This week Bourik On Street (BOS) on first assignment with pen and paper in hoof moseyed on out to Taino a small coastal town just west of Gran Gwav. Taino is also a member of the Arawak Indian tribe occupying the island before becoming extinct under Spanish colonization. Among the many people that jumped on him during his journey he met a man with the softest cataract eyes, St. Germain…

BOS: Hello
StG: Hello

BOS: How are you?
StG: I have one tooth and one foot still so I’m ok.

BOS: What is your name?
StG: St. Germain

BOS: Where are you going?
StG: To bathe in the ocean.

BOS: What’s that in your hand?
StG: Sour oranges and some weeds.

BOS: What are they for?
StG: To remove the soreness of my body. I’m going to bath with them. They’ll renew me. I’m very tired and this makes me feel better.

BOS: You’re going to bath with sour oranges? You’re going to use them like soap? And the weeds?
StG: Yes, I’m going to bathe with sour oranges. And the weeds are for scrubbing, like a little wash clothe. My body is very tired.

BOS: Yes, Haiti is a tough place so you should be tired. Things are hard. Do you remember when they were easier?
StG: Certainly I remember when I could buy a tin of rice for 40 gouds and now it costs 22 Haitian dollars.

BOS: When was that?
StG: It was when what’s his name was president…Papa, Papa, Papa…

BOS: Papa Doc?
StG: No. Papa, Papa, Papa…

BOS: Duvalier?
StG: No. Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa...

BOS: Hmmm…
StG: Papa Duvalier!

BOS: How old are you?
StG: Blan I can’t tell a lie. My life has been very long. I can’t tell a lie. I’m a century.

BOS: A century? You’ve lived a long time. No reason to tell a lie now.
StG: I can’t tell a lie.

BOS: You’ve lived a long time. You’ve seen many Haitian presidents. Who was your favorite?
StG: They can kill me. They can kill me for saying this. Duvalier. Papa Duvalier. If rice cost 5 gouds you couldn’t ask 6 gouds. Duvalier wouldn’t allow that.

BOS: What’s your favorite Haitian dish?
StG: Corn meal porridge. Because it makes you strong. You can’t give me a little money to buy some corn meal porridge?

BOS: Bonjou
StG: Bonjou

BOS: Kouman ou ye?
StG: Eh, yon pye yon dan.

BOS: Kijan ou rele?
StG: St. Germain

BOS: Kote ou prale?
StG: M pral beyen nan lamè.

BOS: Kisa ou genyen nan men ou?
StG: Zoranj si e yon kek ti fey yon ti zeb.

BOS: Sa wap fè avek yo?
StG: Yap retire fatig mwen. M pral beyen ave yo. Yo ka retire fatig. Mwen tre fatige e yo ede sante pi bon.

BOS: Ou pral beyen ak zoranj si? Ou pral sèvi avek yo kom yon savon? E ti zeb yo, sa a ou pral fè avek yo?
StG: Wi, m pral beyen ave zoranj si yo. E zeb yo se kom ti sevyet mwen. Ko m fatige anpil.

BOS: Wi, Ayiti di, donk fò ou fatige. Bagay di. Eske ou sonje yon lè ke bagay pa twou di konsa?

StG: Men wi mwen sonje lè m te achte yon mamit diri pou 40 gouds kounye a la se 22 dola ayisyen li ye.

BOS: Kile sa a te ye?
StG: Sa a te le kiyes te presidan... Papa, Papa, Papa…

BOS: Papa Doc?
StG: No. Papa, Papa, Papa…

BOS: Duvalier?
StG: No. Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa...

BOS: Hmmm…
StG: Papa Duvalier!

BOS: Ki laj ou genyen?
StG: Blan m pa ka bay monti. Lavi mwen te di anpil. M pa ka bay monti. Mwen genyen yon santèn.

BOS: Ou gen yon santèn? Ou te viv pou yon bon ti tan papa! Wi, pa gen rezon pou bay monti kounye a la.
StG: M pa ka bay monti.

BOS: Ou gen anpil tan la. Ou te wè anpil presidan ayisyen. Kiyes ou te remen plis pase lòt?
StG: Yo ka touye m. Yo ka touye m pou di sa. Duvalier. Papa Duvalier. Si diri koute 5 goud ou pa ka mande 6 goud. Duvalier pa te kite moun fè sa a.

BOS: Ki manje manje ayisyen ou remen plis?
StG: Mayi moulen paske li bay fòs. Ou pa ka ba m yon ti kob pou m ka achte mayi moulen.