Language Lesson

I have been here just over two weeks and already I am picking up the language! So proud! And guess what! You can be as enlightened as me! I will help you all from time to time with some simple language nuances that will become more difficult with time. 4 or so words a day, and you too will have an expat's command of this one-of-a-kind dialect.

Ready? I'll start small...

Holiday = Vacation
Way Out = Exit. (Believe me, I had great hope that it was something deeper. I have been searching for just such a thing...)
Alight = Get off. As in the train. No, all you smokers out there, it does not mean someone needs you to light their cigarette.
Platform Gap = that pesky space between the train and the platform that one could trip over.
Mind = Watch it. As in 'Platform gap'
Lift = Elevator. Not a pick-me-up.
Hacks = Cough Drops (not making that up)
Digestion Biscuits = Tums

Easy so far, right? Yay! Bear with me.

In or Takeaway. Said quickly it sounds like 'inotakweigh.' It is always said quickly. It has to do with food. Give up? It means - For Here or To Go. There are so many different versions of this particular inquiry, that even if I am ordering food, when asked this question, I might be tempted to say...'huh?' In fact I guaran-damn-tee you I will.

Colite? - Also having to do with food. This is what they say when you order a diet coke. It means coke light. Sometimes, just to mix it up, you may hear cozeero. This means coke zero. Everyone is completely confused by the word 'diet.' I am learning not to use it.

Set? Cheapa! - More food talk. This is a 'meal deal.' If you order a set, and this is my favorite part of this particular peculiarity - you may not pick your drink! That's right. You want this sandwich? Only comes with Pepsi. Oh, you want that one? 7-Up. No sustitutononoset.

And finally, the coup de grace - the 'Youwanafando?' Ok I have no idea what this means. I have learned to just say yes to this particular question, because I do love a surprise and what I get generally confounds any possible expectation. Once, I got some seaweed stuff to put on McDonald's french fries (tasted pretty good, too), once I got a bowl of soup, another time a fork and napkin, and, this one time, I got some non-descript visceral looking stuff in my stir fry that we dubbed 'Mongolian Guts.' It tasted ok....kinda chewy, tho.