For the benefit of future swim tourists, here are some translations to help with the language barrier. (This is a work in progress and may expand as my Aussie vocabulary increases.)
bathers | bathing suit |
boom | bulkhead |
budgy smuggler | male Speedo-cut suit |
change room | locker room, with the caveat that Aussie change rooms may not have lockers, as they may be on deck instead |
circle swimming | the term is the same, but Down Under it means swimming clockwise rather than counterclockwise |
cossies | bathing suit |
nippers | young kids in training to be ocean lifeguards |
spa | hot tub |
squad | team or training group |
stands | bleachers |
surf beach | ocean beach with waves |
swimmers | bathing suit |
togs | bathing suit |
tumble turn | flip turn |
budgie smugglers!! RFLOL
[…] prevented you from taking a logical route from one pool to another. Making matters worse, I left my bathers in the car (this was a day of many swims; please forgive me) so I had to make extra exit and reentry […]
[…] my simple advice to anyone contemplating a swim trip to Australia is go. You’ll pick up the lingo, adapt to swimming on the left, and fall in love with the swim culture in no […]