To supplement the tutoring I’m getting via the Byki iPhone app, I’ve been having Alice coach me in Haitian Creole, using some rather unconventional course materials. The only printed Creole resources I have on hand are copies of Kote ki pa gen doktè (the Creole version of the health education classic Where There Is No Doctor) and Kreyòl Ayisyen pou Swen Sante (Haitian Creole for Health Care). So if I need to ask anyone about “colonoscopy” (ekzamen gwo trip) or whether they’ve got an itch (Èske kò ou grate ou?), I’m all set.

The other learning tool is music. My collection of Haitian music is at home on my iPod, but we managed to find two of Beethova Obas‘ classic songs on iTunes. Last night the true beauty of “Si (Oh Oh)” and “Nou Pa Moun” was revealed to me as Alice walked me through the lyrics (which I already knew phonetically). I’m not sure I’ll ever need to say “under Lucifer’s flag” (anba drapo Lisifè) while I’m in Haiti, but hey—you never know.