Proverb

Nationality: Hatian-American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Edison, NJ
Performance Date: April 27, 2008
Primary Language: English

Ti chen gen fos devan kay met li
A little dog is really brave in front of his master’s house

This is a Creole proverb.  Makini says that she heard it from her mother when she switched schools after her freshman year in high school.  She was being picked on by a boy in her class, and her mother told her the proverb.  She says that it means that it is easy for a small individual to “talk tough” when he/ she is in a comfortable situation.  Because she was a new student and was on his home turf, he felt that he could be brave and torment her.  If he had not felt that he would be backed up by his peers, then he would not have even attempted it.

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