Full House!

Oh my we had a packed house last Friday at my monthly ASL Meetup Group! Typically we have around 12-15 people. A handful are "regulars" and the rest are usually students looking for some practice or attendance points for a class.

July must have been a slow month for Deaf community events. Why? I had OVER 42 STUDENTS show up!! They were all needing class credit for the summer semester.

Usually the Meetups are small enough to sit in a circle, go around the room with introductions, and chat. Not this time. We took up most of Panera Bread's seating. There was no way for everyone to sit with a sightline of the attendees. What to do with 40+ students??

Thank Goodness for my friend T. She is a deafie who is wonderfully patient with baby signers. T was gracious enough to come help me with a few rounds of DINGO. This was the only thing I could think of to utilize the fragmented seating, practice some ASL, and give the students something to write about. I even had prizes for the winners.

Next month should be a smaller group - summer classes will be almost over. Even with that, there are already 12 people RSVP'd.

Deaf Coffee is tomorrow. We will see how many of the students are brave enough to come to a real Deaf Event...

Pah! Turns One...

Well friends, it has been a year that I have been taking up my little share of space in blog-land. I am not sure if my handful of posts have been of interest to anyone, but I will continue to share my thoughts and ramblings nontheless...

Pointing, Touching, and Personal Space...

More cultural differences for your consideration...

Personal Space

As hearing Americans, we tend to be on guard when someone is in what we deem as our “personal space.” Everyone has experienced the uncomfortable feeling in an elevator when too many people pile in and you end up rubbing shoulders. What about at the movie theater when someone takes that seat next to you when there are plenty of open spaces further down the row? My favorite is the person on the airplane who takes control of the arm rest. We like to maintain our own personal “bubble” around us.

Contrast this to many Arab cultures who prefer and relish the closeness we American’s find disturbing. For Arab cultures, the conversational distance they find natural is the same distance American’s maintain for close or intimate conversations. In the book “Reading Between the Signs” I learned that the Arab desire for close communication comes from their desire to smell each others breath(!!) “To smell one’s friend is not only nice but desirable, for to deny him your breath is to act ashamed (Hall 196, 160).”

For Deaf culture, the comfortable conversational distance and personal space varies. Signed conversations can take place at much greater distances, through glass doors, under water, etc. Signing when you are too close together is very hard on the eyes.



Pointing and Touch

Do you remember your mother telling you how rude it is to point at someone? Well here is another example where the cultural differences between the hearing and deaf communities clash. Remembering that ASL is a visual language, it would seem natural – and necessary – to point at someone or something to identify it in conversation. It has taken me quite a few years to feel comfortable pointing to people.

Deaf people are also more accustomed to touch than their hearing counterparts. If I were to come up behind a hearing person and tap them on the shoulder, most likely they would be startled or look at me un-approvingly. Deafies are used to shoulder taps and touches – which are key to getting their attention.

It's all in the EYES...

Here is more I have found from the book titled "Reading Between the Signs"...

Eye Gaze

Maintaining eye contact is a very important part of deaf communication. It was (and still is) one of the hardest parts for me to remember. It is very rude to break eye contact, look away, gaze at the floor, etc. when in a conversation with a deaf person. But this does not come naturally to hearing people.

Let’s consider this. When two hearing people are conversing, there is usually eye contact at the start of the conversation. Somewhere along the way, one or both of the parties tend to glance away, check their watch, turn away in response to a noise heard, etc. Toward the end of the conversation, eye contact is re-established for the ending dialogue.

When we experience less or more eye contact than is customary, we tend to react emotionally. If someone is starting at the floor constantly, we can feel ignored, irritated, or suspicious. If someone is staring at us intently, we feel “put on the spot” or nervous. The speaker can become quite self-conscious.

Did you know that downcast eyes are considered respectful in Japanese and Indonesian cultures, where as Britons and Arabs prefer much more eye contact?

Widening of the eyes

Here is another example of a behavior which elicits a different response depending on the culture. To most Americans, widening of the eyes means wonder or surprise. If you were Chinese, it would signify anger. Be careful in France, as it is a symbol of a challenge. For Latinos, it is a plea for help and for African Americans it is typically a sign of innocence. For Deaf people, it can be viewed differently – mostly as a way to enhance the intensity of the sign.

So the moral of the story - when chatting with a deaf person, remember to maintain eye contact with them in a natural way so the person signing to you feels they have your full attention...

Intercultural Communication

Recently I added another book to my collection of ASL/Deaf/Interpreter related library. I have to say, of all the books I have read on these subjects - this one has proven to be the most interesting.

Reading Between the Signs
Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters
By Anna Mindess

Clearly you don’t have to be a terp to enjoy this book. I found the cultural insights quite interesting, not only between hearies and deafies, but also as it relates to other world cultures.

Some of these things I just *knew* from my ASL classes and exposure to the Deaf Community. It was great fun to read about these little cultural quirks that distinguish the hearing and deaf culture from each other.

Over the next few postings I will share some of the highlights that captured my attention.

McImpant

Well at least I can provide a little variety to the 3 people in blogland who may actually read my rantings. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from the work by D-PAN.

I offer it to you for amusement purposes only. No offense is intended for those who are implanted or have implanted children...

A new comedy film "McImplant" has been released on the Internet.

PC user: www.aslexpo.com/video/mcimplant.wmv

Mac user: www.aslexpo.com/video/mcimplant.mov

Beautiful

I still have goosebumps from waching the newest music interpretation from Deaf Performing Artists Network. I loved their previous adaptaion of "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer. This recent rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" is equally inspiring and wonderfully made. Go have a look...

http://www.d-pan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=35

Idiots & Jerks & Assholes, oh my!

Where did I leave off? Yes, the after conference gathering at a local bar/pool hall…

It was really cool to see so many deafies hanging out and visiting. Clearly the deafies outnumbered the hearies to happened to be there termendously. I enjoyed watching the interactions and "close-knit" feel of the community. This is one thing I have identified over the years that "draws" me to ASL and the Deaf Community - their deep ties and lasting friendships.

Well there is always one rotten apple in the group - in this case about 3 rotten apples. At the pool table next to ours there was a group of late 20-something men out celebrating someone's divorce. (Should have been my first clue as to his ass-hole status). These guys were loud, half drunk already, and the most horrible example of the hearing community I can imagine. I was embarassed to be a hearie.

They were vocalizing deragitory remarks about my deaf friends, knowing they can't hear them, and being so rude. I overheard one of them YELLING "WTF, you can't even ask these people to get out of your f**king way when you are trying to shoot pool!!!" I was simmering. Of course I can hear every word they are slurring. I can hear the banter about what they wanted to do with the cute deaf girls. I can hear their opinions on the intelligence of the deaf folks and what they think deaf are only good for. Grrrr

Well my friend K was there and saw me upset. I told her some of what they were saying and she has some awesome lip-reading skills so she was on to these jerks. Well K is not a woman to be screwed with. She went up the the primary A-hole and confronted him. She told him (vocally) that all he had to do was tap the person on the shoulder and say "excuse me" and they will move. Then she told him he did not have to be an A-hole. After that, he kept YELLING "asshole, asshole" randomly and very loudly for the next 2 hours...

While I was glad to see K stand up to him, I bet she was not happy at the unwanted attention it got her the rest of the night. These guys kept talking about her and staring at her. The primary AH actually came up to her at one point all frisky-like and she had to tell him not to "f-ing touch her"

So I get that there are drunk immature jerks everywhere. It is part of life for everyone. I was just disappointed to see how badly they treated my friends and my adopted-community. These type of idiots would have picked on anyone who was not a white male, it just happened to be us that night.

I can see now why the deaf community can be wary of hearing folks. If these fine specimines of hearing males come across as a representation of the hearing community, then I want out. I want to defect to the Deaf Community right away!

Ripples of American Sign Language

Hello friends - sorry I have been away for so long. I have been busy studying Deaf History and Music at school, parenting teenagers, and tutoring ASL in the evenings. I know I should post more, but I often cannot think of anyting worthwhile to say...

So last Friday evening, I attended an open panel discussion for Cal-Ed (California Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) as part of their weekend long conference in San Ramon. Here is the blurb from my ASL Meetup Site:

Friday, March 7, 2008
8:30-10:00 PM- panel, "Deaf Education through the Deaf Community's Eyes"

Immediately following the CAL-ED conference's Friday night reception, there will be a "Deaf Education through the Deaf Community's Eyes" panel from 8:30 to 10:00 PM. This panel is OPEN to everybody, and does not require a CAL-ED conference registration. We encourage everybody to attend and participate in an ASL-English interpreted state-wide discussion on Deaf Education in California. The panel will be held at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, CA.

Famous and well-known people will be there including:

Moderator: Dr. Larry Fleischer, CSUN professor & Gallaudet University Board

Chriz Dally, leader

Sheri Farinha Mutti, CEO, NorCal

Dr. Maribel Garate, Gallaudet University professor

Mal Grossinger, Superintendent, CSD-Riverside

Dr. Don Grushkin, CSU Sacramento professor

Tara Holcomb, community leader & Deaf mother of a Deaf child

Tami Hossler, hearing mother of a successful Deaf daughter

Dr. Hank Klopping, Superintendent, CSD-Fremont

Ella Mae Lentz, community leader & author

Liann Osborne, DCARA Board member

It was like a "who's who" in the Deaf Community night. I think I got to visit with every former teacher and their spouse. I also had the opportunity to listen to many of the community members that I know by name, or know by reading their vlogs.

The passion and energy in the room was wonderful. There are so many people who genuinely care about the future of our deaf children - great things have to happen with this type of momentum.

After the panel discussion, many of us went over to play pool and continue visiting at a local pool hall. That was an eye opening experience which I will write about later since I am late for a meeting...

I swear I asked myself a handful of times WHY it is that I am trudging up over 150 steps, in the dark, in the rain, in the wind, to attend this Deaf History class!

It is great to have the campus upon a hilltop, when I don't have to kill myself to get there. The view is lovely, but the climb is almost a deterrent.

Once I got to my class, my pulse jumping out of my neck visibly, I was happy to be there. This is what I have to remember.

Our teacher is Deaf. I knew that going into it. Who better to teach Deaf History than someone in the community. The part that was a challenge for me is the interpreters in the class. I am so used to ASL instruction classes that demand a NO VOICE policy. To have the terps there, telling us to VOICE for ourselves, is so much different for me. I know enough ASL to understand perhaps 80% of the lecture. Plus I only hear well out of one ear. This combination makes it an odd reality to watch the teacher and understand him in ASL, and then HEAR the English words 10 seconds later.

I will just have to adjust. One of my friends in the class, who struggles with the two language input also, is bringing earplugs. We will see how it goes...

Spring Semester 2008

Well tonight starts my Spring 2008 semester at Ohlone. I was really bummed to learn that my last ASL class (ASL 104) was cancelled. Knowing myself, I figured it would be wise to find something else to take on campus - to keep me in the swing of showing up! I will be the first to admit it has been fabulous not to have that huge hike up to the main building twice a week. I am still hiking, just one night a week.

Tonight's class is Deaf History. There is one required text, which I have already read. It will be good to re-read it again with the lecture and class discussion. I am sure I will get much more out of it this time. I like to think I know a fair amount about Deaf Culture and History just from being the ASL Geek that I am. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge, and learning from another set of hands.

I don't know anyone else planning to take this class, so hopefully I can make some new friends and expand my ASL social circle...

Cancelled!

What a bummer. After posting yesterday I got some wonderful support and feedback from you all encouraging me to stick with my ASL studies. I was all ready to make the long hike up to the campus on Tuesday and Thursday. The idea of FINALLY finishing the ASL classes (which I started in 1988) was intoxicating. While I know one can never "finish" learning a language, it was fun to think that I would be completing as many classes as were available to me.

Then I got the email from the school. The class is cancelled.

The school not only cancelled my ASL 104 class, but they cancelled ASL 103 also. I know about a half dozen people who were ready to either repeat or continue on to 103. When you are an adult learner, a semester delay is very de-motivating.

All is not lost though. I decided to register for another ASL class, Deaf History. It is one I was going to take anyway, so it will be a good filler. On the bright side, this class is only one night a week. Maybe it is a Karma thing, giving me a bit of a break but still keeping me going. I also have my online class. I think it is some music appreciation or the like. Something to check off my requirement list.

Sort of ironic, taking classes to enhance my understanding of a culture of people who cannot hear and at the same time taking a class that is based on hearing music.

Trudging forward.......

Motivation & Seasonal Depression

It has been a very long time since I have paid attention to my little blog. This Holiday season was more hectic than normal due to the death of my grandfather and travel to the Midwest. I had a lovely time visiting cold and snowy Kansas City, only to come home to one of our worst "storms" of the season. The next day was the memorial for Grandfather, with dark gray clouds that kept raining down on us.

I tend to be one of those people who gets "seasonally depressed" during the winter months. The rain and gloom, coupled with early darkness, make it hard for me to be motivated to do much in the evenings. It makes the evening seem so much later than it is when I arrive home at 5:30 and it is already dark. Perhaps this is why I have not been as active in my ASL groups. I missed my December meetup because I was at my Grandfather's bedside. I missed my January meetup because it was the night before the funeral and raining. My fingers are getting rusty and my motivation to push forward with ASL classes is faltering.

The thought of dragging my ass off to school again two nights a week, in the early darkness, is daunting. I know once I am there I will be fine and happy to be involved again. But this break has been nice. It has been nice to have time in the evenings to spend with family. I have re-energized a former passtime of knitting. I am finding it keeps my fingers limber and is a good activity to sit and reflect in the quiet and rhythmic movements of my bamboo needles.

While I *KNOW* I need to get off my ass and go back to class, I am struggling. Additionally, we do not even know if the class will continue since they have no instructor at this point. I am registered, but have not paid yet, since it may be cancelled. I feel like I am in limbo and I do not like it.

I have to find my motivation again. I am sure that if I do not attend this semester, I will fizzle out. Perhaps Deaf Coffee Chat tomorrow will help motivate me to get my hands moving again...