In 1947, while visiting Haiti, Armand commented on the languages he heard and spoke:
August 31, 1947.
Languages you hear are French, good, fine, fair; Spanish and English, somewhat; and the universal Creole patois, part Spanish, French, corrupted (all verbs have one form, one tense I believe) and bits of native dialects and English.
September 1, 1947. Speaking of languages, most days here I speak French, Spanish and English in town. Our madame, Yvonne Bourgain, is sure clean. Uses D.D.T. for bugs. Says the hotel is owned by old widow of the (or a) former president. Present one - whom we saw drive by "in state" yesterday, from a distance - lived here in her pension for a long time when he was a depute.
They beg here worse than in Mexico. Boys, men, women, girls, old people, well dressed or not, will simply look at you and say in English, "Give me ten cents," etc. And yet they're dignified in ways. Most always wear a necktie - tight around neck and coat, in all this heat.
Later: The Madame and her co-manager, M. Lafontant, asked us to drive up to Petionville with them where her sister is opening a new cabaret and restaurant, quite a swell place. They're so hospitable here and so is Senor Manzana. He and I talk Spanish and compare notes on differences in English, Spanish in various countries, etc. Swell evening.
Image: The World in Your Hands
