A fun
comparison of the difference in words used in Texas (and most of the US)
compared to the ones used here in Swaziland. I've found that many of these come
from the British or South African influence but some terms are found only in Swaziland.

Our
CVS' are their Clicks

Our
HEBs are their Spars

Our
liquor stores are their bottle stores

Our
gas is their petrol

Our
motorcycles are their motorbikes

Our
restrooms are their toilets

Our
chewing gum are their chappies

Our
pills are their tablets

Our
French fries are their chips

Our
ketchup is their tomato sauce

Our
chips are their potato chips

Our
cookies are their biscuits

Our cell
phone's minutes are their cell phone's airtime

Our
text is their SMS

Our
minivans are their kombis

Our
fireworks are their crickets

Our
beef jerky is their biltong

Our
tennis shoes are their sneakers

Our
pants are their trousers

Our
last name is their surname

Our
"would you like a ride?" is their "would you like a lift?"

Our
‘wait in a line' is their ‘queue'

Our BBQ
bit is their Braai pit (pronounced Bry as in Bryan)

When
finished at a restaurant in Swaziland, you ask for the bill not the check. And
you receive this from the waitron, not waiter or waitress.

When
someone is asking to borrow something from you they say something like this,
"Busi, please borrow me a pen?"

In
speech, pronouns of he and she are often said for the other, making for some
very confusing and funny misunderstandings.

We
are fortunate enough to have our own kombi supplied by AIM. I never thought I
would get the opportunity to experience the last difference but since we do
almost all of our own driving here, driving
is done the left side of the road not the right. It's a difference that I
have to remind myself of each time I pull out onto the road.