Exercise 50 - Answers to Exercise 49

I hope you had fun doing this exercise. Here are the answers.

1. Mwen tande a zorey mwen. - I hear with my ears.

2. M pale avèk bouch mwen. - I talk with my mouth.

3. Karoline vire tèt li avèk kou li. - Karoline turns her head with her neck.

4. Lè m te rive lakay mwen, Nancy anbrase mwen avèk de bra li. -When I arrived home Nancy hugged me with her arms.

5. Fritz chita sou dèyè li. - Fritz sat on his buttocks.

6. Nou priye ak nanm nou. - We pray with our soul

7. Ou jwe pyano avèk dwèt ou. - You play piano with your fingers.

8. Nou renmen avèk kè nou. - We love with our hearts.

9. Yo tap danse ak ko yo. - They were dancing with their body.

10. Chyen an mode m avèk dan li - The dog bit me with its teeth.

11. Ti moun yo kalkile avèk tèt yo. - The kids thought with their head.

12. M te mache tout nan nwit sou de pye m. - I walked all night on my two feet.

13. Nou santi avèk nen nou. - We smell with our noses.

14. Mwen te wè Jean-Marie ak de je m. - I saw Jean-Marie with my two eyes.

15. Li te manyen m a men li. - He touched me with his hands.

16. Ti moun yo tap koute istwa a avèk zorey yo. -The kids were listening to the story with their ears.

17. Li bobo bebe a ak bouch li. - She kissed the baby with her lips.

18. Li gade mwen avèk zye li. - She looked at me with her eyes.

19. Li choute boul la avèk pye li. -She kicked the ball with her foot.

20. Lè l tande nouvèl aksidan an, li tonbe lapriyè ak tout nanm li. - When he heard the news about the accident he strated praying with all his soul.

Exercise 49 - Bodily functions

Salut tout moun!
Greetings everyone!

Today we are learning the name of some of our body parts.

But first, here is a list of verbs/functions.
anbrase - to hug
 manyen - to touch
gade - to look
koute, tande - to listen, to hear
pale - to speak, to talk
wè - to see
renmen - to love
choute - to kick
santi - to smell
mache - to walk
kenbe - to hold, to grab
jwe - to play
bobo, bo - to kiss
kalkile, panse - to think
danse - to dance
chita - to sit
mode - to bite
vire tèt - to turn the head
priye, lapriyè - to pray
ak, avèk, a - with
sou - on
tout - all
Here is a list of names of our body parts:
zye, je - eyes
kou - neck
pye - foot
nanm - soul
dan - tooth
bouch - mouth
nen - nose
zorey - ears
kè - heart
bra - arms
dèyè, bouda -buttocks
ko - body
tèt - head
dwèt - fingers
men - hand
___________________________
Select the name of a body part from the list and FILL IN THE BLANKS.
1. Mwen tande a ______________________ mwen.

2. M pale avèk ________________________ mwen.

3. Karoline vire tèt li avèk _____________________ li.

4. Lè m te rive lakay mwen, Nancy anbrase mwen avèk de ________ li.

5. Fritz chita sou _________________ li.

6. Nou priye ak ________________ nou.

7. Ou jwe pyano avèk _____________ ou.

8. Nou renmen avèk _________ nou.

9. Yo tap danse ak _________ yo.

10. Chyen an mode m avèk ___________ li

11. Ti moun yo kalkile avèk __________ yo.

12. M te mache tout nan nwit sou de ________ m.

13. Nou santi avèk __________ nou.

14. Mwen te wè Jean-Marie ak de __________ m.

15. Li te manyen m a __________ li.

16. Ti moun yo tap koute istwa a avèk ____________ yo.

17. Li bobo bebe a ak _________ li.

18. Li gade mwen avèk ___________ li.

19. Li choute boul la avèk ___________ li.

20. Lè l tande nouvèl aksidan an, li tonbe lapriyè ak tout ______ li.

As always, the correct answers will be posted in the following blog in no more than four days.

Exercise 48 - Answers to exercise 47

Salut tout moun! (Greetings everyone!)

With Thanksgiving behind us, Christmas is quickly approaching.
Hope you're thinking about adding a little Haitian Creole in your
Chritsmas greetings.

In the meatime, how did you do with the quiz from the previous exercise?
All the correct answers are posted here. Go head and check them agaisnt yours.

Kontinye pratike Kreyol! (Keep practicing Creole!)


1. c

2. a

3. b

4. b

5. c

6. c

7. a

8. a

9. c

10. a

11. b

12. b

13. b

14. a

15. c

16. b

17. c

18. a

19 a & c

20. b

Exercise 47 - A Multiple Choice Quiz

Allo! Salut! e Bonjou tout moun!
Hello! Greetings! and good morning everyone!I thought today was a good day to test your knowledge of the Haitian Creole language. So we'll do a little harmless quiz.

You may also take this quiz online where you will find out your test results immediately.  Just click on the following link:
http://hosted.onlinetesting.net/HaitianCreole/login.pl

CHOOSE THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER.

1. A word in Haitian Creole that means "sweet" is
a. bon
b. sik
c. dous

2. "Papa m malad." What does "m" stand for?
a. mwen
b. mechan
c. malouk

3. What does "m" in #2 mean?
a. I
b. my
c. me

4. "Ti moun yo grangou." What does "yo" mean?
a. They
b. The
c. Them

5. You want to know your Haitian neighbor's name. So you ask her,
a. Ki jan w ye?
b. Ki jan w pale?
c. Ki jan w rele?

6. What do the "w's" in #5 stand for?
a. wo
b. wè
c. ou

7. You are in Haiti and you want to buy some groceries. You would most likely go:
a. nan yon mache
b. nan yon jaden
c. nan yon legliz

8. You're walking the busy streets of Haiti looking for a bathroom. You see a busy machann, and you ask her
a. Ki kote twalèt la ye?
b. Ki moun ou ye?
c. Ki sa wap fè la?

9. A "machann" is a
a. police officer
b. Red Cross worker
c. street vendor

10. "Pa fè m sa." What does "Pa" indicate?
a. Negative
b. Past tense
c. Future tense

11. What does "m" mean in #10?
a. I
b. me
c. My

12. What does the sentence in #10 mean?
a. I will do this.
b. Don't do this to me.
c. I did this

13. "M pè." means
a. I do
b. I'm scared
c. I can

14. "Dlo a bon pou bwè". What does the "a" after the word "dlo" stand for
a. It's a singular definite article
b. It's a plural definite article.
c. It's a preposition

15. What does the Haitian Creole sentence in #14 mean?
a. The water is at the spring
b. The waters run to the spring
c. The water is good to drink

16. I want to ask a yes/no question. Which Haitian Creole word will I use in front of my question?
a. Ki
b. Eske

17. So I decided to ask my Haitian friend, "Do you eat oranges?" and I say,
a. Ki zoranj ou manje?
b. Eske ou manje zoranj yo?
c. Eske ou manje zoranj?

18. "Paper or plastic?" What are two ways to say "or" in Haitian Creole?
a. ou and oubyen
b. o and ou
c. o and oubyen

19. So, what are the two translations for "Paper or plastic?". Choose two answers.
a. Papye ou plastik?
b. Papye o plastik?
c. Papye oubyen plastik?

20. Translate: The big red car.
a. Gwo wouj machin nan.
b. Gwo machin wouj la.
c. Gwo machin wouj nan.
You will find the answers to these questions in the next blog :)

Exercise 46 - Answer to questions in exercise 45

Bonswa tout moun! (Good evening all!)

I hope you had spent some time in exercise 45.
I also hope you had spent some time listening to the song.
You will be seeing a lot of the words and sentences from that song in the next few exercises (written or videotaped).

Are you finding the Haitian Creole language exciting to learn?!
...don't answer that :)
_________________________________
These are the answers to the questions from exercise 45
1. In line 1 what does "m" stand for?
b. mwen

2. What is the definite article in line 2?
c. la
3. What words do you use to ask a question with "when"?
a. ki lè

4. If the contraction form was not used in line 6, how would that sentence be written?
a. mwen di li pou li ban mwen yon souri

5. If the contraction for was not used in line 11, how would that sentence be written?
b. mwen poze men mwen sou kè mwen

6. Sila is the Haitian Creole word for:
c. the one, or that

7. Pote kole is the Haitian Creole word for:
a. put our heads together

8. In line 21 what do "k" stand for?
c. stands for "ki" which means "that, who, or which"

9. In line 27, "w" stands for:
b. "ou" which means "you"

10. "ap" indicates
c. Most likely the future

Exercise 45 - We are singing "Se La Vi"

This piece sung by the group Alabanza is celebrating life. It's a good sing along song. In time you'll learn it.

PLEASE, HAVE FUN LEARNING THIS SONG!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Hmcv41Tr4
Click on the above link or choose Se La Vi from the Audio/Video Resources column on the left of the screen and listen to it. Then you can come back to do the following exercises below. Thanks.
_______________________________________________

Song, translation and exercises.

1. Chak maten lè m leve

2. Mwen wè solèy la klere
3. Mwen met(mete) jenou mwen atè
4. Epi m kòmanse priye

5. Mwen di l mèsi pou lavi
6. Mwen di l pou l ban m you souri
7. Pou m bay tou moun mwen kontre,
8. lanmou li ban m pataje
9. Souvan mwen remake
10. mwen ta vle bliye l
11. M poze men m sou kè m
12. m’ap santi bip bip bip

13. Se la vi
14. Pa gen pèsònn ki gen dwa retire l
15. San pèmisyon sila ki te kreye l, O O O se lavi

16. Se la vi
17. An’n selebre sila ki te kreye l
18. An nou pote kole pou pwoteje l, O O O se lavi
19. Gen sa ki pa respekte l
20. Y’ap mache kraze brize
21. Sa k' finn koupe tout pye bwa
22. yo pa wè y’ap rache lespwa

23. Gen lòt ki pa apresye l
24. Plezi fè yo gaspiye l
25. Ti kout ti krak y’ap rale
26. Pou fè kòm si y’ap vole
27. Poutan si w remake ou ta vle bliye l
28. poze men w sou kè w, w’ap santi bip bip bip

1. In line 1 what does "m" stand for?
a. mwa
b. mwen
c. move

2. Which is the definite article in line 2?
a. mwen
b. wè
c. la

3. What words do you use to ask a question with "when"?
a. ki lè
b. ki chak?
c. ki maten?

4. If the contraction form was not used in line 6, how would that sentence be written?
a. mwen di li pou li ban mwen yon souri
b. m di li pou l ban m yon souri
c. mwen di l pou li ban mwen yon souri

5. If the contraction form was not used in line 11, how would that sentence be written?
a. mwen poze men m sou kè mwen
b. mwen poze men mwen sou kè mwen
c. m poze men mwen sou kè mwen

6. "Sila" is the Haitian Creole word for:
a. Silas, or that
b. God, or that
c. the one, or that

7. "Pote kole" is the Haitian Creole word for:
a. get our heads together
b. light pole
c. bring a pole

8. In line 21 what does "k" stand for?
a. stands for "ki" which means "who, what, or where"
b.stands for "ki" which means "when, what or where"
c. stands for "ki" which means  "that, who, or which"

9. In line 27, "w" stands for:
a. "ou" which means "were"
b. "ou" which means "you"
c. "ou" which means "we"

10. "W'ap santi bip bip bip", what tense is "ap" indicating here?
a. most likely the past
b. most likely the present
c. most likely the future

Scroll down for the answers.







Answers

1. In line 1 what does "m" stand for?
b. mwen
2. What is the definite article in line 2?
c. la

3. What words do you use to ask a question with "when"?
a. ki lè

4. If the contraction form was not used in line 6, how would that sentence be written?
a. mwen di li pou li ban mwen yon souri

5. If the contraction for was not used in line 11, how would that sentence be written?
b. mwen poze men mwen sou kè mwen

6. Sila is the Haitian Creole word for:
c. the one, or that
7. Pote kole is the Haitian Creole word for:
a. put our heads together
8. In line 21 what do "k" stand for?
c. stands for "ki" which means "that, who, or which"

9. In line 27, "w" stands for:
b. "ou" which means "you"

10. "ap" indicates
c.  Most likely the future

Exercise 44 - Adjectives (answers to exercise 43)

In the previous exercise we were trying to figure out the adjectives. I gave you a few sentences to translate in Haitian Creole. Here are the answers

Answer 1 The ugly smelly shoe - Soulye lèd santi a.
(Both "lèd" and "santi" are adjectives that follow the noun. And "a" is the singular definite article. Remember that the definite article is determined based on the word it follows.)

Answer 2: The ancient yellow house - Ansyen kay jòn nan.
("ansyen" is one of these adjectives that come before the noun. "jòn" follows the noun. All the colors (as an adjective) will always follow the noun. And "nan" is the singular definite article).

Answer: 3:  The little pretty girl- bèl ti fi a.
(Both "bèl" and "ti" are adjectives that come before the noun. "a" is the definite article.)

Answer 4: The rusty old car - Vye machin wouye a.
("Vye" is an adjective that comes before the noun.  "wouye" will come after the noun. "a" is a definite article.)

Answer 5: The huge ugly box - Gwo bwat lèd la.
("Gwo" always come before the noun.  "Lèd" will come after the noun. ."la" is a definite article.)

Exercise 43 - Adjectives

Some adjectives occur before the noun: this is a list of the most frequently used adjectives that occur before the noun:

all                            tout                                                      

any                         nenpòt                

bad                        move                    

big                          gwo                      

good                      bon                       

great                     gran                                                     

humongous        katafal                

last                         dènye                   

many                    anpil

old                          vye

other                     lòt

pretty                    bèl         

same                     menm

several                  plizyè

small                     ti

huge                      gwo

young                   jèn

some                     kèk

The other adjectives usually follow the noun.  Here's a list of five adjectives which follow the noun.
dirty - sal
yellow - jòn
rusty - wouye
ugly - lèd
smelly - santi


See more on adjectives
___________________________________________
Let's translate these sentences: Study the placement of the adjectives.

The small car - ti machin nan. (the adjective comes before the noun)

The rusty car - machin wouye a. (the adjective follows the noun)

The ugly car - machin lèd la. (the adjective follows the noun)

The big blue car - gwo machin ble a. (one adj comes before the noun and the other follows the noun)

The dirty yellow car - machin jòn sal la. (both adjectives follow the noun)
_______________________

Watch the following unlisted videos about adjectives before you continue with the following exercise.
Adjectives

More adjectives

PLEASE TRANSLATE.
1. The ugly smelly shoe._____________________________

2. The ancient yellow house.__________________________

3. The pretty little girl._______________________________

4. The rusty old car.________________________________

5. The huge ugly box._______________________________



Thanks.

Exercise 42 - Answers to exercise 41

Bonjou tout moun!
How are you doing so far with learning this new language?
Is it difficult, confusing, or just plain impossible?
Is it fun?
Do you get to practice speaking it?
Are you learning it in school, from friends, from a private tutor, or just on your own?

Whichever way you're doing it, I'm encouraging you to keep at it.
I remember when I first traveled to the USA. I was shoved into high school (the 11th grade) not understanding a single spoken word of English. I was going to High School in the morning and English School at night. It was not fun but by the end of that school year I was speaking English... not so perfectly but people could understand me and I could understand them.

So, kontinye konsa! keep at it!
__________________________
Here are the answers to exercise 41.
MATCH THE ABOVE ANSWERS WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

1. Kote pwason yo rete? (where do fish live?)F. Nan lanmè a (In the ocean)

2. Ki kote valiz ou a ye? (Where is your bag?)D. Li nan machi-n nan (It's in the car)

3. Konbyen pitit ou genyen? (How many kids do you have?)G. M gen kat (I have four)

4. Ki koulè machin ou an? (What's the color of your car?)K. Li wouj (It's red)

5. Ki jan ti gason ou a rele? (What is your boy's name?)E. Phillip

6. Ki jou wap pati? (What day are you leaving?)A. Vandredi maten (Friday morning)

7. Ki mizik ou renmen? (What music do you like?)I. M renmen Reggae. (I love Reggae)

8. Ki jan de manje ou renmen? (What kind of food do you like?)J. M renmen vejetab (I love vegetables)

9. Ki jan de travay ou fè? (What kind of work do you do?)C. Mwen se yon ekriven (I am a writer)

10. Konbyen kay sa koute? (How much does this house cost?) B. $80,000.00

Exercise 41 - Some Questions and Answers

Bonswa!

Ki jan jounen ou te pase?

Have you listened to a Haitian song today? If not, put it on your To Do List. You got to train your ears to hear the language:)
_______________________________________________

Let's do some work. Here is your list of answers for today's exercise:


ANSWERS
A. Vandredi maten (Friday morning)
B. $80,000.00
C. Mwen se yon ekriven (I am a writer)
D. Li nan machin nan (It's in the car)
E. Phillip
F. Nan lanmè a (In the ocean)
G. M gen kat (I have four)
H. Nou te marye dezan pase. (We got married two years ago)
I. M renmen Reggae (I love Reggae)
J. M renmen vejetab (I love vegetables)
K. Li wouj (It's red)

MATCH THE ABOVE ANSWERS WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

1. Kote pwason yo rete?

2. Ki kote valiz ou a ye?

3. Konbyen pitit ou genyen?

4. Ki koulè machin ou an?

5. Ki jan ti gason ou an rele?

6. Ki jou w ap pati?

7. Ki mizik ou renmen?

8. Ki kalite manje ou renmen?

9. Ki kalite travay ou fè?

10. Konbyen kay sa a koute?

Exercise 40 - Answers to questions in exercise 39

Answers to questions in exercises 39.

1. In lines 4 and 5, what Haitian Creole word does k' stand for. And what does is mean?
Answer: ki, it means that, who, or which

2. Based on Lines #2, 3, 4, and 5, how would you say, "There are girls who speak soft."
Answer: Gen ti fi ki pale dous.

3. According to line 4, the Creole word for velvet is:
Answer: Vlou

4. According to lines 7 and 8, how would you say, "My pocket is empty."
Answer: Pòch mwen vid.

5. Based on line 10.5, "I have nothing." is translated in Haitian Creole as:
Answer: M pa gen anyen.

6. What does the w in line 11 stand for? What does it mean?
Answer: ou. it means you.

7. Based on line 20 and 21, how would you say, "Let's eat."
Answer: An nou manje

8. Based on line 24, the Haitian Creole word for, "Side by side" is:
Answer: kòt a kòt

9. According to lines 25 and 26 how would you translate, "it's not a boy, it's a girl."?
Anwer: Se pa yon gason, se yon ti fi.

10. What is the Haitian Creole word for friend?
Answer: Zanmi

11.What does the "n" in line 29 stands for? What does it mean?
Answer: n stands for nou, it means we.

12.What does the "na" in lines 30 and 31 stand for? what does it mean?
Answer: na stands for nou ap, it means we will or we would.

Exercise 39 - We're Singing a song (Deklarasyon)

Bonjou tout moun! Good morning everyone!
Mwen kontan jodi a. I am happy today!

I am excited to work on our first audio exercise. yay!
I have been asking you to listen to the Haitian radios and the Creole news.
But today I am glad to bring you a Haitian Creole song you can listen to. Follow the link from the Audio/Video Resources on the left column of the screen, choose Declaration of Love. Or, you may click on this blog's title. That's the one we're doing today. Please listen to it, as many times as you have to so you can sing along too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TzxIVqWMaY
Singing along might help you tremendously as you are then speaking/singing the words. It'll also give you a chance to hear people speak/sing these words.

After you are done singing, please come back to these exercises as we will be translating and looking at the sentence construction.

See you later.___________________________________

Song and its translation and exercises.1. Nan tout deklarasyon damou - In all declaration of love2. gen konpliman - there are compliments3. genyen pwomès - there are promises4. gen gason k' pale dous kon vlou - there are men who speak as soft as velvet5. genyen k'ofri ou la richès - there are some who offer you riches6. mwen menm lang mwen pa two leje - as for me my tongue is not light7. bousèt mwen vid - my purse is empty8. pòch mwen gen twou - my pocket has a hole9. men kwè m si ou vle - but believe me if you want10.sa pa vle di - that doesn't mean10.5 m pa gen anyen pou m ofri - I have nothing to offer11.Si w vle tande - if you want to listen
(women's voice):
12. Men ki kote na prale? - but where are we going?13. ki mòd chemen sa ye? - what kind of a road is this?14. se pa bann nat ou fè - it's not that you make straw mattresses15. ou vle pou m ale fè - and you want me so I can make them16. men si se pa sa w bezwen - but if that's not what you need17. Eske ou wè nan mwen - do you see in me18. yon kanmarad ak yon zanmi? - a comrade and a friend?
(Men's voice)
19. Ban mwen la men- Give me your hand20. an nou mache - let's walk21. an nou pran chemen libète - let's take the road of freedom22. yon rout ki bèl - a road that is beautiful23. ki laj ase - that is large enough24. pou se kòt a kòt nou mache- so we can walk side by side25. Se pa yon bònn map anplwaye - it's not a servant I am employing26. se pa on esklav mape chache - it's not a slave I am looking for27. m vle yon konpay - I want a companion28. yon kanmarad ak yon zanmi - a comrade and a friend


29. Lè n gen pwoblèm - when we have problems30. na va pale - we'd talk31. na diskite - we'd discuss32. kon de zanmi - like two friends33. pape gen yon moun pou kòmande - there won't be one person to command34. Avèk yon lòt pou obeyi - and one to obey35. konsa pitit nou va grandi - this way our kids would grow36. ya remake depi yo piti - they'd remark37. mwen ba ou men lè ou bite -I give you a hand when you fail38. men se sou ou tou mwen konte - but i count on you39. lè pye m chape - when I fail
_____________________________________________________
GRAMMAR EXERCISES

1. In lines 4 and 5, what Haitian Creole word does k' stand for. And what does is mean?

2. Based on Lines #2, 3, 4, and 5, how would you say, "There are girls who speak soft."

3. According to line 4, the Creole word for velvet is ___________________

4. According to lines 7 and 8, how would you say, "My pocket is empty."

5. Based on line 10.5, "I have nothing." is translated in Haitian Creole as:_____________________________

6. What does the w in line 11 stand for? What does it mean?

7. Based on line 20 and 21, how would you say, "Let's eat."

8. Based on line 24, the Haitian Creole word for, "Side by side" is____________________.

9. According to lines 25 and 26 how would you translate, "it's not a boy, it's a girl."?

10. What is the Haitian Creole word for friend?

11.What does the "n" in line 29 stands for? What does it mean?

12.What does the "na" in lines 30 and 31 stand for? what does it mean?

Exercise 38 - Answers to Exercise 37

These are the answers to multiple choice question from Doing The Laundry exercise.
1.b 2.a 3.b 4.c 5.c 6.a 7.b 8.a 9.c 10.a
_______________
Also, about 5 people have told me that this exercise was quite hard. So I have translated the other answers. Hopefully you'd add them to your Haitian Creole vocabulary bank. Thanks!

1. How many pieces of clothing did I wash by hand today?
a. senk - five
b. sèt - seven
c. sis - sis

2. Where did I go wash my clothes in Haiti?
a. nan rivyè a - at the river
b. nan lanmè a - in the ocean
c. nan sous la - at the spring

3. On what day was the laundry done in Haiti?
a. Vandredi - Friday
b. Samdi - Saturday
c. Jedi - Thursday

4. How were the clothes dried?
a. Sou yon pye bwa - on a tree
b. Sou tèt yon machin- on top of a car
c. Sou yon pil ròch - on a pile of rocks

5. The Haitian Creole translation for 24/7 is
a. vennkat sou sèt - 24 on 7
b. sèt sou sèt - 7 on 7
c. vennkat sou vennkat - 24 on 24

6. Where did some students study at night during exam times?
a. Anba yon poto limyè - under a light pole
b. Nan yon magazen - in a shop
c. Nan yon bato - in a boat

7. Why were some students studying under a light pole?
a. yo pa te gen kay - they didn't have houses
b. yo pa te gen limyè -they didn't have light
c. yo pa te gen liv - they didn't have books

8. What was Michel studying?
a. Lwa - law
b. Edikasyon - education
c. medsin - medicine

9. What is Michel's profession now?
a. doktè - doctor
b. pwofesè - teacher
c. jij - judge

10. In which part of Haiti does Michel live now?
a. Sid - south
b. Nò - north
c. Lwès - west

Exercise 37 - Doing the Laundry

Hello everyone,

Have you listened to a Haitian Creole song today?
Have you listened to a Haitian radio program today?
Have you sung hummed a Haitian Creole song today?

well, keep listening...

My washing machine is broken today. I had to wash some of my kid's school clothes by hand today. It was only about seven pieces of clothing thank God! And it's a good thing that my dryer is working.
I remember when I was in Haiti I used to go to the river every Saturday with a humongous pile of clothes (mine and my siblings'). I'd wash these clothes by hand, spread them over a pile of rocks, and wait an excruciating two hours for them to dry in the sun. Then I'd fold'em, pack'em and bring them back home. I hated to wash my brothers' pairs of Jeans.
When my mom first traveled to the USA in 1975 she complained that the washing machine wasn't doing as good a job as she could do by hands. She still washed most of her clothes by hand.
It is good to live in the USA. When I first traveled here I was thankful for electricity. I couldn't believe we had electricity 24/7. In Haiti we had electricity a couple hours during the day and maybe for about an hour at night. Some people did not have electricity at all. So at night, during exam times, when the lights came on you could see groups of students gathered under each street light poles studying in the dim lights. My cousin, Michel, was in law school. I remember his nightly trip to the light pole. He is now a judge in Aux Cayes, South of Haiti.

CHOOSE THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER.

1. How many pieces of clothing did I wash by hand today?
a. senk
b. sèt
c. sis

2. Where did I go wash my clothes in Haiti?
a. nan rivyè a
b. nan lanmè a
c. nan sous la

3. On what day was the laundry done in Haiti?
a. Vandredi
b. Samdi
c. Jedi

4. How were the clothes dried?
a. Sou yon pye bwa
b. Sou tèt yon machin
c. Sou yon pil ròch

5. The Haitian Creole translation for 24/7 is
a. vennkat sou sèt
b. sèt sou sèt
c. vennkat sou vennkat

6. Where did some students study at night during exam times?
a. Anba yon poto limyè
b. Nan yon magazen
c. Nan yon bato

7. Why were some students studying under a light pole?
a. yo pa te gen kay
b. yo pa te gen limyè
c. yo pa te gen liv

8. What was Michel studying?
a. Lwa
b. Edikasyon
c. medsin

9. What is Michel's profession now?
a. doktè
b. pwofesè
c. jij

10. In which part of Haiti does Michel live now?
a. Sid
b. Nò
c. Lwès