I am starting a new thread.

The CD's from Talk Now are fine. They are geared for beginners but it's a start. To me, the best way to learn is to immerse yourself in the language. I listen a lot in Bonaire and try to read Extra and other written docs in Papiamento.



It's slow..

Annie

Annie-
Where did you get the CDs? Is Talk Now a website?

ALGUIEN DE BONAIRE QUE HABLE CASTELLANO

anyone know what "cement" is in Papiamento?

a don't speak inglish, only spanish

Cement is semènt. Concrete is betòn.
http://www.donamaro.nl/papiamentu/index.php3?pAction=tradusi

above link is Papiamentu web translator.
how cool is that?

That is cool, but the word I need translated into English is "Cement" as in this photo

John, tonight I have asked some Bonairean friends. They didn't know what it meant either! They did tell me that people do use different words on Aruba than on Bonaire. My idea is still that it has something to do with glue/stick (don't put or stick photo's here), my husband had another idea, though, might it have something to do with cemetery (graveyard) (don't take pictures of the graves)

What started all of this is that when I got home and read it I interpreted it as don't take pictures_____ without the pastors permission. So I was a little concerned because I didn't want to disgrace their place of prayer. So this started my year long quest to get this translated. I can tell you that this is a Grotto, there are no graves present(to my knowledge) because it is all rock in that area. No grave site is present. But thanks for your help!, and here is the link to the full picture if you want to take a look.

http://www.johnandkristin.com/aruba/

Was that the chapel at Alto Vista, John? Maybe it means "Post no Bills" no graffiti, etc. Not certain. Might be a religious thing, too. If it is the chapel at Alto Vista I have been inside and taken photos when no services were in session. Beautiful little chapel. Carole

Hi John, I still think it means not to put (glue, plaster) pictures up there in the grotto. Will print the pic and ask around a bit more, I have several Antillian friends, including some from Aruba, maybe they know.
btw I loved your Bonaire photo's! Awsome! Unfortunately we don't have pictures from our trip in april, for our camera was stolen the second day on Bon (might want to read my trip report: 4 Dutch travelers). Well, good reason to go back next year!

direct translation...It is forbidden to put any images and cement picures,etc without the permission of the pastor... Most likely the posting is to notify family members not to paste photos, etc to grave stones....

excellent thanks for the input everyone. Makes me feel better that I didn't take a picture when I wasn't suppossed to.

Yes the Chapel in there was the Alto Vista, beautiful Chapel and Beautiful view, I didn't go inside because I'm not Catholic, and I didn't feel right going in, kinda like disgracing it or something I dunno. I'm Baptist by the way (it came out sounding like I was a Satanist, had to clarify sorry )

Hi, John! How did you enjoy your stay at the Divi?? Carole

An older man from Aruba told me that image in this case is not "pictures" but "statue", so it's forbidden to put up statues there, cement means something like build here!

OK, now I'm sure, another colleague from Aruba also said imagen is statue. If it would have to mean picture, it would have said "portret".
So it is forbidden to put up statues and build/construct anything here without the Pastoor's permission!

no longer I want to receive but from these messages, not not even of which they speak to me, and the worse thing is than not even I speak ingles.

hmm not sure what you mean Minela. Carole, The resort was ok, except for the timeshare side apparently(where we stayed, since mother-in-law has a timeshare with them). The timeshare rooms were dirty, dishs and bathroom especiall. The air conditionar leaked so profuslely that it flooded half of the room in one of our groups room. Another room had ants, and smelled horible. Mine, the bathroom reaked so bad at times the whole room smelled, and the toilet wasn't bolted to the floor so it would tip from side to side, You also had to watch what you were doing when you flushed or the handle would stick and it would run continously. It took them 3 days to fix the other parties rooms, so I didn't bother with my toilet issue. Would I go to BonAire again, YES!!! would I stay at Divi on BonAire? NO!!!!!!!!!!! It's kinda terrible because the Divi Aruba is so nice, and the staff is so prompt should you need something.

Which brings me to my final point, everytime the maid came she would take our towels (even if they were hanging up) and then she wouldn't bring them back untill she cleaned all her rooms, which was around 4:00pm, which is about the time we came in to get ready and go shop, or eat dinner, ect...


So that's my experience with Divi, not a very good one.

Oh the snorkling off of Divi was awesome by the way.

hi,do you know that if you contact a real estate office on bonaire you can often (if you travel with 4 or more people) better rent a house for a month or so?for 500 to 600 dollars you have a house with pool.and you can bring whome ever you want to stay with you.

greetz ameera

Hey , i'm from Aruba (beside bonaire) if ya need any translation i'm here , cuz i can speak papiamneto to , ktk tur hende na bonaire , ami ta sv , nada di haci dus ma decidi pa manda un msg :P

Hi everyone!

Minerva, si todavia chequeas este site, dejame saber. Yo hable espanol y si quieres te podes comunicar conmigo. Saludos, Elvira

Translation: "Minerva, if you are still checking this site, let me know. I speak Spanish and you can communicate with me if you would like to. Regards, Elvira"

HOLA A TODOS....BONAIRE ES UN LUGAR ESTUPENDO PRECIOSO EN MI VIDA HE VISTO UN LUGAR TAN HERMOSO EN EL VIVI 12 ANOS Y FUERON LOS MAS HERMOSOS DE MI VIDA,AHORA VIVO EN NORTH CAROLINA ,PERO LA VIDA DE ISLA ES LO MEJOR....BENDICIONES

If you are looking for the big blue dictionary, they can be found at the Chat 'n Browse located in the strip mall just south of the Sand Dollar. There is a stack of about 8 of them in the rear left hand corner - selling for around $32 US. Tell Mike that "Abe told you about them!" No I don't get a commission. Just trying to help.

Pasa un bon dia .. abe

Are these the SAME CDs from Talk Now that have 102 languages on them? If so, you can get through them in about two days with about an hour an day. When done you can count to 3, exchange pleasantries, know the names of several foods, place setting items and a few phrases. There are no colors, no way to ask a question - other than where is ...

Are there more advanced or at least intermediate CDs? Also there is rumoured to be a text. I have not found it at any of the bookstores.

... peace ... abe and gail
Concord, NC
(operting portable on Bonaire)

Hello,
Does anyone know of any Papiamento speakers who are United States citizens. My company has a government assignment requiring Papiamento speakers. If so, please have them contact me.

Thanks,
Mari

Mari, you might want to start new threads and post your question under "Local Items" or "Everything Else." You may get more responses there.

Mari, I am a US citizen and speak Papiamento. Feel free to E-Mail me regarding the nature of the assignment. I also have had some experience public speaking in Papiamento. If it is, however, for an assignment with a lot of technical language requirements, you would need a more specifically trained person.
Anyway, would love to check it out.

can some one translate this for papiamento to english for me please, thanks

ba hanja e sunchi ku ma manda pabo via jen of mike...?

si ma hanjele di jen, paso mi ta kere mike a warda nan pasu mes:P Kontaaa einan?

ahinda nos ta warda mike

Did you get the kiss that i have send to you trough Jen or mike ... ? yes i did get it trough Jen, because i think Mike keeps them for himself: how are things over there were still waiting for Mike