So to speak

I've often found myself trying to directly translate english expressions into berber or arabic only to realize how foolish they must sound to people who aren't native speakers. Similarly, I'm regularly confused by Moroccan figures of speech, so my tutor and I brainstormed a few typical examples (some berber some arabic) that require an explanation aside from word-for-word translation. I think it'll be easy to see how I could've missed the point in a conversation.

- "Buy it while it's still cheap." I thought it was something like "strike while the iron is hot," but it actually means "you had better get out of here."
- "I don't owe you an oath." It means you can believe me, I don't need to swear that I'm telling the truth.
- "I don't have a perfume or a scent." Means, simply, I'm flat broke.
- "I run on my kids." Far from being a eupemism for child-abuse, it means that one lives and works to support his/her family and its well-being.
- "It's not my market." This one is equivalent to "it's not my business." A related expression is:
-"Enter the market in your head," which means mind your own business.
-"Where are you taking it?" is just like "what's up?"
- "You bought it for me." This means that you got me in trouble.
- "We are wiring with time." This is said when things aren't bad, but they're not great either.
- "I won't remember you." If there's a problem I'll hold you responsible/won't cut you any slack.
- "I earn 3/4 of a fart." This one's pretty clear: with regards to one's job, it means he/she doesn't make jack.

Slightly more profound is "every sheep is hung by its own leg," referring to how a slaughtered sheep is hung from a butcher's window. It roughly translates to "to each their own," or generally that each person will ultimately be judged by his own actions and not the actions of others. I have ample opportunity to use this when people are adamant about trying to convert me, or if they insist that I'm doing something the wrong way... or if they insist I there's something I'm not doing that I should ("what do you mean you don't eat goat's head? You don't eat the large intestine either?").

That's all for now, but I'd like to say a quick thank you to Rebeka for the book (yes, it just got here this week) and to Pat North for dutifully serving as our trans-atlantic shipping hub! I loved the real tea, coffee, chocolate and soup (and of course, PEANUT BUTTER)! I can't thank you enough!

Thanks as always to everyone who continues to keep me updated, especially Amie and my family. And yes, that means you too, Mel :)

Take care all and God Bless,

Aaron