Hidden Meanings is a fun little book full of Haitian Proverbs. Some make you laugh. Some make you ponder. Some make you wince. 

I was reading through some of them a while back with the nannies. (They just like to hear me try to read Creole). They all enjoyed it when I read this one: 

Mwen pa’t manje pwa, m’ pa ka poupou pwa. 

Literally, it means- I didn’t eat beans, I can’t poop beans. The meaning of it-- I can’t give you what I don’t have. I can’t confess to what I don’t know. 

There’s truth in that! I think it’s a nice little proverb. Of course, the kids just like it because it says “poupou”. (yup, just like American kids). I would randomly quote this proverb, just because it gives the nannies and kids enjoyment. And it’s become somewhat my catchphrase. The kids will often come up to me and say it. Especially Jean Baptiste. It’s kinda our thing. It’s almost just our way of greeting each other. 

 

“Bonswa Jean Ba!”

“Megan! M’ pa’t manje pwa, m’ pa ka poupou pwa!” 

And that’s how we roll.