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Showing posts from February, 2023

For Whom Miget Zooms

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Every time I start a new round of my free Chamoru classes, especially since I moved them onto zoom, I always start off by talking to the students about why I offer these classes in the first place.    I always tell them that I didn't grow up speaking Chamoru, or that I only knew less than 10 Chamoru words until I was 20 years old (unless you count food words). During the zoom class orientation last month I told the students the six main words I learned in Chamoru growing up, and that if I said one of the few words they know, put a "biba" in the chat.    I listed off to many giggle and smiles in the zoom boxes: "dåggan...tåke'...fa'fa'...do'do'...mugo'...susu..."   When I glanced at the chat after going through a list mainly of body parts and bodily functions, I realized that more than a hundreds bibas had been typed into the chat.    I continue to offer these free Chamoru classes, primarily because I feel compelled to, in order to honor t

Kalang Hao Paluma

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Ti ya-hu i mubi Operation Christmas Drop. Ti ya-hu i estoria.  Ti ya-hu na ha fatta i militåt.  Lao ya-hu na manannok i tano'-ta gi i mubi. Ya guaha taotao-ta lokkue' mana'annok gi mubi. Ya gof ya-hu na este na kånta mana'saosaonao gi i soundtrack para i mubi. Kada såkkan, hu usa este gi klas-hu Fino' Chamoru gi zoom. ******************* PALUMA The Dolls (Operation Christmas Drop Soundtrack)   Kalang hao paluma Na ti siña hu go’te Måtto hao mambisita An manengheng i puengi Pues gumupu hao gi langhet   You are like a bird That I can’t hold on to You came for a visit When the night was cold And then you flew up to the sky   An umali’e’ hit ta’lo Yan parehu i puti’on Yan hu li’e’ i matå-mu Para ta aguaiya ta’lo   If we meet again And the stars are the same And I see your face We will love each other again   Hu hasso i kulot I paopao-mu Kalang i isa Yan i pao-ña i aire Yan i sinienten i korason-hu An un atan