Monday, October 25, 2010

The deer god

One of our concerns in the jungle was making sure we had enough protein in our children's diet. In the early years, before the solar panels, generators and battery powered refrigerator, we were constantly searching and trading with the Indians for fresh meat and fish.

One meat that the Indians were usually interested in trading with us was liver. Deer liver and tapir liver. We were glad to get it! We always pretended it was STEAK! The most yummy, prized, sought after cut of meat in the jungle! OH ,yes, my children, you get to eat LIVER! Poor children in America rarely have this opportunity! Aren't you all lucky! WOO HOO!

Since my kids were really isolated in the jungle...the ruse worked! They all ate liver with gusto! But our favorite was deer liver as it was more tender.

One day, Jorge arrived and asked if we liked liver. My husband assured him that we liked liver very much. Then, dear hubby said, in very clear Ye'kwana, " We love to eat deer liver! Our children all love to eat deer liver. Can we buy or trade for some of your deer liver????"

Jorge, opened his eyes and repeated, "Deer liver?"

Hubby says, "Oh yes! We would be glad to trade whatever you might need, for some of your deer liver for our children."

Unfortunately, the Ye'kwana word for 'DEER' is 'CAWAADI' and the Ye'kwana word for 'GOD' is 'WANAADI'. Very similar to a new language learner.

My husband had been asking to purchase a bit of 'God's' liver for our children to eat!

Wanaadi...Cawaadi.. God ...deer... a big difference

5 comments:

groovyoldlady said...

Wow...God's liver. That's awesome!

Glenn B said...

Liver, the breakfast of folks with a stronger set of tatse buds than are mine. My great-grandparents used to make the best smelling dish in the world. When I entered the hallway of their apartment building I would start to salivate whenever they made it. I would hunger for it badly. It was calf's liver being fried with bacon and onions, oh yes it smelled that great - the thing is it tasted horrible.

Nowadays I will eat turkey, duck, goose or chicken liver and of course I have always loved liverwurst. Just no calves liver for me. I have tried deer liver too, will not eat it unless I had nothing else.


All the best,
GB

Kathy said...

Oh man! I'm sure Clint always knew he was making a mistake when he got that "look" on their faces! Maybe that statement was a witness though...and maybe they still think about it! :) (Still looking forward to your book!!)

redneck preacher said...

This could be in your chapter on "New guy errors". Very good
HTOITA

Jeanne said...

Guarani has words like that too... like pora without the accent and porĂ¡ with the accent. (accent makes the a nasal) If I remember well, the first word is some type of mythical monster. The second means beautiful. Not to be mixed up... :)