Conversation with a Guyanese Child
I just had a weird conversation with a Guyanese child and I better put it down before I forget it all, especially as some of it will be strongly paraphrased since I don’t totally understand the Guyanese phrases.
So, I’m spending the night by Chennette’s and somehow got conned into hanging out her last load of laundry on the line outside (never mind she delivered my dirty clothes back to Big Sis’ house). There’s a guard (more like watch lady) on the compound at night and it seems her granddaughter (according to Sister, the Elder) is sleeping on a table on the back, right outside Chennette’s back door.
I went outside, careful not to disturb her but she greeted me after I hung the second piece of clothes. Please note that this conversation is occurring as I walk in and out of the apartment with clothes to hang and she takes a bathroom break at some point.
Girl: You wear pants and skirts?
Me: Yeah! (I did think about this because I rarely wear skirts)
Girl: Oh, but I never see you wearing pants!
Me: (Realization dawns. Remember I am sleepy and this just happened 15minutes ago so it’s LATE! She’s looking at the laundry and thinking I’m Chennette!) Oh, you mean my sister. I’m not her. But yes she does wear pants and skirts, just skirts more often.
Girl: Can I get something to eat?
Me: (Thankfully we have something to eat. With Chennette’s travels this is not always a certainty but Chennette made me some cheese biscuits because I was starving as usual so I put three on a napkin and gave it to her).
Girl: Can I get some drink?
Me: Is water okay?
Girl: Drink?
Me: (*click* Drink in Guyana usually refers to soft drink or soda or pop or sweet drink…) Is water okay? We don’t have drink?
Girl: ok!
Me: (I fill her a glass of cold water and give it to her).
Girl: The biscuits come from a chicken place?
Me: What? Why?
Girl: They smell like they come from a chicken place.
Me: No, she just made them for me. They’re a bit salty.
Girl: She made them? oh!
Me: (Up to here I’m thinking I’m having a regular normal conversation with a little girl…not too strange).
Girl: Why you so big? Why you don’t drop some size?
Me: (I was a bit lost at first because I couldn’t understand what she was actually asking. Was she saying I was too big or I needed to be bigger) Well, if it was that easy to drop weight, I would have already.
Girl: You won’t be able to find anywhere to sit!
Me: (I must admit I wasn’t sure if she was saying I’d be too big to sit anywhere, or too big to find someone to hook up with so I told her I don’t understand. I am really trying to paraphrase what she was saying and on discussion with Chennette we decided it was I’d be too big for seats. So far I comfortably fit into airline chairs and other tight fits. In fact, I lost THREE whole pounds in the 6 weeks since I’d seen one doctor). I don’t understand.
Girl: You don’t speak/understand English?
Me: Yes! It’s Guyanese I don’t understand. (It’s true! Sometimes I don’t understand Big Sis’ niece and nephew and the phrases are different. Well I did get a look for that!)
Girl: You could buy me a phone?
Me: No…
Girl: You don’t have a phone?
Me: No…(okay I was stunned and Chennette says I should’ve asked her why I should buy her a phone).
Girl: Why you doing your washing so late?
Me: Because that’s when she has time to do it. Our mother bring us up so.
Girl: Why you bringing one piece of clothes? Why you don’t bring it all in a basket?
Me: Because I don’t know where the basket is and I don’t want to disturb her.
…
Girl: Oh, you have a washing machine.
Me: Yes.
Girl: When I grow up I want to work like you.
Me: What you mean?
Girl: I want to do what you do.
Me: What do I do?
Girl: You deal with papers.
Me: Um, that’s my sister. I’m a teacher.
Girl: Where do you teach?
Me: Trinidad.
Girl: English, Spanish…?
Me: Maths
Girl: No, you teach in English?
Me: Yes. Trinidad speaks English.
Girl: My mother says (only?) America does/doesn’t speak English. (I was confused!!)
Me: No, Guyana speaks English. Trinidad speaks English.
Girl: Is it America?
Me: It’s the Caribbean.
Girl: (a look)
Girl: I want to go to Trinidad. Will you take me to Trinidad?
Me: No.
Girl: I want to go Trinidad.
Me: Why?
Girl: To study.
Me: Well you can go Trinidad when you grow up.
Girl: No. My mommy says only children can go Trinidad.
Me: That’s not true. Adults can go Trinidad. (Hmmm considering she hasn’t heard of Trinidad and now she wants to go? Does somebody want Chennette to “adopt” her??).
Girl: *disbelief*
Me: (Anywayz, now I’m a bit *worried* to say the least. Can’t wait to finish hang out the clothes…success!) Well I’m done. Good night! Just leave the glass and we’ll pick it up in the morning.
There may have been more conversation but it must be blanked from my mind. I relayed most of it to Chennette so she might remember if there is anymore.
But…yikes!
I’m not sure what to say.
Chennette says I didn’t respond to her questions properly but I’ve not been properly prepared for this. I haven’t heard “stories”!
Strange conversation. How old was she?
And if you’re feeling really bored, I just tagged you to do a Meme. Figure you need something to do now that you’re unemployed and on an extended vacation. ;-)
Comment by ewe_are_here — Thursday 5th, July 2007 @ 11:13 am
This is what is called a street smart child and one can be found in any part of the world. Oh , if, if only she could get some formal schooling…….
Comment by trinimom — Thursday 5th, July 2007 @ 5:22 pm
you think she smart??
I am just worried about WHY she’s camped outside my back door…they know I do laundry at night, was this a plan??
Comment by Chennette — Thursday 5th, July 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Well perhaps it is the smart in her that is why she is camped outside your door at nights.
So complain to your landlord , why have you not done so already or whoever is in charge as they are on holidays….
But an immediate solution is to ask her to move her place of sleeping to the next side so that you would not be disturbed.
But from her conversation with your sister she has been watching you or got info from her grand mother about you…. sounds scary you know…..
Comment by trinimom — Thursday 5th, July 2007 @ 8:10 pm
Girl: Why you so big? Why you don’t drop some size?
This question of hers remind me of a certain Jamaican child………
Comment by trinimom — Friday 6th, July 2007 @ 6:40 am
no child tonight
i did THREE loads of laundry
Comment by Chennette — Tuesday 10th, July 2007 @ 3:43 am
that child sounds extremely ill-bred, i was getting irate half way through!
Comment by The TriniGourmet — Saturday 14th, July 2007 @ 4:07 am
yeah! me too!!
and i’m very worried about Chennette living there
Comment by Lilandra — Saturday 14th, July 2007 @ 2:29 pm
[...] I know I have already started posting post-vacation fare, but I meant to briefly blog about my recently-concluded much-needed and long-awaited holiday. And it may not be all food-related, but I want to post about it. I think I have come back from this vacation really refreshed and organised somewhat in my head. It shows in the office. It shows in my mind (except I can’t really show you that…just take my word for it). Most of all it shows at home in my flat in Guyana, where I have finally uncovered the dining table. And the living room chairs. And have been cooking something almost every day. Since my return from Barbados that has not happened. At all. (Except from those biscuits/scones I made when Lilandra visited. And those had their own story.) I think this feeling justifies my extension of a 19 day vacation into the almost 5 weeks I dragged out of the boss (see how good I am at my job? I can negotiate. I only had to attend one 2-day meeting. In Trinidad!). And so I think this period is well worth posting about - and not to gloat at anyone who is thinking “FIVE WEEKS??!!?” I haven’t had a break since last May. Typhoid Fever does not count!) [...]
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