The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #133420   Message #3060925
Posted By: Naemanson
24-Dec-10 - 08:48 PM
Thread Name: BS: Studying in Guam
Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
Here is the local version of Twas the night before Christmas. I stuck a Glossary on the end for the Chamorro words.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all over the isle,
The stores were jam-packed, lines as long as a mile.
Midnight Masses were done, some as early as 10,
Then it was back to the house, to make kelaguen.
The kids were watching wrestling, should have been in their beds,
While visions of boñelos dagu cha-cha-cha'd through their heads.
My five dogs were all barking, as the midnight hour came near,
And Santa came calling, but with carabao, not reindeer.
He landed on the roof with such a bump and a shake
That I jumped up and ran, thinking, "Laña! Earthquake!"
To the window I flew, then I cursed and I muttered,
Because it, like the rest, was still typhoon-shuttered.
So I ran out of the house to our kitchen outdoors,
As the coconut trees swayed along white sandy shores,
When what before my wondering eyes did appear now,
But a miniature bullcart and eight miniature carabao,
With a little manamko' driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment that it had to be Tun Nick.
With a clatter of big hooves, his carabao they came,
He said, "Sst, hoy!" and then called them by name;
Now Junior! Now Nene! Now Tita and Ding!
Hafa Ko! Hafa Doll! Hafa 'Sus and Ping!
To the top of the pickup! To the top of the tin!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away again!
Tun Nick landed his own sled, right there on our roof,
So I looked for my cell phone, so I would have proof.
He was dressed all in red, from his foot to his head,
He didn't wear boots, but jingle-belled zories instead.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
And his nose was red as a small pika donne'.
He came down the roof, wondering where he should go to,
And his big bushy beard was as white as some potu.
He had a broad face and a little round tummy,
Which he rubbed happily as he ate guyuria so yummy.
He spoke not a word as he put presents under the tree,
A seven-day bracelet for the wife, a new machete for me.
The kids all got Wii games, betel nut cutters for Tun Ben,
Then he turned to go and almost knocked over the belen.
Ai adai, it was plenty hot, so he loosened his collar,
Then sprang to the roof and to his team gave a holler.
The carabao flew off, carrying Santa over the sea,
And he yelled out: "Felis Pasgua! And to all, esta ki!"

KELAGUEN
From Wikipedia: Kelaguen is a Chamoru dish from The Mariana Islands eaten as a salad/side dish or as a main course. A pickling marinade of lemon juice, fresh coconut, green onions and hot red chilies is used to marinate cooked chicken, shrimp, fish or raw beef. The acids in the marinade "cook" the raw beef instead of heat. It is served cold or at room temperature and eaten as is, over rice, or wrapped in a warm corn or flour tortilla (or the Chamoru version, titiyas) with finadene on the side.
Though a simple dish, kelaguen reflects the complex history of the Micronesian archipelago's Hispanic-Asian-influenced native culture. It is similar to South American Ceviche and Filipino Kinilaw/Kilawin.

boñelos dagu: yam donuts

typhoon-shuttered – Many homeowners do not bother to take the shutters off their windows between storms. Note: It has been five years since the last storm hit Guam.

bullcart/carabao – Carabao are a small version of the water buffalo
manamko – Chamorro word meaning wise old one
Tun Nick – Tun is a word meaning, roughly, uncle.

Carabao Names [Junior, Nene, Tita, Ding, Hafa Ko, Hafa Doll, Hafa 'Sus, and Ping] – These are common nicknames here on the island. The only one I can speak to with certainty is 'Sus which is short for Jesus (pronounced as in Spanish, i.e., Hay-soos.) Nene seems to mean 'sweet one' or sometimes 'grandmother.' Junior is self explanatory.

zories – Back home we called them thongs or flip-flops. Here they are also called slippers. Nobody recognizes flip-flops.

pika donne' – Local Chile pepper. Very red and very hot.

Potu – Rice cakes made with sweet tuba (an alcoholic drink made from fermented coconut water)

guyuria – From Wikipedia: Guyuria are traditional Chamorro cookies. They are also known as Chamorro jawbreaker cookies due to their historically rock-hard texture. Guyuria was originally made with flour, coconut milk, and a sugar glaze. The dough is first made as one solid mass. Small pieces of dough are pinched off. Each piece is rolled out on a wooden guyuria board or on the back of a fork. Once enough cookies are formed, a batch is fried, cooled, and finally coated with a sugar glaze. The glaze is then allowed to dry on the cookies.

Belen – Manger scene

Ai adai – Literally "What a day!" It's an expression of despair. If you've had a bad or difficult day you say "Ai adai!"

Felis Pasgua – Don't know why this is here. It means Happy Easter! Perhaps Santa is saying that with his visit the season is over until then.

esta ki – As near as I can figure out this means "until then" or "See you later!"