Proverbs.

Last week I was working on a lesson for the IMPACT curriculum which required using some proverbs about health from around the world.  Searching for proverbs with trustworthy translations and interpretations in languages you don't know is a tricky task, and in my search I came across a few Romanian proverbs and expressions that I thought were interesting... so I'll share them here!

Așteaptă, murgule, să paști iarbă verde.

Literally translated, this one says "Wait, little mule, to eat the green grass."  Strangely, the website I found it on translates it as "While the grass grows, the seed starves," meaning something along the lines of don't wait too long for a great thing because in the meantime you might miss the good thing right in front of you.  I'm not convinced, though... so at risk of publishing a totally misinformed opinion on the internet, I think this proverb is about impatience. I can picture some farmer petting a young donkey on the head as it tries desperately to eat the first growth of spring, then gently tugging him away to eat old winter hay for just a few more weeks until the grass is good and green and lush.

Cine s-a fript cu supă, suflă și-n iaurt.

In English, this one is "He who burned himself with soup blows even on yogurt."  I love this proverb and its message about our tendency to remember past pain and become hesitant to try things again, fearing we'll experience the same shame or discomfort.  But yogurt won't hurt us... though our fear that it might can sometimes overcome that knowledge.  Also, I just think this one is funny.

Cine aleargă după doi iepuri nu prinde nici unul.  

Literally translated, this proverb says "He who runs after two rabbits doesn't catch either of them."  In other words, choose a goal and focus on it, or else your efforts will always be scattered and only half-successful.  It's kind-of like the opposite of "kill two birds with one stone."  Poor animals.

Copiii, nebuni și bețivii spun adevărul.

I am not so sure that this proverb is totally true, but I find it interesting anyway.  It says "Children, fools (crazy people), and drunkards tell the truth."  I do think those three groups of people tend to have fewer filters for what is considered correct and acceptable to say, and their frankness can be refreshing and insightful.  But truth?  I guess it depends on the subject.

Cu moartea toate diferențele dispar.

"With death, all differences disappear."  A little bleak perhaps, but this one might be the truest of all of them.  In the end it doesn't matter if we stored up treasures on earth; the differences between Roma and Romanian or black and white or rich and poor will all be made right.  Justice and mercy will reign.  For many of the people we work with here, that's a huge source of hope and encouragement and joy, and I learn from that every single day.