at first were completely mind-boggling and confusing. So here comes a list of words that I think are amusing, strange, odd and worthy of note with a short blurb about the way I came to know them (if interesting enough).

sham - pillow case.
Yes after wondering aimlessly around a store looking for a pillowcase, I finally asked and was told the truth. This is not a pillow case - it is a sham.


biscuit - a savoury scone


yellow-jacket - wasp.
There was a news article about this. They were explaining the increase in allergic reactions to yellow-jacket stings. Being nervous about a new kind of bug to avoid I googled it only to discover that this terrifying yellow jacket is just your common garden wasp. 


grits - corn grain that's a little bit like a polenta or semolina but usually fried (eg. in bacon fat) and served with breakfast.
Southern delicacy - a must try if you're ever in the States.


y'all - you all/you guys
This might seem obvious (well it kind of is) but when you've had to practise saying 'Y'ALL' in a group with Amanda-the-awesome-Gregory you'll understand. Say what now y'all? 


Brandy Christmas & Cherie Berry - totally normal American names.
Brandy is my banker. Cherie is the lady in charge of the elevators. 


Recitation - a tutorial
A tutorial that can be between 5 and 50 people big and generally only for those classes of HUGE sizes, luckily I am lacking in any of these as apparently they're not so much fun and really more like 'high school' classes.

fig. 1.

Greek System - the system behind fraternities and sororities
Fraternities (Latin root: frater = brother) and Sororities (Latin root: soror = sister) are usually single sex societies that are individually denoted by Greek Letters ( eg. fig.1) thus known as being part of the Greek System. Each sorority is part of a National Body which 'governs' (for lack of a better term) the Chapters (another name for the letters). For the Sororities this is the Panhellenic Council and for the Fraternities it's the Interfraternity Council. Some of these Chapters will have Chapter Houses which members can live in. Some are mixed-sex. Some are focused on a particular identity or interest (eg. Literary Frats. Christian Frats.) 


Rush - the process where boys/girls try to get bids from Houses in the Greek System.
See HERE for a micro-blog about Sorority Rush.


PNM - Potential New Member who is 'rushing' to join a Chapter.
At the time of writing, I am a PNM. It's a position that means you are eligible to be treated like you're five by the Recruitment Councillors and scorned by non-Rushees. 


Bid - An offer of a place in a Fraternity/Sorority
Given to you on Bid Day. You only receive one bid which is sorted out via a complicated and very serious system of cluster sheets, rankings and preferences. 


Pledge - A former PNM who is now in the process of 'pledging' to their respective Chapter
A vaguely terrifying position. For boys this is considered the hard part as you have to go through various processes and fulfill certain duties/requirements to secure your position in the fraternity. For girls this is known as the good bit as you're given many many presents, go on retreats with your 'pledge class' (the people you were chosen with) and other things. This entry is subject to change.