TALK JAMAICAN PATOIS WITH ME

Last night I was having dinner with my cousins to celebrate

Percy's 78th birthday. Several of the grandkids were there

as well as my son Scott. We always talk some Jamaican patois

when we get together because I think sometimes it has a peculiar

way of phrasing life situations. So I got the idea of putting

forth a few well known Jamaican proverbs on my blog.

1. One one cocoa full de baaskit.

translation : Each Cocoa placed in a basket

will eventually help to fill it

Cocoa is a yam and if you place each one individually in a basket

that basket will eventually become full.

The idea is that small efforts in life are meaningful and should

not be underrated as all actions eventually contribute to the big picture

of accomplishments.

2. Chiken merry - hawk de near

Translation : Merry Chickens - Hawks are nearby

If life is going very well we should still prepare ourselves

for the fact that some sadness or obstacles can be in our future.

Just as Chickens are celebrating a hawk could be ready to

swoop down and eat them up.

3. Every ho ave dem stick a bush.

Translation: Every hoe has their stick in the bushes.

Think of a crude hand made hoe that was made in Jamaica.

In order to be complete it needs a handle and those were sticks

that were found in the bushes. Not all sticks will fit perfectly

but there is always a match out there

if we look hard enough. Just like life - there is a match for everyone

when looking for a life partner. You just have to keep looking for

the right one but they are out there.

4. John Crow always tink dem pickney pretty

Translation: John Crows always think their children are pretty

The John Crow is a Jamaican name given to a vulture which is

considered to be the ugliest bird perhaps because they are

scavengers and they are black with no pretty colors or markings and

their heads have no feathers. Pickney is a Jamaica word for children.

Well, even an ugly John Crow thinks that his offsprings are beautiful.

That is the wonder of being a parent and loving your child

unconditionally.