Ok - today class we're going to have a vocabulary lesson. I jotted down a few words and how they relate to my new world. These are things I am encountering everyday. There are others, but these were ones that came in all in about a two hour time span in one day.
Risers - risers here are closets, but more on the utility type end. There are risers that contain electrical workings, plumbing works, janitor supplies - things along those lines. Risers are also stairs or the stairwells containing the stairs.
Closets as we know them as a place to put your clothes are called wardrobes. They are not closets in the sense we know them either. They are big cabinets - anywhere from 2 to 6 put in your bedroom - that are actually cabinets that hold your shoes and clothes, many times ceiling to floor in size. They are only as deep as a regular closet. Even in the huge designer homes this is what you put in. They are found made from all types of wood, laminate and frosted glass. Some are so very rudimentary and some are exquisite in the material and design. But there are no closets of any type anywhere in the home or apartment as we know them. Comes from the age old European custom that even carried over to the states in some places - the people were taxed according to the number of rooms they had in a house. A built in closet - regardles of how tiny - was considered a room. Wardrobes were not. Also because they have no air space above and below as our American closet doors do, they help keep out insects (which nowadays is not a big problem) and humidity, which is still a huge problem.
Carpark - this is exactly as it seems, a place to park your car while you are out of it. A carpark may be at a shopping center or it maybe at the end of your driveway. It can refer to a parking space or it can refer to what we know as a garage or a lot. It is never a parking lot or a parking space though regardless of size, space, containment factor - it remains only a carpark.
A garage on the other hand is the place where you take your car to be repaired. I asked a question of the taxi driver yesterday trying to figure out where he parked his taxi at night - at his home or a main lot. I asked about a garge for it. he was very puzzled and told me no need for a garage - his automobile was running fine. And they are only called taxis, as in the generic sense or automobiles. never auto or car, but always automobile.
We secure things here as in we acquire them. I always think of secure as to making or keeping something safe. here to secure something is to purchase, buy, trade or obtain.
To make or keep something safe here, you are safekeeping it. Not to be confused with keeping it safe, guarding it and never shortening the word, but always using it as safekeeping. As in " we are safekeeping it for her". "The police will be safekeeping us tonight as we sleep".
On the other hand, secure is not to be confused with things you have acquired through any means other than through money as a rent, lease, purchase or trade. In this case things you receive through means other than money is to be gifted. "She was gifted for her birthday with a new car." "He was gifted with a promotion."
To ask for a restroom, either at a business such as the mall or in one's home means you would like to wash your hands. Bathroom means literally that you'd like to take a bath. Toilet means "I need to go!
Over here they do not text message - they SMS (stands for short message service) and they do it constantly. The world champ is a 19 year old from Singapore - he can do some incredibly large number of characters in a super short period of time. I understand it has it's own language and vocabulary - something we all know I will probably never master. Yes, it is so hard to teach an old dog new tricks. SMS's are very cheap, but talking on your cell phone is incredibly expensive. They will charge you a high rate for 200 minutes, but charge nothing for 5,000 text - sorry - SMS messages.
Also, it is never a cell phone - it is a hand phone, not to be confused with your house phone. Sometimes you will hear it referred to as your mobile number, but again, never as a cell phone. And not as a mobile phone, only as your mobile number.
You never ask a question or make a request. You are making an inquiry.
The tab you need to pay for your dinner is never known as a check. It is referred to as a ticket or a bill.
You are never given a ticket by a police officer, but have been cited. Not given a citation, just cited. Some words here only have one form.
Purses are never purses, but only handbags. Never mind whether it is a wallet, a big bag or a small bag - if it's a ladies it's a handbag. For men and children any bag carried, whether it goes on your back or is pulled like a suitcase is called a back pack.
My absolute favorites are when the answer to something - anything is cannot. "Would you pass the salt?" Cannot. "Would you move over a little?" Cannot. You get the idea - substitute cannot for any place in your vocabulary you would use the word no. It is most often accompanied by a negative, quick shake of the head in one direction. Not shaking back and forth. Just movement to one side.
On the other hand, if you want to say yes to something, then the appropriate response is can can. Not just one word usually, but both - can can. Makes me think of dancing women in crinoline petticoats in France doing the can-can.
My last one for this lesson is suresureokokokno worries. If you want to know if something is ok, they say sure, sure followed by ok, ok, ok, followed by no worries. It always comes out as one big long word. "Did the doctor say you are over your cold now? Suresureokokoknoworries. All in one breath.
Ok, class that's the lesson for today! I am headed down the risers to the carpark where the taxis hang out so I can head to the mall to secure soomething I will later tell Basil he has gifted me with, but I hope the taxi doesn't get cited for speeding or I will have to find the toilet as soon as I arrive, hoping all the while I have not left my handbag in the automobile, at which point i would have to make an inquiry through a SMS on my handphone to locate it. Can can. Everyone try to be good - cannot. See ya later! Suresureokokoknoworries!
Shari - you are wonderful - please take care of yourself and get better soon.
Lynn look for an email regarding your mom and her trip - if you don't get it soon, remind me!!
Rox - thanks for the rice measurement - Basil surprised me and brought a couple of boxes home from LA last night.
Yes Heather - he's still there.
Risers - risers here are closets, but more on the utility type end. There are risers that contain electrical workings, plumbing works, janitor supplies - things along those lines. Risers are also stairs or the stairwells containing the stairs.
Closets as we know them as a place to put your clothes are called wardrobes. They are not closets in the sense we know them either. They are big cabinets - anywhere from 2 to 6 put in your bedroom - that are actually cabinets that hold your shoes and clothes, many times ceiling to floor in size. They are only as deep as a regular closet. Even in the huge designer homes this is what you put in. They are found made from all types of wood, laminate and frosted glass. Some are so very rudimentary and some are exquisite in the material and design. But there are no closets of any type anywhere in the home or apartment as we know them. Comes from the age old European custom that even carried over to the states in some places - the people were taxed according to the number of rooms they had in a house. A built in closet - regardles of how tiny - was considered a room. Wardrobes were not. Also because they have no air space above and below as our American closet doors do, they help keep out insects (which nowadays is not a big problem) and humidity, which is still a huge problem.
Carpark - this is exactly as it seems, a place to park your car while you are out of it. A carpark may be at a shopping center or it maybe at the end of your driveway. It can refer to a parking space or it can refer to what we know as a garage or a lot. It is never a parking lot or a parking space though regardless of size, space, containment factor - it remains only a carpark.
A garage on the other hand is the place where you take your car to be repaired. I asked a question of the taxi driver yesterday trying to figure out where he parked his taxi at night - at his home or a main lot. I asked about a garge for it. he was very puzzled and told me no need for a garage - his automobile was running fine. And they are only called taxis, as in the generic sense or automobiles. never auto or car, but always automobile.
We secure things here as in we acquire them. I always think of secure as to making or keeping something safe. here to secure something is to purchase, buy, trade or obtain.
To make or keep something safe here, you are safekeeping it. Not to be confused with keeping it safe, guarding it and never shortening the word, but always using it as safekeeping. As in " we are safekeeping it for her". "The police will be safekeeping us tonight as we sleep".
On the other hand, secure is not to be confused with things you have acquired through any means other than through money as a rent, lease, purchase or trade. In this case things you receive through means other than money is to be gifted. "She was gifted for her birthday with a new car." "He was gifted with a promotion."
To ask for a restroom, either at a business such as the mall or in one's home means you would like to wash your hands. Bathroom means literally that you'd like to take a bath. Toilet means "I need to go!
Over here they do not text message - they SMS (stands for short message service) and they do it constantly. The world champ is a 19 year old from Singapore - he can do some incredibly large number of characters in a super short period of time. I understand it has it's own language and vocabulary - something we all know I will probably never master. Yes, it is so hard to teach an old dog new tricks. SMS's are very cheap, but talking on your cell phone is incredibly expensive. They will charge you a high rate for 200 minutes, but charge nothing for 5,000 text - sorry - SMS messages.
Also, it is never a cell phone - it is a hand phone, not to be confused with your house phone. Sometimes you will hear it referred to as your mobile number, but again, never as a cell phone. And not as a mobile phone, only as your mobile number.
You never ask a question or make a request. You are making an inquiry.
The tab you need to pay for your dinner is never known as a check. It is referred to as a ticket or a bill.
You are never given a ticket by a police officer, but have been cited. Not given a citation, just cited. Some words here only have one form.
Purses are never purses, but only handbags. Never mind whether it is a wallet, a big bag or a small bag - if it's a ladies it's a handbag. For men and children any bag carried, whether it goes on your back or is pulled like a suitcase is called a back pack.
My absolute favorites are when the answer to something - anything is cannot. "Would you pass the salt?" Cannot. "Would you move over a little?" Cannot. You get the idea - substitute cannot for any place in your vocabulary you would use the word no. It is most often accompanied by a negative, quick shake of the head in one direction. Not shaking back and forth. Just movement to one side.
On the other hand, if you want to say yes to something, then the appropriate response is can can. Not just one word usually, but both - can can. Makes me think of dancing women in crinoline petticoats in France doing the can-can.
My last one for this lesson is suresureokokokno worries. If you want to know if something is ok, they say sure, sure followed by ok, ok, ok, followed by no worries. It always comes out as one big long word. "Did the doctor say you are over your cold now? Suresureokokoknoworries. All in one breath.
Ok, class that's the lesson for today! I am headed down the risers to the carpark where the taxis hang out so I can head to the mall to secure soomething I will later tell Basil he has gifted me with, but I hope the taxi doesn't get cited for speeding or I will have to find the toilet as soon as I arrive, hoping all the while I have not left my handbag in the automobile, at which point i would have to make an inquiry through a SMS on my handphone to locate it. Can can. Everyone try to be good - cannot. See ya later! Suresureokokoknoworries!
Shari - you are wonderful - please take care of yourself and get better soon.
Lynn look for an email regarding your mom and her trip - if you don't get it soon, remind me!!
Rox - thanks for the rice measurement - Basil surprised me and brought a couple of boxes home from LA last night.
Yes Heather - he's still there.
