WATCH PAT KAA BWILE




Soup's on, who is hungry?



Jamaican style chicken soup - no those are
not lips, it is a real Jamaican Scotch Bonnet pepper!

"Watch pat kaa bwile."

Translation:  Watch pot cannot boil.

What does this mean?  When you "watch" the pot it seems to take longer to come to a boil, particularly true when you are boiling something that takes long to get tender, like the beef  for the Jamaican beef soup.

Application:  This proverb is about patience!  Everythings has it's time frame.  It will be done when is done, do not be anxious.  "I cant wait for this to happen, or that to happen".  "Life will be good when this or that happens."  Enjoy the process and be patient.  The time passes whether you are anxious or not.  Anxiousness produces unnecessary stress so why not learn to go with the flow!

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon,

MissSam
November 17, 2013

YUNG BUD NO KNO DEEP WATA

BABY KILLDEER , MOMMY THE PROTECTOR IS CLOSE BY



MOMMY KILLDEER

 "Yung bud no kno deep wata"!

Translation:  A young bird does not know deep water.

What does this mean?  An inexperienced person does not fully understand what it takes to be in certain position or situations in life.  It speaks to the inexperienced critic.

Application:  It is typical for young folks, particularly teenagers, to critize their parents.  With all the education and new knowledge that's coming their way, they become puffed up and  now feel they have all the answers, especially if the parents are uneducated.

My mother used to say this to my sister and I all the time, because of course, "she didnt know anything" and we were going to high school.  We were the first in our family to attend high school.  Although neither of my parents finished primary school, they were literate and were the "leader" in their respective families.  When we becaue rude and critized mama,  bless her heart, she would burts into singing and say "yu gwaan, yung bud no kno deep wata!

Wisdom come with age, so now I know my mama is a very wise woman.  Test the water before you dive in, you could end up with brain damage!

Save diving,

MissSam
Sunday November 10, 2013

SORRY FI MAAGA DAWG, MAAGA DAWG TUN ROWN BITE YU



The Most Gorgeous African Violet!



FYI, there is no correct spelling for patois, I try to spell it so the sound is the same as spoken!

"Sorry fi maaga dawg, maaga dawg tun rown bite you".

Translation:  Feel sorry for a meagre dog, that dog could turn around and bite you.

What does this mean:  If you feel sorry for someone in trouble and help them out, that same person can turn on you!  Be careful when helping others so there is no expectation of thankfulness, or grattitude.  Also, there can be no negative reprecussion on your part for helping. 

Sometimes you may help dig someone out of a ditch, figuratively, and once they get going they may surpass you in position, education, or financially.  This same person may snob you, and act as if they didnt get any help along the way.  That is why we are admonished to give without the expectation of receiving a reward otherwise these situations can be very hurtful.

Just a word of encouragement - never, ever allow a situation as explained above to stop you from offering help.  If you do, you will allow other people to rob you of your joy and blessings.

MissSam

October 24, 2013

MAN KAA HAVE DAG AN BALK

I just love it when I'm having a conversation with someone and out comes one of these gems, priceless!  This is usually followed by gales of laughter and really brightens up my day. 

 

A SPECIAL CARD
 

"Man kaa have dag an balk" - I got this one from a Guyanese friend.  Turns out these wonderful proverbs are not exclusive to Jamaicans!

Translation:  Man cannot have a dog and bark.  If you have a dog, the dog should do the barking, not you.

What does this mean?  This proverb is about allowing people to do their jobs, delegating and allowing individuals to do their assigned tasks without interference.  For example, if you have an assistant, and you are constantly doing the tasks or duties that were assigned to the assistant, it causes confusion.  If you keep doing this, out of frustration the assistant could say to you, "man kaa have dag an balk"!

So, if you have a dog, dont be barking today, you hear me!

MissSam

EVERY BADY HAFFI PAGGLE DEM OWN CANNU

October 11, 2013

For all you single ladies, here a folk song to relish your singularity!

Mi nuh haffi worry up mi mine
Mi paggle me own cannu
Mi drink mi rum
Mi smoke mi pipe, an
M cock up mi foot as me like!


TORONTO HARBOUR



"Every bady haffi paggle dem own cannu"

Translation:  Everybody has to paddle their own canoe.

What does this mean?  This proverb is about taking personal responsibility.  Take charge and run your own life!

Application:  Yu mean yu waan mi fi look after yu pickney dem?  No chile, every bady haffi paggle dem own cannu! 

You children are your responsibility, you must take charge and look after your own household.  This proverb is also used in situations were a family member or close friend continually borrow money even though they may have employment but does not use their money wisely.

Have a super Sunday!

MissSam

YU CAAN GI PEEPLE BASKIT FI CARRY WATA

LAKE ONTARIO - FROM DOWNTOWN TORONTO

"Yu caan gi peeple baskit fi carry wata".

Translation:  You cannot give people baskets to carry water.

What does this mean?  If you are assigning a task or have an expectation of someone, make sure they have the right tools, and their capability is in alignment with the expectation.  Do not expect the impossible from another, when it's something that you would not do because you would not want to do that thing; or could not do, because you do not have the skills set to do, something that you know that the person does not have the skill set either.

Application:  This proverb is used a lot in employee/employer or boss situations.  You want me to do what?  How do you expect me to do that when you know I do not have the right training?  Boy, yu caan gi peeple baskit fi carry wata!

Have a sensational Saturday!

MissSam

The blog of Proverbs: COCKROACH NO BUSINESS INNA FOWL FIGHT

The blog of Proverbs: COCKROACH NO BUSINESS INNA FOWL FIGHT:   This Proud Peacock stepped up to pose!    Translation:  Cockroach does not belong in a fight with hens. What does this ...

COCKROACH NO BUSINESS INNA FOWL FIGHT




This Proud Peacock stepped up to pose!



  Translation:  Cockroach does not belong in a fight with hens.

What does this mean?   If you are an "outsider" do not get involved with a fight between friends, spouses or similar situation.

Application:  I turned on my TV yesterday morning while getting dressed for work.  Day one of the U.S. Government shutdown and Sanjay Gupta was on talking about the roll-out of "Obamacare".  He said "for a lot of Americans this will be a new experience, they never had health insurance before"!  My immediate reaction was oh my God, is this a third world country or what! 

Immediately this proverb came to mind.  This was my reminder to mind my own business and stay out of American politics!

Sleep good,

MissSam

You come yah fi drink milk, you no come yah fi count cow



A PASTURE AJOINING THE 7TH TEE (RED)
MAYFIELD GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
CALEDON, ONTARIO



Translation:  You are here to drink the milk, not count the cows.

What does this mean:  Pay attention to the purpose for which you are at a job, or if you are a guest at someones home, and do not get caught up in matters that have nothing to do with you. As Jamaicans would say, stay out of people business!

Application:  Shortly after a posted the first blog I was on the phone with a longtime client.  She started to tell me the story about her sister whom she recently sponsored to Canada, and that story fit this parable so well I know right then that this would be my next post.

My client sponsored her sister and got a job lined up for her before she arrived.  Once visa was secured, my client lined up a job for her sister.  All the pertinent details of the job (hours, pay, working requirements etc,) were explained to her and she agreed with great excitement.  Of course, once she arrived in Toronto and "surveyed the landscape" she became green with envy.  My client has lived in Canada for many, many years and she has worked hard - that I can tell you without any hesitation.  She is also a driven and ambitious woman and as a result, she has done well financially.  Of course, the newly arrived sister now thinks she is entitled to what this lady has worked all these year to accomplish here and now!  She complained about the job, refused to reimburse her for the airline ticket she purchased and the story goes on and on.  Is this the first time this has happened?  Of course not, it happens all the time.

Instead of showing grattitude for the opportunity which was given to her, her benefactor's life has brought up all the seven deadly sins and more.  What a company owner does with their money is their decision, and because a family member is financial well off does not entitle any relative to any benefit.  It is that simple.  How the use and distrubute their assets and wealth is their decision and theirs alone.  With the right thinking and attitude who knows what can happen.  I read a story today about a young Dairy Queen manager who reimbursed a blind customer's money when he dropped it and the person who picked it up refused to give it back.  Warren Buffet, the richest man in America who happens to love his Dairy Queen icecream and is a large shareholder learned about the incident and now this young man is on his way to Berkshire Hathaway's AGM!  People do not realize the power of unmeritted favour as +Joel Osteen calls it.

Trusting you will drink your milk graciously, and let your blessings flow freely.

MissSam

September 20, 2013   

Every mickle mek a muckle

I hear so many beautiful proverbs all the time, and I just wished I wrote that down! Proverbs are a part of daily life in Jamaica.  They are colourful, funny and deep, all at once.  Proverbs is such a cleaver way to impart wisdom, so here I will write and decipher proverbs from Jamaica and around the world for your entertainment and edification.



AFRICAN VIOLET

"Every mickle mek a muckle" - this is a common Jamaican proverb, most often used in reference to money.  Country folks use it in reference to gathering produce or fruits, especially in drought or end of crop when the remant is garnered either for sale or home use.

What on earth does this mean?

Every small amount of effort, or money put together will amount to something significant!

Do not ignore or neglect small amount of money, for example.  If you save small amounts on a regular basis it will eventually grow to a sum that you can do something worthwhile with.  Over the my career in financial services I have seen how important this is, and of course, since I have many Jamaican clients this is a proverb I hear when they are pleasantly surprised the see the results of small consistent effort over time!

Beverley