I don’t know about you, but coming from Goa, India, the student culture in York was quite confusing.
When you first start university, you’re going to hear stuff like “Hey, I saw Longboi”, “Whoa, you’re such a BNOC!” or “Let’s get a chippy and then go for a kebab”. I decided to make a small list of phrases and terms for incoming international students to get a taste of student life and what’s in store for them at the Uni, to help make that transition into York life a bit smoother.
1) Long Boi
What is a Long boi? Is it like a really tall man? Why does everyone care so much about Long boi?
Well, Long Boi is a duck. A duck with a long neck. Yes, you heard me right. Long Boi was featured on the BBC, was on the front page of Reddit, and has over fifty thousand followers on Instagram. He was also the topic of a radio show and was even on TV if I am correct. However, I couldn’t find links for these clips.
Going out to find Longboi with your flatmates is like a rite of passage into Uni of York life.
PS – some people claim he is the longthiest mallard duck in the world… well, unfortunately, that’s not true. Longboi is a mix between a mallard and an indian runner duck. He is about 70cm tall, the average length of an indian runner duck. However, since there aren’t any other ducks his height on campus, he is like a giant.
2) “I’m going to the Chippy”
A Chippy is a fish and chip shop. They also serve sausages and pies, along with a variety of British sides like mushy peas, which tastes much better than it looks.
3) BNOC
This is an acronym for “Big Name On Campus”. Someone popular and famous on campus, typically with a substantial following on social media.
4) YUSU
The York University Students’ Union is focused on undergraduates. Make sure to check out their website for a lot of helpful information.
5) Kebab shops
It’s trendy in the UK to get a kebab after a night out. These fast food places serve the titular kebab (with doner kebabs being the most popular), pizzas, fries and many other fast food dishes. The ones famously used by uni students are Efes (close to Campus West) and Cecils (right on Campus East). Also, there’s Vikings Pizza which is on the way from town to uni, so many students tend to buy a cheeky snack there.
6) “I’m going to Iceland.”
When my flatmates first told me they were “going to Iceland”, I asked them to get me a souvenir. Only a while later, I understood that Iceland is also the name of a supermarket chain that specializes in frozen foods. Other popular supermarkets are Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons, Tesco, NISA, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, M&S and Waitrose.
Out of these, Lidl has the best bakery and really low prices. Aldi is the most affordable. M&S and Waitrose are considered “too posh” and a place to go when you are “middle-aged” (I really like the M&S in town, though). Morrisons has the best deli with a vast selection and the best bread loaves (of course, this is but only my opinion).
Lastly, invest in a “Clubcard” if you plan to shop often at Tesco. It drastically reduces prices.
7) Socials
Socials are informal events where you get to socialise. They can range from a wild drinking social to a more sombre coffee social. They are held mainly by societies, colleges and sometimes by departments. The most famous are the sports socials which happen every Wednesday. They’re held by all the different sports societies and they go on nights out in the city.
Anyway, that’s it for this one. I hope it’s useful and you learnt something new. Thank you so much for your time, and I hope you have a great day 🙂
This truly is the peak of journalism ! Thanks for the tips! I feel the savings flowing through my veins already!