Butte La Rose

Bonjour à tout le Monde!
Elaine Clement works at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville. Lucky her, she has a job greeting visitors here from all walks of life and every country world wide who come here to meet, enjoy and learn about us Cajuns. She speaks French. Elaine worked for many years at Codofil. She is a great person.
A woman, Kathrin Klein from Cologne, Germany, calling herself “Creole Lady,” contacted Elaine looking for someone in Acadiana to help with a French language project she’s working on for the University of Cologne. C’est loin!
So Kathrin called last week to meet me and talk about the Cajun and Creole language. Elaine knows it is an adventure and fun for me to help out where ever and when ever I can and she can call on me anytime and every time to do what I can to accommodate anyone who cares concerning our people.
Mais chers, I can talk ’bout us. Imagine all the way from Cologne, Germany. Kathrin is a PhD student in linguistics at University of Cologne working on Louisiana Creole language. Well I am always honored to share and speak my Cajun and Catahoulean French with those who care. Imagine all the people who’ll be getting an earfull of our language loin la-bas dan Germany.
I wonder where our Catahoulean French comes from. Our dialect is a different French. Wondering also if Creoles ever lived here. But to say a short story told by Jolene Adams of when our Acadian ancestors were exiled from Nova Scotia in 1765. Two of the ships carrying the surviving Acadians strayed, sailing to islands in the south Atlantic. Upon arrival there the Acadians were sold into slavery. The Acadians spoke a totally different French from theirs. Of course eventually while in slavery they learned the cultures and language of their owners. Well after 10 years, the government returned the ships to the Acadians and told them they were free to go. Several years ago I met some beautiful dark skinned people visiting St. Martinville from the Dominican Islands in the south Atlantic who claimed they are “the” only original Creoles. So I think our Creole language was brought here by both ours and their ancestors. Both dialects are so close and beautifully spoken.
Not much history was recorded. People did not have pens and pads to scribble history on. Joking! But rest assured, Cajuns are the most unique people through out the world. Be proud of yourself for being a Louisianan. We’ve many different cultures here. Hope Kathrin is OK with our interview!
Got problems with carpenter bees? I did. These boogers will eat you out of house and home. They’ll swarm around you at this time of year like they will attack. They don’t sting but I’m told they bite hard. They come out of hibernation in early spring. The holes they make are on the outer edge of the beams under the house. For some reason they don’t go further under the house. Maybe they’re afraid the bigger boogers will eat them.
I use kerosene and a spray bottle. I spray the kerosene directly into everywhere I see the holes. I am careful to wear safety glasses. It’s visible where they swarm around the roof and attic also. A few years ago I found termites on the porch floor where there was a leak when it rained. I sprayed that area with kerosene and that ended that problem.
I met up with Margaret Duplechien and James Doucet lately while they were buying lawnmower belts. Sure was nice to see them again. They’re looking healthy and energetic. Y’all say hey to em!

Cousine Hélène
337-280-1988.
helenboudreaux@juno.com.