Tag Archives: Farin

We yaa luk pahn mi fa?

17 Dec

Yaav manaz? We dat iivn miin? Evriwe yu go yu ago fain se ‘gud manaz’ no set ina stuon. Muo taim wen mi de skuul a farin an smadi du sopm we mek mi skin op mi fies, mi afi iiz bak ahn se, “Wiet, ina fi im main im neva du notn rang. Di muos mi kyahn du a jraa im wan said an mek im nuo se we im du bada mi, so ef im kyahn pliiz no dwiit agen.” Bot den somtaim yaafi jos mek it gwaan.

Wan ting duo mi kyahn tek, nomata we mi de—wen piipl stier pahn mi. An mek mi tel yu, nobadi laik Jomiekan piipl fi stier ina yu maanin laik yu uo dem sopm. Wa die ya mi ina Madaz an wahn likl gorl a luk pahn mi, so mi luk pan ar bak. Wen mi ekspek di pikni fi tek aaf ar yai dem nou, notn di pikni du bot tier dem out aafa mi. Mi se tu miself, “bot de likl pikni ya no iizi!” Afta shi get ar tuu piis shi waak uova tu mi ahn se, “dat wehn at,” an a paint pahn mi yaibrou ring. Aal nou mi no ansa ar! Mi nuo ar? kmt

Wahn neks taim mi sidong a nyam wahn borga, an so mi lif op mi ed mi si wahn uman a tier rait ina mi maanin. So mi tek mi taim mout out, “we yaa luk pahn mi fa?” Mi se di uman riel op yu si, “Yu si mi a luk pahn yu, yu si mi a luk pahn yu!” Shi nehna luk, bot yet shi si we mi mout out.

Miebi a jos mi, bot mi no laik i. Wa die ya mi figa out ou fi kech di likl boga dem. Mi naamali no pie dem no main, bot nou mi staat plie dem giem—wen dem a luk pahn yu, luk bak. Yu fraitn fi si ou faas dem tek aaf dem yai. Som piipl laik di gorl ina Madaz naav no shiem, bot muos piipl tap luk antil likl afta dem tek anada prips. So nou mi nuo se piipl av manaz, dem jos naago yuuz i antil yu mek dem nuo se yu si dem.

Wan ada ting mi nuotis—jenda disaid uu (kyahn) stier pahn uu. Man no riili luk pahn man. Mi memba wen mi likl an a go skuul wan maanin mi de pan di bos an a luk chuu di windo. Di bos tap a wahn bostap an mi yai kech wahn neda man yai. Az di bos a jraiv aaf di man baal out, “We yaa luk pahn mi fa, yaa batiman?” Yu naafi aaks ef afta dat mi luk ina no man yai agen. Yu si dat? Wi pofaam jenda iivn chuu uu wi kyan stier pan.

Wan neda riizn mek mi no tink i rait fi stier pahn piipl a se i kyam mek piipl fiil bad. Wen mi wehn ina gried fuor mi memba wan taim mi si wahn big uman uu ‘donggruo’. Mi staat paint tu mi fren dem ya nou an a laaf se mi an ar a di siem ait. Di uamn luk pahn mi ahn se, “A uu yaa luk pan? A maita gi yu sopm fi laaf bout!” Afta dat, mi lorn mi lesn—no laaf afta shaat piipl. Bot no onggl dat. Jos chuu smadi likl difrent frahn yu, dat no miin se wi fi mek dem fiil difrent. Evribadi disorv likl rispek wen dem waak ina di ruod. Aal ef yu luk pan di smadi kaa yu laik dem tu raatid, yu no supuoz tu a luk muo dahn tuu sekan bifuo yu tek aaf yu yai dem.

A di en a di die, weda farin ar Jomieka, mi no tink i rait fi stier pahn piipl. Tek a wan luk, an ef dem naa luk bak, tek a neda wan, bot fi jos a stier ina piipl maanin so? Nuo man! Dat a wan ting mi naago chrai fi andastan. Az mi se duo, jos stier rait bak pan dem. Dat wii tek di powa outa di objektifikieshan.

 

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Farin Kalij Se Patwa a Langwij

1 Aug


Evri pikni we go Daatmot Kalij a Nyuu Amsha afi du wahn farin langwij- anles dem chat muo ahn wan langwij aredi. Wen mi staat skuul 2008, mi wehn shuor shuor fran i risorch we mi du ina di statos a Kriol langwij ina di worl, an di linggwistik prapati dem a Patwa, se mi wehn bailinggual, an so bai riat, shuda wehn get egzemshan fran di farin langwij ruul.

Mi kantak di afis a di rejischraar Aktuoba an dem lingk mi op wid wahn profesa ina di linggwistiks dipaatment uu du risorch pahn Kriol langwij. Di kalij neva kansida Patwa fuo mi kyaa i tu dem, an di dipaatment wehna go afi paas mi aplikieshan. Mi se, mi wehna fret likl wen mi go luk fi di profesa ino, bot a neva notn aad im wehna go gi mi fi du. Im tel mi se mi afi go chat tu im bout miself ina Patwa fi kopl minit. Im neva av mi de fi fain out ef Patwa a bona fide langwij (di definishan fi ‘langwij’ we linggwis yuuz jenaral bad), bot weda mi wehna mek siiros kliem fi egzemshan we di skuul uda afi aknalij.

Yu uda tink se mi gaan klier-klier, bot mi a tel yu staar! Mi neva eva afi chat patwa schriet, jos so, widout a gu bak pahn Ingglish. Bot mi tek mi taim staat, “ ammm Maanin Profesa. Mi niem Javid an mi kom frahn Jomieka.  Mi av tuu breda ahn wan sista, an mi a di washbeli. Mi mada a jresmeka, an mi gruo wid ar afta mi faada lef fi go wok a farin wen mi a nain…” Mi se mi staat lego di Patwa yu si man, wid di profesa a luk schriet pahn mi, a lisn gud. Afta mi don, mi tel im bout di langwij sitieshan pan di ailan, an im wehn luk fi get mi kaa chuu im du nof risorch bout di statos a ‘luo langwij’ kraas di worl. Mi shuo im som ese we mi rait ina di ‘Kyasidi-JLY’ sisitim, an im pramis fi kantak mi afta im taak tingz chuu wid di ada big profesa dem ina di dipaatment.

Tuu mont afta, mi get wahn leta we se mi aplikieshan kom chuu. Mi se api til mi glad bag nieli bos! Imajin, kopl linggwis a wan a di bes kalij dem a Morka agrii wid mi se mi bailinggual, an gi mi egzemshan fran stodi neda farin langwij. Aal di siem, mi wehn don staa stodi French, an dat nehna go chienj. Mi no nuo wa els mi kyahn du fi mek Jomiekan piipl fiil gud bout dem langwij an di linggwistik eritij a di nieshan, we sumo piipl nuo bout an a stodi a farin.

A Wi se Patwa!

Ivy League College Recognizes Jamaican Creole as a Language

All students at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, must study a foreign language, unless they are bi or multilingual. By the time I matriculated in 2008, I was assured by research into the status of Creole languages, and the linguistic properties of Jamaican Creole in particular, that I was bilingual, and so by right, should be given exemption from the institution’s foreign-language requirement.

I contacted the registrar’s office and was directed to a professor in the Linguistics department who studies Creole languages. The college had never before recognized Jamaican Creole, and my claim would have to pass the department’s vetting.  I was quite nervous as I went to speak with the professor, but the process was quite simple. All I needed to do was speak with him in Patwa for a few minutes. His concern wasn’t whether Jamaican Creole was a bona fide language (the definition of ‘language’ used by linguists is quite inclusive), but rather, whether my claim for exemption was legitimate.

You’d think this would be a simple undertaking, but it was incredibly challenging. Never had I ever been demanded to speak Jamaican Creole on spot, and without code switching.  But, I began calmly, “Maanin Profesa. Mi niem Javid an mi kom frahn Jomieka.  Mi av tuu breda ahn wan sista, an mi a di washbeli. Mi mada a jresmeka, an mi gruo wid ar afta mi faada lef fi go wok a farin wen mi a nain…” The Patwa rolled from my tongue as the professor started at me, listening intently. After this, I explained to him the status of Jamaican Creole on the island, to which he was very sympathetic. I showed him writings I had done using the standard ‘Cassidy-JLU’ system, and he promised to contact me after he had discussed the matter further with other senior professors in the department.

Two months later, I received a letter in the mail, which informed me that my application for exemption was successful. A feeling of triumph welled up inside me. My conviction, based on everything I read, that I was fully bilingual was validated by a group of linguists at one of America’s best colleges. What else can I do to affirm the linguistic heritage of Jamaica, and make Jamaicans proud of their language, which is so well studied in linguistic communities?

The English-language version of this article was posted at Jamaicans.com: Ivy League College Recognizes Jamaican Creole as a Language

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Patwa Siev Mi a Nikaragwa

28 Jul

Laas ier, mi go Nikaragwa fi kopl wiik, iivn duo mi neva nuo no mo spanish dan di likl wen dem tiich mi frahn gried sebn tu nain. Wen mi de a Managwa a wiet fi mi logij, mi spat T.O.K ina wahn kaana a wiet fi fi dem tu, so mi tek fimi brait self nou waak go uova an go inchrajuus miself. “A wa unu a du a Nikaragwa,” mi aaks dem. Dem se dem wehn av wahn shuo ina di siti, an mi se tu dem se dat neva mek moch sens tu mi bot aarait. Mi wehn nuo se Jomiekan myuuzik de evriwe, bot mi neva eva tink bout piipl a Senchral Amerika a jomp op an dong tu daansaal yet!

I no iizi fi chravl ina konchri uufa langwij yu no chat. Loki ting nof a di piipl dem we mi gaa Nikararwa wid fi di sorvis chrip kuda chat Spanish gud, an di Merikan gaid dem uu bies in di konchri wehn bailinggual ina Spanish an Ingglish. Did fos die mi go, mi miit tuu Nikaragwan uman, niem Mariela an Damaris, uu wehna go wok wid wi muosli az chranslieta. I neva tek mi lang fi fain out se dem kuda chat Kriol, an se di Kriol we dem chat a wahn daiyalek a Patwa! Imajin dat!

Ano nof piipl chat Ingglish a Nikaragwa, so yu no av di siem kaina sens se Patwa a wahn chapi chapi faam a Ingglish. Di piipl dem uu mi miit wehn sopraiz se mi kuda chat gud wid di uman dem, an se ou dem wish dem kuda chat Kriol, bot a chuu i aad fi kech laik ou i so difrent frahn Spanish. Mi lisn tu di uman dem, an mi a tel yu se mi shak se wi kuda andastan wi wananeda so. Mi neva se notn ina Patwa we dem neva andastan, ar we mi kudn chienj-op fi mek dem andastan, an laik ou dem chat Spansish gud tu mi wehn av a likl vyuu ina konchri laif a Nikaragwa we nobadi els neva av.

Wen mi se mi kom frahn Jomieka, nof piipl tel mi se T.O.K a kom a Managwa. Dem wehn so eksaitid bout wi myuuzik—we kom muosli ina Patwa—an i bad fi nuo se muos a wi nehvn rispek wa kom out a di Daansaal. Fimi Jomiekan langwij du mi wel a Nikaragwa. Mi neva afi av no chranslieta fi andastan di chobl dem we di komyuuniti dem uova de a go chuu, an mi ago memba di tuori dem we Mariela an Damaris pap gi mi ina Patwa.

Big op tu di Nikaragwa, Bluufiil masiv! Mi mos bok unu agen!

***

Navigating Nicaragua in Jamaican Creole

Last December I visited Nicaragua with little more than the basic Spanish I had learnt up to grade 9. While waiting to collect my luggage in Managua, I was pleasantly surprised to see the members of the Dancehall group T.O.K. I walked over to them, introduced myself, then asked, “a wa unu a du a Nikaragwa?”  They told me they had a concert in the city, and I remarked how crazy that seemed. I know Jamaican music is popular across the world, but I never thought of Central Americans when I imagined jubilant Dancehall fans.

Travelling and working in a country when you don’t speak the primary language can be daunting. Thankfully, quite a few of my teammates on the service-trip were fluent in Spanish, and the American guides based in Nicaragua were also fully bilingual. On the first day, I was introduced to two Nicaraguans, Mariela and Damaris, who would be working with us. It didn’t take me long to learn that both were Creole speaking, and that the Creole they spoke was a dialect of Jamaican!

English is not widely spoken in Nicaragua, so there isn’t the perception that ‘Creole’, as they call it, is a degenerate form of English. Instead, the people I met were quite impressed that I could communicate fully with the two women, and often remarked how they wished they could speak Creole, but found it difficult to learn, because of the marked linguistic differences from Spanish.  As I listened to the women I was amazed by how similarly we spoke. There was never a moment where I communicated an idea in Patwa that wasn’t understood, and with their excellent command of Spanish, I had a window into the lives of Nicaraguans that no other participant in the program could claim.

As I introduced myself as Jamaican, many people delightedly told me that T.O.K would be performing in Managua. The people were excited about our cultural product, presented largely in a language that Jamaicans are not entirely proud of. My Jamaican language served me well in Nicaragua. I did not need a translator to understand the challenges faced by rural communities in Nicaragua, and the many stories Mariela and Damaris told are forever etched into the walls of my mind—in Patwa!

The English-language version of this article was posted at Jamaicans.com:Navigating Nicaragua in Jamaican Creole

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Wen Likl Bwai Driim Big

10 Jul

Fi aal kaina riizn mi neva laik som paat a mi laif wen mi likl. Mi yuus tu driim bout mi finaral evri nait, an nobadi nehn di de fi baal fimi. Ada taim, mi driim se mi a jrap dong ina wahn diip diip uol, and mi uda onggl wiek op wen mi lan a grong BUF! Mi yuus to si plien ina di skai an wanda wichpaat dem a go. Farin de pan a difrent levl i luk- i aiya! Den agen mi yuus tu av nof ongkl an anti a farin so mi yuus tu gaa wievin gyalari go wach dem a waak op di plien tep dem. Mi neva riili andastan dem taim de wa mek mi kudn get fi gaa farin tu. Bot az mi gruo mi staat fain out bout di worl, an di difrent konchri an kolcha dem we mek i op. Nou mi obses! Mi yuus tu si picha wid skaiskriepa, braad ruod an brait lait ina Ang Kang, Nyuu Yaak, an Frankfort.

Wat a die wen mi get fi go, mi yuus tu se tu miself. Mi laan se di majik kyaad fi get pan plien a moni, an aal mi laif mi wish se mi get som. Mi ahn mi sista aalwiez juok se wi kyaahn ded puor, kaa sumoch plies de out de we wi waahn si. Eniwie, di schrogl dem we mi go chuu gi mi a riizn fi luk biyan we mi si roun mi wen mi a imajin mi fyuucha. Mi waahn wok ina skaiskriepa tu. An mi waahn tek mechro gaa wok- no main se Jumieka naav non a dem sitn de.

Wan a di konchri dem we mi wehn espeshali lov a Frans. Mi no nuo wa mek, bot di ‘wii wii’ kech mi. An den mi kudn stodi french a skuul kaa dem neva av nobadi fi tiich i. Mi fainali get fi stodi french ina kalij, and nou ges wa! Mi de pahn mi wie tu Paris! Mi no nuo ef mi fi laaf, ar sumail, ar jos kip kwaiyat bot disya a wan big driim kom chuu.

Mi av dis fiilin se wi main a powaful powaful sitn ino- mi neva tel yu. Nof tings we mi yuus tu driim bout kom chuu an mi no fiil se a jos chuu mi loki. Chuu mi tink bout we mi waahn mi fyuucha fi bi laik so aafn, mi fiil se mi muo iebl fi si di apachuuniti dem we gwaihn kyahn kyaa mi tu a sortn en paint. Mi api. Riili api. Mi a staat di nyuu ier aaf ina Frans, bot dat ano di onggl riizn wa mek mi api ya nou.

Unu a di neks ting. Fi muos a mi laif mi neva av nobadi fi chat tu bout di tingz dem we bada mi, so mi kip dem tu miself. Nou mi av unu fi dash mi bordn dem pan, an mi kyaahn fain wod fi se umoch dat miin tu mi.

Mi wish unu di bes fi di nyuu ier. Mi uop se wi rilieshanship kantinyu ina di fyuucha.

Bles,

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Nof Riva Fi Kraas- Wahn Shaat Tuori

1 Jul

Inchradokshan

~

Im a sebntiin nou, ahn Benji disaid fi taak bout ihn laif tu wan a ihn fren dem. Som paat stan out muor dahn adaz, bot wan ting kaman bitwiin aal a dem: di uoliip a schrogls we ihn go chruu. Nex mont im a gaa Kyanada go stodi pahn wahn ful skalaship, redi fi go shuo di worl wa ihn riili mek op a. Kom wid mi, ahn fala di paat we kyaa im kom yaso, miebi iwii gi yu likl uop se tingz gwaihn work out fi yu wan die tu.

Chapta 1: Dier Dier Antijais

***

~Kou an Guot tu di slaata~

Evri Fraide maanin bifuo mi go skuul, mi ron kraas di fens gaa di slaata ous- Aal mi did afi du woz kot chruu di kien fiil ahn jomp uova wahn gota. Di bucha dem yuus tu kil kou ahn pig, ahn fi som riizn mi did lov fi si evriting. Di naif dem did lang ahn shaap an dem yuuz difrent wan fi di kou an di pig. Afta di fos stab, a di siem ting apn tu di tuu a dem duo, an a da taim de mi rialaiz se animal kyahn fiil pien tu. Di soun we di kou ahn pig mek az dem jraa dehn laas bret yuus tu aant mi. An a di siem miit mi wuda iit lieta dong ina di wiik. Mi wii neva figet di siiriosnes pan di bucha dem fies… Di muonin… Di blod… Wen di animal dem jrap a grong… di luk pan di bucha fies wen im don… Di rosh we mi get frahn aal dis kyaahn eksplien wid wod. Afta dat don, mi ron go bak a di yaad fi go bied ahn ed out.

Nex wiik agen.

***
~A so mumi se~

“Benji, yuu Gilbert ahn Jiemilii gwaihn afi go liv wid unu Antijais. Rabert no waahn fi go, bot im uol inof fi tek kier a ihnself. So gwaan go pak op yo tings dem bifuo i get tuu liet.”

Mumi don disaid aredi, bot a wa mek mi kyaahn tan wid dadi agen? Afta mi no main ef wi afi kuk pahn ud faiya. Mi no nuo we mi bada go tel ar se wi lait ahn waata kot aaf fa, kaaz nou wi afi go muuv.

“Aarait. So mumi, yo suuhn kum bak?”

“Bwai biebi, a jos a fyuu muor mont. Mi de ya a work aad fiwi sa. Benji, mek mi taak tu yu sista de.” Bwai, mumi no rialistik at aal; di skai blak op uova wi fyuucha, bot shi a pramis son shain siem wie.

“Mumi Jiemi de uova Shaaliin yaad frahn maanin. Gilbert mosi gaan go kaal ar bot shi no kom yet.”
A did di sekan taim nou Jiemilii mis mumi pahn Misklaadet fuon.

“Bot a wa du mi daata duo iihn, mi kyahn neva get ar. Wa swiit nani guot ago ron ar beli!… Biebi di uman did se mi onggl av wan minit lef, so lieta. Memba fi pak op unu tings ahn go dong a unu anti tumaaro. Se tangks tu Misklaadet fimi. Memba se mi lov unu, waak gud!”

***

~Chrii a kroud~

“Di chrii a unu ago sliip pan de bed de kraas frahn Kiira.”

Ar maaga lef an paint pahn wahn dobl bed front a ar. I did luk kaina sumaal fi di chrii a wi, kansidarin se wi yuus fi av sepret bed, bot mi sumail siem wie ahn se, “ye.” Mi tek mi taim luk roun di ruum, bot kwestyan did a raid mi, “ou kom wi kudn stie wid dadi, ou kom?” Di ruum wehna bout ten bai ten fut, wid tuu duor we liid frahn di livin ruum an di neda wan tu Antijais bedruum. Chrii baril shub op ina wan a di kaana dem, a wahn kriep op kriep op bagas buod dresa did de gens di waal bisaid wi bed. Praivisi neva gwaihn go bi wahn apshan yaso at aal. Wiet de, a mosi dis tiicha se a hextendid faambli man, kaaz iz a uoliip a piipl liv ina dis ya wan ous ya: Frahn grani, tu di grani pikni dem, tu di grani pikni pikni dem, ahn nou di chrii a wi. Mi kount tu miself op tu sixtiin an den shuo Gilbert se, “a demaya moch a wi de ina di ous nou.” Di ruum dii daak, wid onggl likl lait a siip iin chruu wahn luuva windo we dii uova wi bed. Bifuo mi get fi rejista ebriting gud Antijais kaal wi ina di livin ruum ahn staat gi wi sohn sitn we shi se shi bai fi wi wid mumi moni. Iich wan a wi get: wan likl boul, wan likl pliet, wan kop, wan tuutbrosh, wan likl tuupies, ahn wahn tuu liita bakl a arinj suoda. Mi se tangks an ton iina di ruum wid dem. Yu shuda si mi tiit dem; a mai mada bai demya fimi. I did fiil kaina gud fi nuo se mumi did a go tek kier a wi, kansidarin se di laas kopl mont dem dii so rof.

***
~A no so wi du tingz roun yaso~

Mi ton roun iina di bed ahn luk op striet ina Kiira fies, duo mi yai dem dii bieli opn. A kuda we shi a wiek mi op fa?

“Yu miin fi tel mi se, di fluor we mi tel yu se fi palish dis maanin wen mi lef no palish aal nou? Tek yu raas out a i bed ahn go du i bifuo mi fain sitn fi dos yu out wid!”

Bot a wa dis duo iihn, shi kudn wiet til maanin? Mi afi rub mi yai dem az mi a kraal outa i bed; Jiemilii ahn Gilbert dem faas a sliip siem wie. A kudn mii sliip ded? Az mi liin aafa di ej, dem staat fi stor, ahn Gilbort tek di kuoknat brosh we shi push giim. Bwai, wi dii so taiyad wi no iivn av mout fi aagyu wid ar. Kiira loud mout wiek op Antijais tu ahn shi muuv uopn di duor ahn piip iin. Shi woz suo nais fi tek wi iin wen mumi niid ar elp dat shi uda dashi ina wi tiit ef wi did eva komplien to ar. Mi no se notn, an shi tan op de suoso so a wach wi. Jiemilii shii naav no manaz frahn maanin duo, ahn baal out bluu morda se shi naa palish no grong wid no red palish. Antijais aaks ar ou shii wan brait so ahn tel ar se shi ago kaal ar tida Antimorna pan ar. Aal nou Jiemilii no boj.

“…Yes man, shi duohn waahn fi du notn iin ya, aal shi gud fa a fi priti op ar self. Lisn tu ar in de a nyam op Kiira…Mi taiyad a di disrispek! Bot mi ago lef ar aluon ino, kaaz ar mada suuhn kom, an mi waahn shi fi kohn fain ar kwiin jos laik ou shi lef ar…” Antijais staam bak ina di ruum ahn se tu Juodi, “yu gwaan man, yu gwaan. Aal mi afi se iz, unu niid fi pul muo wiet roun ya.”

Antijais likl daata jomp bak iin pan di kanvasieshan wid ar mash mout, “A chruu mama…you unu ori op man, mi ahn mi pitni waahn go bak a wi bed, a afta lebn!”
Wans wi don, di ous kwaiyat bak dong, an wi go bak a wi bed.

Onggri did a baak ina mi tomok, bot mi manij fi faal asliip ivenchuwali. Jais ed did a at ar, so shi neva kuk no dina. Aal di siem, miebi a di siem parij we shi swiitn wi shuga shi uda kuk tinait. Mi no so onggri! Mi kech ar bak duo, kaaz mi yuujali manij fi sniik iina ikichin ahn tek out wahn bakl a juus outa di diipfriiz. Shi did ron a shap ina di aakied, ahn shi aalwiez av wuoliip a juus in de we shi friiz ahn kyaa gu dong de. Mi did afi smaat duo, kaaz she wuda brok mi aas ef shi did eva kech mi; mi jos stofi ina mi skuul bag ahn dringki wen mi riich skuul. Duol, Guzla, Insiizn, Luukozied, yuu niemi, mi dii tiifi. Jais staat rashan evriting ina di ous- a mosi bikaaz mumi stap sen moni. A dii di onggl wie mi kuda ties dem kaina sinting de we moni afi bai.

Di neks maanin, di chrii a wi wiek op bout siks torti. Evri maanin wi chrai fi fos di res a wi kozn dem fi di riek dem. Wi paatna wid Bab, Bil ahn Biyangka fi swiip op chrii difrant paat a i yaad. I neva iizi, kaaz a dii wan big eleva yaad, bot wi kudn get redi fi skuul til i don. Iz a gud ting mi aiyan mi kluoz frahn Sonde, kaa mi don liet fi skuul bai di taim mi staat bied. Jais aalwiez mek tii fi di wola wi, wid bred ahn bota ar sinting elz we simpl. Afta wi nyam, we gaa skuul. Evribadi we go liet afi jain di liet gruup we de baka di res a pitni dem. Di wola wi get lik ina wi an bifuo wi go klaas, ahn evribadi did nuo. Di res a pitni dem yuus tu chobl mi, bot mi neva main afta a wail, kaaz afta mi kudn du no beta!

***

~Sok Iin Nof Ier~

Yu eva yuuz pit tailit yet? A wan Jais did av, ahn mi yuus tu fried se mi gwaihn jrap iin de wan die. Bot unu nuo ou i go wen niecha kaal- yaafi ansa pan di dobl. Di sent dii aalwiez a raiz frahn diip dong, ahn yu kuda ier di flai dem a boz dong iin de. Aarait. mi tek wahn big gulp a ier ahn ron go iin de. Yu afi kierful no fi uopn yu mout ino, kaaz den i uda kom iin laik se yaa ties duudu. PlAP!…PLAP!…PLAP! A siem soi soun wen yu jrap raktuon in de. Yu kudn elp bot fiil doti afta dat, so a wuda biedin taim. A wanda ef a did mi aluon a go chruu dem tingz de ina Jumieka? Piipl did riili liv so?

***

~Difrent Sistim~

Mi jos wiek op no tuu lang. I orli, bot Jais se bed no fi sliip ina wen die lait. Wi kudn iivn go lie dong ef wi taiyad afta wi ramp. Ina eni kies, tide a washin die. Di chrii a wi baro sepret biesn ahn shier di bag a fab we shi lef fi wi. Mi did afi wash mi uona kluoz a riba afta wi lait kot aaf, so mi did a get yuus tu i. Bifuo dat, mumi wuda wash wid ar mashiin we shi chos frahn kuots ar wid ar an dem. Jais insis se wi fi kyahn wash bai fiwi iej, ahn tel wi ou shi tiich ar tida granpitni Bab fi wash frahn im a faiv. Wi no komplien. Da siem nait de, mi en op a baal a di dina tiebl wen mi si plaatn parij a sorv ina mi bluu boul. Mi duohn laik parij, i aalwiez mek mi fiil sik. Den agen, piipl riili nyam parij fi dina? Di wola ipitni dem a luk pahn mi laik mi mad. Mi naa tap baal notn. Wen Jais si mi shi tek op di boul frahn infront a mi. Mi fraitn si shi kom bak wid a boul a chikin chasi suup we di big piipl dem did a nyam. “Ai ya yai!” Di suup bon mi pahn mi an! Luk ou di uman jrap di sinting dong pani tiebl ahn meki plash pahn mi . . Bwai… Bwai… Mi no waant i agen!

***

~*Kistiit* A neva mii…~

Jeri a did mi kozn, bot chuu shi so big mi yuuz tu kaal ar Antijeri. Somtaim mi yuus tu fain miself ina di ous aluon, ahn di onggl ting we mi kuda fain fi du a saach op piipl tingz. Mi neva nuo wa kaina chreja mi huda kom kraas, bot Jeri did a wahn tiicha a di biesik skuul dong di ruod, ahn mi did nuo se shi av aal kaina priti priti piepa we shi get fran ar neda sista a farin. Mi yuus tu tek out likl likl ahn aid dem anda di sela inna wahn uol we mi dig. Wan die mi kom kraas bout fiftiin yuues an mi tek i out. Afta nobadi kudn did nuo se a mi tiif i?

Mi did staat wahn club a skuul wid som a mi klaasmiet dem, ahn wi did waahn fi av wahn piknik, so wi disaid fi staat wahn fon rieza. Wi liebl sohn emti tin wid liebl we wi mek, den buor di tap a dem wid naïf. Evri lonch taim, wi wuda waak roun Puot Maraiya ahn aaks fi moni. “Eluo saar, wi av wahn klob a di praimeri skuul fi divelop suoshal skils wid gried chrii chilren. Yu kyahn kanchribyuut somting tuwaadz i?” Mi stil sopraiz ou iizi piipl yuus tu paat wid dem moni- dem did jenaros bad. Mi did aal put di US dem dong iin a di tin de fi bil op wi kalekshan.

Wan maanin mi lef di yaad wid di tin ina mi an, wen Maastamas, Jais ozban, aaks mi “a wa de iin de.” Mi eksplien tu dis man we mi a riez di moni fa, onli fi ier im se, “mek mi si no.” Mi se mi prie so til se i tuu daak fi ihn si di yuues dala dem dong iin de…bot i luk laik se gad nehna lisn tu mi- notn anyuujuwal! Lieta ina di iivlin Jais beg fi si di tin tu. Wen shi si di dalaz dem shi aax mi we mi get dem fram. Chruu mi a gud laiya frahn lang taim, mi jos tel ar, “wahn bwai niem Gadfri we chravl regyula gi mi dem.” Shi shiek ar ed laik shi biliiv mi den se, “mi gwaihn fala yu gaa skuul a maanin fi taak tu Gadfri.” Mi se man, rait desomi nieli pis op miself. Di nex maanin, shi fala mi fi chuu, orli bifuo skuul staat. (Mi neva wehn afi swiip yaad de maanin de.) Bifuo mi kyaa ar go di klaas, she se tu mi, “tel mi di chuut bikaaz mi nuo se a tiif yu tiif di moni frahn Jeri.” Mi staat baal de nou, kaaz mi kyaahn du notn agen fi kanvins ar adawaiz. Afta mi neva miin fi tiifi. De die de, mi shiem til shiem kyaahn don. Bot ou kom big piipl fi av moni bot likl pitni neva fi av non- dat duohn fier. Afta dat, evritaim mi go ina ar ruum mi si di tin a di kaana a ar bedsaid. Mi no nuo ef a mak shi did a chrai mak mi, kaaz i neva luk laik shi uopn i; bot mi nuo se shi uopn i op wan die ahn spen di resa moni we shi fain duo. Afta mi ahn mi fren dem work so aad fi get i.

***
~Riva kum dong!~

Di bes paat a anti yaad a dii di riva we ron biyaini. Evri wiiken wi wuda ron go dong de go kech fish, ar pik gwaava. Wan die, mi nieli ded dong de wen mi go disaid fi swim ina di riva we jos kum dong. Di waata did a muuv faas, ahn nof likl waata faalz did mek weni riva did a ruor. Evribadi did redi fi go bak op, ekspeshali chuu wi neva fi kom dong ya, bot mi beg dem fi wiet pahn mi, “wan laas taim!” Den, outa nowe- die ton nait! Mi tan op pahn sohn rak pahn wan a di faalz dem, onggl fi luuz mi balans ahn fi di riva staat wash mi we. Mi grab aan pan di riva bangkin, ahn uol out mi an fi smadi kech mi, bot niecha dii waahn fi tiich mi a lesn, faa di bangkin did mek op a san an it just brok we. Dong di riva mi de go, nier nier di paat we dem se mermied liv. Mi staat fret nou. Mi si wahn tree ruut ahn grab aan pani. Mi badi kompliitli arizantal wid di sorfes a di wata ahn mi kuda onggl prie se it no tier aaf wid mi. Wahn bwai uufa yaad mi de biyain kom dong ahn pul mi op. Evribadi tan op wid dehn yai dem uopn op pahn mi; mi fren dem did a ron saida i riva ahn fainali riich mi. Mi aat a biit faas, mi main aal uova di plies. Di uola wi ron bak a di yaad, den mi beg dem nofi tel nobadi waapn, kaaz a wuda shuorli get a haasn pahn mi taiyad badi.

***
~Mi sik ahn taiad~

Pingk yai a go roun, ahn mi did luki inof fi avaid i, antil nou. Sandi kechi fos, den Kluova, den Bil, den Bigbab, den Jeri, den Biyangka, den mi! Mi wiek op dis maanin wid mi yaid dem siil op wid mata. A did onggl a matara taim, wid somoch piipl a inabit di siem spies. Evri iivlin, Jais mek som kaina kankakshan wid sitn shi kaal bisi, ahn jrapi ina mi yeye dem. Fi wan uol mont, mi no go skuul. Mumi se mi fi tel anti fi kyari mi go dakta, bot shi se a di siem ting dakta a go put ina pil. Enitaim mi ben dong i yuus tu fiil laik se sohn tring biyain mi yai a draa mi bak op. Yu eva av da fiilin de yet? Wen mi go bak a skuul mi did laas an i wuda tek wahn lang wail bifuo mi kech op bak agen.

***

~Beta mos kom~

Mumi aalwaiez a tel mi wan die wan die tingz ago beta, an i luk laik se dat die de fainali kom. Faiv mont wid mi wikid anti ahn mi redi fi lef lang taim. Wi gwaihn go bak op a wi yaad we wi big breda stil de. Dadi de a Morka nou duo, so im naago de de.

A wanda wa mumi ago kyaa fi mi?

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