Right. Yes, I know the definitions. But what I'm wondering is if there's a functional difference or if one can or does serve as the other and vice versa.
I would imagine not... it's like comparing a grocery store to a dining room. Or maybe a pantry would be a better analogy. They're probably near one another?
Very different. Commissary in the US military, esp the Navy, has many things that are not even related to food - it's a tax free store for use by members of the military and their families. Much more like a SuperK or Walmart in some ways, with food & equipment.
Mess hall would be the place that you can get prepared food, for consumption onsite.
The commissary is the base supermarket, and the mess hall is like a restaurant. Some military people have to pay to eat in the mess hall (if they live off-base, for instance).
Even more like a taxfree Stop-n-Shop versus a school cafeteria (where some pay out of pocket, and others have their meals paid for by a set-aside of govt. money)
You're right -- it's a lot like that! Except instead of the kids forming eating cliques on their own (or in addition to it), you've got the formal segregation between officer and enlisted eating areas.
Niether of which should be confused with the base's "department store" which is called a Navy Exchange for USN and USMC, a Post Exchange for Army (I'm pretty sure--haven't been on an Army base in years) and a Base Exchange for Air Force.
It could depend on the military in question. However, it's likely the writer is being incorrect. You might be able to get a candy bar at both locations... but one has a box of cereal, and the other has a bowl of it, served w/ Milk. That's at least in the US forces, for my limited set of knowledge.
I did. I completely understand from a shambles of a mental timeline.
So maybe we can meet up for non-food before you head West; I work in Kendall Square, so I'm right on the T and able to get most places relatively easily.
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Date: 2008-03-04 06:09 pm (UTC)Mess Hall: a hall or building (as on an army post) in which mess is served
Mess: a quantity of food
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Date: 2008-03-04 06:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:24 pm (UTC)(I'm a big sucker for babies, especially sleepy babies...)
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Date: 2008-03-04 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:25 pm (UTC)Mess hall would be the place that you can get prepared food, for consumption onsite.
So, very big functional difference.
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Date: 2008-03-04 06:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:26 pm (UTC)It's like Stop & Shop vs. Ponderosa. Mind you, you don't get served in the mess hall, but there's usually a salad bar, dessert bar, soup station, etc.
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Date: 2008-03-04 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 07:08 pm (UTC)I miss the tax-free shopping.
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Date: 2008-03-04 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-06 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:54 pm (UTC)So I guess it depends on if the author is British or not.
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Date: 2008-03-04 06:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:59 pm (UTC)Did you get my message regarding the 20th? My mental time line is in shambles! :)
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Date: 2008-03-04 07:14 pm (UTC)So maybe we can meet up for non-food before you head West; I work in Kendall Square, so I'm right on the T and able to get most places relatively easily.
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Date: 2008-03-04 07:17 pm (UTC)I'll keep in touch and we will connect before I leave.
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Date: 2008-03-04 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 10:40 pm (UTC)(So Dr. Google tells me that the original German version of the song has the line, "Hey, man, wanna buy some stuff, man?" So -- topical!)