Housekeeping in Haitian Creole IX:Happy Easter, Bon Pak

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL March 30, 2013
Easter eggs

The only Easter eggs we will have this weekend will be devilled and the little ‘chicks’ will have olives for eyes and carrot beaks

It promises to be a renewing Easter. Madamme Josette is probably renewing the old tissues with her family over this long holiday weekend. And so are we.

We have an egg-shaped chocolate cake; a brightly coloured fruit punch mixed in a pitcher and ready for the likely addition of Rhum Barbancourt when friends come by tonight and tomorrow. We have plans – to make devilled egg chicks (with olives for eyes and carrot beaks) and we have a menu or two and Haiti’s soley anpil, the brilliant sunshine that floods everywhere and everything.

For next week, I have 20 kreyol sentences that allow me properly to request some help with the dishes, making the bed and so on. Some samples:

Eske w ka ranje kabann nan. (Can you make the bed)

Eske w ka lave veso yo. (Can you wash the dishes)

Eske w ka retire vyann moulen an nan frijide a. (Can you take the ground beef out of the fridge)

Eske w ka graje fwomaj la. (Can you grate the cheese)

Bon Pak.

Jack Kerouac

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life”
– Jack Kerouac