New Vocabulary an other changes...

Living in a totally new place means there's a lot to learn.  It seems at times as though you know nothing useful at all. There are new experiences daily and there are days where staying inside really is the best option...  One thing that comes fairly quickly is the new vocabulary in a place.  I don't mean language, I mean vocabulary.. 

Here are a few examples: (these may overlap to many other places)

We live in a compound.  No, not like the branch dividians in Waco, TX (1993)..  I've had that question asked on more than one occasion..  A compound is basically a walled in group of houses.  There's a gate with guards to make sure everyone who comes in the gate is supposed to be here.  There don't seem to be many stand alone homes, just compounds.

We live in an apartment, not a villa.  Villas aren't a fancy Italian home..  It's a term that people use for a multi-story home (we used the same term in Morocco). 

People in the States talk about going on vacation.. people here travel or are traveling.  There's a break coming up and the question you'll hear is, "So, are you traveling?"  On breaks from school here, it is almost assumed (rightly so) that people will travel)..  It allows time away as a family or group to recharge and energize for more school/life here.

You're sick!  Bummer, better head to the clinic..  Most people here use the clinic, a free medical service in Education City.  There's a dentist, several doctors, a pharmacy etc. all in one place, and it's free for employees of the Qatar Foundation.  So, while you may go to the doctor, it's the clinic for us..


Here are some "other" new things:

Fast food delivery...  yup.  Mc Donalds, Burger King, Hardees, KFC etc.  all have delivery services, and many have curb-side service as well.  There aren't a lot of stand-alone restaurants because they are mainly located in strip malls, so not many drive thru options.  This makes delivery a nice option.  We haven't used this option yet (for fast food), but I've deemed next year, the year of delivery!

Malls..Malls EVERYWHERE...  There are literally malls everywhere.  In Ft. Wayne, we had THE Mall..  Here, when I say mall.. the kids know to ask, "which one?"  There's Ezdan, which is our favorite - it's not as busy as some of the others, I know the stores (Children's Place), and the kids' play area (indoor amusement park and games) is bearable...  There's Landmark, which we go to for movies, a few restaurants (like Fridays), and the big Careffour (European super market).  Parking is always awful, but sometimes we deal.  There's Villaggio, which is like a destination..  It is themed after Venice, complete with a river down the middle and a sky painted ceiling.  You can easily forget you are inside.  We've gone a couple of times for Crispy Cream donuts (don't judge) and gondola rides..  Parking is atrocious and there are WAY too many people, but sometimes the donuts call..  City Center has ice skating, Lagoona Mall, The Gate Mall, The Mall, Dar al Salam Mall, Parco Mall,  and there are two (that I know of) being built.  With the weather so hot for a lot of the year, people just go inside (malls) to socialize and get out.  Each has a indoor amusement place for kids, restaurants, shops etc. 

P and M watching the gondolas at Villaggio Mall.. 

FunVille at Ezdan mall.. 

Beaches..  Yes, they are everywhere, but they're not exactly all white and sand beaches..  The only nice sandy beaches we've found are the private ones (either compound or hotel beaches - you have to pay to use these ones)..  Beach shoes are a must for us. 

One of the nice sandy beaches (a private one)..

One of the not so nice ones..  We had to rescue some shoes from that mud/clay.. 

The Driving.. dear Lord the driving..  That's an entire post, for another day!


There are so many more examples, but this gives you an idea.
If you live outside of your home country, what were some vocabulary differences that you noticed?