Boy why you slumberin ~ being slow
I gotta go fresh up ~ go bathe and make yourself look nice
Miss, you packing up the books? ~ putting the books on the shelves
This book stale ~ This book is boring
Don't go wet up your skin! ~ don't get wet!
Sun come out sharp ~ it's hot!
Shake them off ~ Wave
Mosquito plenty ~ TONS of mosquitos
Mango tree barin greedy ~ no mangos on the tree :-(
Miss you plenty ~ I miss you!
Here wha happen ~ the beginning of every story
You'll get accustomed to it ~ what guyanese say to us about everything different
Breeze blowin nice ~ Finally some cool air
Belly full? ~ what my host gran asks after every meal
You gettin tru? ~ How you doin?
Ya all right? ~ See above
I weary bad man ~ I'm tired
Miss, take me out ~ Take a picture of me!
Mosquitos singin ~ TONS of mosquitos
Pickney ~ Chilren ~ Children
Take out your food now ~ Dinners ready!
It bore my finger ~ I hurt my finger
Night too short? ~ What my host mom would ask every morning
Heiss me up! ~ Pick me up!
Arawak Words I've Learned:
Chota ~ pancakes
Chilali~ small fried pancakes
Danshe kabee ~ I love you
Yowri ~ Big rat thing
Acuri ~ Capybara
Myths and Legends:
Beware of snakes in rainy weather, the creeks get flooded and they come out
Beware of snakes in dry weather, they come out looking for water
Black nosed dogs= bad dogs
Put essence (like extract) in dog's food so they only eat your food and won't eat poisoned food
If you heiss a dog too much they will get sick and die
If you sweep someone's feet they won't get married
An old hague is an old woman who takes off her skin and scares children
If you hand someone peppers you and them will quarrel
Mermaids live in the waters and try to drown you and eat you, especially if you're menstruating
Jiambis come out at night and whistle three times, then try to kill you and eat your insides
Canaimas also come at night and take the form of different things to kill you
If you drink the black water (from lakes) you'll never wanna leave Guyana
More to come!
"A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd
