Foreign Service Officer Ryia

Pashto Song

2007-02-06T02:30:00.001+05:00

Song - to the tune of "Frere Jacques" (or "Where is
Thumbkin")

Chopley kabobs are native to Peshawar and can be found
both at Ravi Kabob and at the Afghani kabob restuarant
behind the 711 at the ballston metro -for those
inspired by the song.

Cherta worzee, cherta worzee
nun sahar, nun sahar?
restoran ta worzim
restoran ta worzim
kor na rown shim
kor na rown shim

tse ba khoray, tse ba khoray?
xha doday, xha doday.
xha doday ba khorim
xha doday ba khorim
kela che, wrasegim.

kum kabab dey, der khwahegee
choplay, mey, der khwaxh day.
har uraz ba khorim
har uraz ba khorim
khwashalegim
khwashalegim.

(translation)
Where are you going, where are you going
this morning, this morning
I'm going to a restaurant
I'm going to a restaurant
I started out from my house
I started out from my house

What will you eat, what will you eat?
good food, good food
I will eat good food
I will eat good food
when I arrive

Which Kabob do you like best
I like chapley kabob best
I will eat it every day
i will eat it every day
I am becoming happy
I am becoming happy.

Pashto Hokey Pokey

2007-02-06T02:30:00.000+05:00

It's what it's all about, at least in our language
class.

To the tune of Farmer in the Dell however, It's really
only the idea of hokey pokey and not the actual song.

Chap Laas p'ke krray
Chap Laas p'ke krray
chap laas taw shay
chap laas taw shay
kla chey p'ke day

xhee laas p'ke krray
xhee laas p'ke krray
xhee laas taw shay
xhee laas taw shay
kla chey p'ke day

sar ye p'ke krray
sar ye p'ke krray
mukhke larr shay
shata larr shay
kla chey p'ke day

(translation)
put the left hand in
put the left hand in
turn left
turn left
when it's in

put the right hand in
put the right hand in
turn right
turn right
when it's in

put your head in
put your head in
go forward
go backward
when it's in

Dead Spider

2007-01-09T05:48:00.000+05:00

There was a dead bug in my coffee cup this morning and I felt like it was retribution for writing poetry in which bugs are portrayed negatively. So I'm responding by writing a really really negative poem about the dead bug.

For the uninitiated, La La is Justin's Pashto Name (when he isn't Mike) Roya is Ryia.

Marga ghanna

Nun marga ghanna pe pyaley key mey wa
La La maa ta waye zika che de halta dee
"xhayee waley che daa ta na karka larilee?
Aw li hishro mulgaro sara habarey kawee
che tsenga ba taa der parawol shewee?
Lmray fiker kawee chey zan wawazhawul shewee.
kho dwayem fiker wa chey tsenga ba kawee?
Dar pi ziryaaa ha wee, ya
topak pe ziryaa wee? amuman
tsenga ghoney zan wazhewol kirree?
Duiy xhayee khpul zan awr kirree
Ya bomuna pi ziryaa wee
Da kho pi kafey de pi pay ke
wowozhil shewee."
Der xha fikr lirilee
kho os roya khafa shewee.

Dead Spider

Today there was a dead spider in my cup
La La told me why it was there
"Maybe because it has an abhorrance of you
and with it's bug friend was saying
how will they provoke you?
First they think that he will commit suicide
so the second thought was how will they do it?
By means of a noose will be good or
by means of a gun will be? Usually
how do spiders commit suicide?
Maybe they light their bodies on fire
or use a bomb
But he, in the end, in coffee
committed suicide."
He had a good thought
For now Roya is sad.

Lordee

2007-01-04T04:47:00.000+05:00

The following are traditional Afghan poems (um, they aren't traditional, I wrote them, but the form is traditional) . It's a Lorday, kind of like a haiku only 9 syllables in the first line and 13 in the second line and it has to be only one sentance and thought. I wrote one for each season.

SPRING

l'mar aw tawda hawa d ghato
masho kar k'wol lpara tayaree nastee dee

The sun and warm weather are standing
ready to cultivate large mosquitos

SUMMER

muchan tir d shagey shmeree
derree tofan ghondee mela bandi aregee

Greater in number than sand
Flies, like a storm, fall on a picnic.

FALL

kela che panney aredily
dee, woworree ghuney marr ta ye muntaziree dee

When the leaves fall
small spiders await their death.

WINTER

Zi toree megee lpara gorum
aw mnz gatee aw d waro landey hetz nshta

I am looking for black ants
and in the pebbles and under the snow there are none.

Penguin Haiku

2006-12-21T08:19:00.000+05:00

D Penguin Haiku

Pi penguin baran
oregee, lika ghaney
ghondey pe sar ye

English Translation

Rain on a penguin
falling, like spiders
on his face

Sorry - I couldn't be true to the original Pashto and make the english translation a haiku.

Ajib Bob

2006-12-15T07:29:00.001+05:00

This is our class mascot - Weird Bob. Today we learned.

Da Ajib Bob Day
Ajib Bob Loots day
Ajib Bob D loots jami hwaree

I'll leave the meaning to your imagination

Justin and his Camel

2006-12-06T05:24:00.000+05:00

Di lichaspi shaar
Di Justin wa ookh ye pe bari keh

Paroon pe ookh ye wazilee
Li ookh sara pi sarak wee
Ookh ta justing wawayee
“yara, liga lig tugay ye?”

Day ni oopohegilee
Tsomra ookhuna woba tskee
Kho ookh ddeer woba ogharilee
Wa ookh ba woba tskee wa tskee.

Urusta, Justin nizhdeh prot
Pe chaman ookh ta muntizir
Wa ookh woba wotskil
Ddeer woba ookh wotskil

Noon, Justin patsegee
Tse Justin Goree?
Ookh har woba ddeer tskee
Har shpa, har shpa dah tskee.

Os Justin khapa shwee
Che ookh ddeer woba tskee
Ookh taw wo ye wahee, wali
Che ookh har shpa wotskee

Justin zharree, Justin khandee
Wali ceh ookh ddeer woba tskee
Wa ookh da ta wayee
“Rahmat! Ze ba woba ni tskee.”

Justin kor ta pe ookh zee
Na puxhtena ni wokrayee
Na os, na os ookh ta wayee
“te liga lig tugay ye?”

An Interesting Poem
About Justin and His Camel

Yesterday, Justin went on his camel
He was with the camel on the road
Justin said to the camel
“Friend, Are you a little thirsty?”

He didn’t understand
How much water camels drink
But the camel wanted lots of water
And the camel will really drink water.

Next, Justin lay down nearby
On grass waiting for the camel
And the camel drank water
The camel drank lots of water.

Today, Justin wakes up
What does Justin See?
The camel is drinking all the water
All night, all night it is drinking

Now Justin becomes sad
That the camel drinks so much water
He hit the camel
Because, the camel drank all night.

Justin cries, Justin laughs
Because the camel drinks so much water
And the camel says to him
“Mercy, I will not drink the water.”

Justin goes home on the camel
He does not ask the question
Not now, not now does he say to the camel
“Are you a little thirsty?”

"I'm Hungry and Thirsty" Poem

2006-11-30T00:44:00.000+05:00

Not getting translated because some people can't keep their minds out of the gutter.

zi woogy, tugy, woogy, tugy,
woogy, tugy yem.
Bidrang Baadrang zi ghwarrem
bidrand baadrang khorem
zi woogy, tugy, woogy, tugy,
woogy, tugy yem

Baadrang khorrel kegee
khoraky mooad dai
khoond wora doday khorem
wo daa ba dehr khog wee

zi woogy, tugy, woogy, tugy,
woogy, tugy yem.
Bidrang Baadrang zi ghwarrem
bidrand baadrang khorem
zi woogy, tugy, woogy, tugy,
woogy, tugy yem

Dushanbe Villanelle

2006-11-29T01:26:00.000+05:00

They’re sending me to Dushanbe
My friend’s don’t really understand
My mom is glad it’s far away.

It’s somewhere in the SCA
I hear my house is really grand
They’re sending me to Dushanbe

My sisters called me up to say
They’re canceling the trips they planned
My mom is glad it’s far away

Imagine my extreme dismay
I want to stick my head in sand
They’re sending me to Dushanbe

I was surprised to hear a yay
When I announced my foreign land
My mom is glad it’s far away

At least I’ll lessen what I weight
I hear the food is really bland
They’re sending me to Dushanbe
My mom is glad it’s far away

PashtoBack

2006-11-29T01:23:00.000+05:00

Lyrics by Ryia
as performed by J. K....klake

[Verse 1]
I’m bringing Pashto back
You Urdu speakers don’t know how to act
You’re unaware that I am talking smack
So I’ll address the language skills you lack.

Take em’ to the bridge

[Bridge]
Peshawar,
I am your brightest
diplomatic star
you’ll cut my head off if I misbehave
My Pashto skills must keep me from the grave.

Take em' to the chorus

[Chorus]
Pashtun Belt
Go ahead, be gone with it
Bring it on
Go ahead, be gone with it
Kyber pass
Go ahead, be gone with it
Tourist nuts
Go ahead, be gone with it
Let me see what I’m working with
Go ahead, be gone with it
These guys are weird
Go ahead, be gone with it
They hike the pass
Go ahead, be gone with it
Find Bin Ladin
Go ahead, be gone with it
And get their Pashto on
Go ahead, be gone with it

Get your Pashto on
Go ahead, be gone with it
[Repeat 6 times]

Get your Pashto on

Hungry Carrots

2006-11-29T01:21:00.000+05:00

The Hungry Carrots are not Justin.

Older Poem

2006-11-29T01:18:00.000+05:00

Thanks for a Rockin' Party in a way-too awesome apartment

A Poem By Ryia for Josh and Matt

Hello, and welcome to our party
We're so glad to see you all
You'll find humus on the table
Near our groovy disco ball
Gaze in wonder at our closets
Drop your coat in Josh's room
Drool with envy at our ceiling
You are jealous, I presume?
There's a keg out on the deck
There'll be dancing in the hall
We'll be rounding out the evening
With a boistrous boxing brawl
Ah, and now our guests are leaving
As the beer begin's to pall
Man, we threw the bestest
Funnest, coolest, party of the fall.

Pashto Poem

2006-11-28T03:15:00.000+05:00

"Gaazireh Woogeh Dee"
A Poem by Ryia

Lewonee lehrrogan lwolee
Di duee kitob wayee
Dalta khoburree Gaazireh
Wa dui dehreh woogeh

Daa lehrrogan sra banjan ta
Dreh poxtana da wokray
Di cha di? Wa di cher ta
Da gaazireh dehr woogeh?

Mung qaimoq sara dui horee,
Ya anjir sara khwarree,
Li tse sara mung horee
Dui, gaazireh woogeh?

(Translation)

"The Carrots are Hungry"

Lazy okra are reading
Their book says
Here are sleepy carrots
And they are very hungry

The okra said to the tomatoes
Three questions they made
Whose are? From where are
the hungry carrots?

Are we eating them with cream,
Do we want them with figs?
With what will we eat
These, the hungry carrots?

Pashto Class

2006-11-10T19:09:00.000+05:00

Well, I started Pashto class. Languages at FSI are really intense. 5 hours a day of class and self study time, is it any wonder that I can already write the alphabet and say this is a :).

It's difficult but I think it will all make sense eventually, and yesterdya we had a party all day celebrating Eid and Dawali with all the south asian language teachers and students.

PESHY!!!

2006-10-26T04:10:00.000+05:00

Hooray,

Imagine my excitement on flag day to get my very highest high of cities - Peshawar. So off I go into the wide world of extensive language training. Pashto starts on Monday, November 6th.

If you get curious. www.pashto.org

Guess the Flag on my list part 2

2006-09-27T06:52:00.000+05:00

My Number 1 post pick!!!

Guess the Flag on my Bid list part 1

2006-09-24T17:24:00.000+05:00

Cities I may be going to :)

2006-09-23T18:27:00.000+05:00

Here is my list, while it might change if I decide to drop or add a country to my list of highs, I'm pretty confident.

City
Dubai
Warsaw
Manama
Tallinn
Chennai
Dhaka
Kathmandu
Nairobi
Dushanbe
Dhahran
Jeddah
Riyadh
Islamabad
Beirut
Peshawar
Kabul
Tel Aviv

2006-09-15T03:27:00.000+05:00

A little friend that we found while taking everything out of the bookshelves. Of course our first response was to photograph it. I believe that Abby killed it. Which is good. No matter how careful you are, these things happen in South Philly.

Yellow Lily

2006-08-29T09:24:00.000+05:00

Unedited Photo

YUMMY

2006-05-30T09:44:00.000+05:00

These boys ate more hot-dogs than there size would suggest.

Memorial Day Hot Dog Roasts attract all kinds

2006-05-30T09:35:00.000+05:00

Me and a penguin shaped trash can

2006-05-30T09:32:00.000+05:00

Cool Frog Picture

2006-05-08T19:03:00.000+05:00

Making Shashlik

2006-05-01T20:13:00.000+05:00

Unloading Cabbages beind Bibi-Khonim

2006-05-01T20:09:00.000+05:00

Someone Dead lives here

2006-05-01T20:00:00.000+05:00

maybe Temurlame? I have to look it up.

Funky Hat Ryia

2006-05-01T19:55:00.000+05:00

New Hope gang

2006-05-01T19:37:00.000+05:00

2005-12-10T00:42:00.000+05:00

The original version of Nutella® spread was called "pasta gianduja," pasta which means paste, and "gianduja" which is the name of a carnival character famous to the region, a character that can be found in the first advertisements for the product. This original form of Nutella was actually made in loaves and wrapped in tinfoil, so it could be sliced and placed on bread for mothers to make sandwiches for their children. But many children, as you could imagine, would throw away the bread and only eat the pasta gianduja! So Mr. Ferrero altered the product into a paste that came in a jar, so could be spread on the bread. This then became known as "supercrema gianduja," because it was a spread-able version of the gianduja. "Supecrema gianduja" was eventually renamed "Nutella" in 1964, with the origin of the word being "nut" and the "ella" giving it a soft ending.

2005-12-10T00:39:00.000+05:00

Nutella®, in its original form, was first created in the 1940s by Mr. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero company. At the time, cocoa was in short supply because of rationing due to World War II, so chocolate was very limited. So Mr. Ferrero used hazelnuts, which are plentiful in the Piedmont region of Italy (northwest), to extend the chocolate supply.

2005-12-02T18:42:00.000+05:00

Balancing an Egg on a nail at the equator.

Actually, it is a myth that you can only do this at the equator, or during the equanox. Balancing an egg is a matter of finding an egg you can balance.

Or so I'm told by doing a Google search for "balancing an egg on the equator"

ME :)

2005-11-07T18:02:00.001+05:00

Lissa & Libby

2005-11-07T18:02:00.000+05:00

Lissa & Tim

2005-11-07T18:01:00.000+05:00

Tim plays with fire

2005-11-07T18:00:00.000+05:00