Boston Speaker: Hey, how’s it goin’? Wicked cold today, huh?
Haiti Speaker: Sak pase (what’s up)? Yeah, frèt anpil (very cold)! Makes me miss the sun back home.
Boston Speaker: Ha! Boston winters are brutal. You ever had to shovel snow before?
Haiti Speaker: Non, pa janm (never). Back home, we only shovel sand at the beach!
Boston Speaker: Lucky you! So, what do you miss most from Haiti?
Haiti Speaker: Griot (fried pork) with pikliz (spicy pickled veggies). And soup joumou (pumpkin soup) on New Year’s Day.
Boston Speaker: Sounds wicked good. We got clam chowder here, that’s our comfort food.
Haiti Speaker: Chowder? I’ll try it. But I need some diri ak pwa (rice and beans) too.
Boston Speaker: We got rice, but not like that. You’ll find Haitian spots around Dorchester.
Haiti Speaker: Bon bagay (good stuff)! And what’s your go-to coffee?
Boston Speaker: Dunkin’, large regular—cream and sugar. It’s a Boston staple.
Haiti Speaker: Back home, we sip strong coffee, like kafe noir (black coffee). No cream!
Boston Speaker: Wicked strong, huh? I’d need sugar for that.
Haiti Speaker: Sugar’s fine, but no milk. And we say mèsi (thank you) when someone serves us.
Boston Speaker: Mèsi, got it! So, what slang do you use with friends?
Haiti Speaker: Nou la (we’re here) means we’re chillin’. And if I say “bagay la bon,” it means things are good.
Boston Speaker: Ha! We’d say “wicked awesome” for that.
Haiti Speaker: Wicked awesome? Love that. And if I greet you with “sak pase,” you answer “n’ap boule” (we’re hanging in).
Boston Speaker: N’ap boule! I like that. So, what do you think of Boston food?
Haiti Speaker: Lobster roll is nice, but I still crave bannann peze (fried plantains).
Boston Speaker: We don’t do plantains much here, but you’ll find them in Caribbean spots.
Haiti Speaker: Good to know. And what’s a packie?
Boston Speaker: Liquor store. We say packie. You might call it something else.
Haiti Speaker: Back home, just “boutik” (shop). Simple!
Boston Speaker: Ha! Love learning these differences.
Haiti Speaker: Same here. Next time, let’s grab griot and chowder together.
Boston Speaker: Deal! These chats are wicked fun.