Up until a few weeks ago, I never really watched The Science Channel. I mean, you know, it's The Science Channel. Science + Tina has never really been a good combination. It's kind of like The Hubs + Lifetime TV...it just doesn't go together. Kind of a square peg and a round hole situation, if you know what I mean.
But then we started watching An Idiot Abroad, which just happens to be on TSC, and apparently I'm a only slightly changed woman. So yes, my name is Tina, and I watch The Science Channel. I still haven't figured out exactly why An Idiot Abroad is on TSC, but that's OK because I'm learning so much from the show, and laughing so hard in the process, that I don't really care why it's on TSC.
Sure there are the obvious lessons: experiencing different cultures, learning about world wonders, and discovering global geography through the immediacy of an HD-flat-screen-visual-medium...yadda, yadda, yadda. Ahem. Those are all a given when you watch Karl Pilkington travel all around the world with cameras in tow.
But what about the not-so-obvious lessons? The hidden gems, as it were. The itty bitty nitty gritty, so to speak. What exactly am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about the British Slang! I freaking love it. Sometimes I get so caught up in the words Karl uses to describe things--many of which I've not heard before, or if I have, I didn't know what they meant. Just Karl's manner of speaking makes almost any of his wise-cracking comments just this side of hysterical. But I've been having fun looking up some of those words online too, so I thought I'd share them here with you. Kind of my way of paying it forward in bloggyworld...because really, who can't benefit from some British Slang education, compliments of Karl Pilkington, a.k.a. An Idiot Abroad, a la The Science Channel?!
So here are a few of my favorite British Slang words that I have learned from An Idiot Abroad so far.
Bollocks: Testicles. Rubbish, nonsense, drivel.
In Karl Speak: "Me bollocks are squashed."
Knob: Penis. An idiot; objectionable person.
In Karl Speak: "Another fella with his knob an' bollocks on a stick....WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Knackered: Tired, worn out, exhausted.
In Karl Speak: "Oh he's knackered." (Describing an exhausted camel, whom he also described as the 'ship of the desert,' and in this case, the Titanic.)
Goz: Phlegm, mucous, snot.
In Karl Speak: "Is that someone's goz?" (Referring to a glob of something--probably dried salt--that parked itself in his belly button while he was floating in the Dead Sea.")
Nappy: Diaper.
In Karl Speak: "Shitty nappy whizzing through the air, you don’t see that in the brochures."
You gotta love Karl Pilkington. Not only is he taking us along on his journey around the world and providing us with his unique views of the cultural and visual history he beholds, he's also teaching us the important stuff: British Slang. ;) And hey, he's actually getting me to watch The Science Channel. And liking it. Something the Hubs himself has never been able to do.
Some people thing Karl is stupid. And strange. But I think he's very insightful, even if unintentionally so at times. And his quips and comments and delivery are so funny...and who doesn't like to laugh? So basically it's some kind of science thing (still trying to figure out what) with a side of wit and a wee bit of "idiot" wisdom thrown in for good measure.
I'll just end this with a quote from Karl himself, just because it's so very...Karl, from his trip to China.
"I mean, it's weird because whenever you buy something, toilet rolls and stuff like that, it says "Made in China" ... well how come they're not using them then?"
"I mean, it's weird because whenever you buy something, toilet rolls and stuff like that, it says "Made in China" ... well how come they're not using them then?"