Ten oh Six and Magic

This week has been rather interesting with the glossing exercise. This is the first time we have glossed and it is very educational. Sure, it is frustrating but that is temporary. Later in this exercise we will be recognizing expansions and it is easy to spot some of them already. It gives me a deeper understanding - theoretically mind you! - about how much goes into ASL.
On the flip side, the "Big Grandma" exercise was a bust. I didn't feel panicked while doing it even though I was thinking too much and running out of time in the gaps to complete my message, therefore I missed the beginning of the next segment and had more omissions than I'd care to admit. I look forward to going over that one and doing it several more times simply for my own practice and improvement.
The magic came on Saturday. Several weeks ago the Pennsylvania Association of the Deaf was having a Baggo competition and spaghetti dinner and I really, really wanted to go. However, I was so sick I couldn't and was sorry I missed the opportunity. Mind you, PAD has many opportunities for socializing, but that one struck me as a fun way to experience the group. This past Saturday was their adult Halloween party at their building and,while I wanted to go I was concerned about it making me too tired for work on Sunday and then the beginning of the week. Karla knew I should go (thank you!) and away we went. We had a great dinner at The Lemongrass Cafe (Thai food, imagine that) and then drove around to find PAD's building. Ruby had warned me that it was in a bad part of town and as we were an hour early I drove up to CMU and we walked around a bit and experienced their homecoming evening with men in suits! Anyway, we head back to Forbes Ave and we worry about the best place to park. Not too far away, of course. I pull down the side street beside the building, turn around and park the car in a residential area. We are looking around us to make sure it looks 'safe enough' and that we won't upset the people who live there. We find this as well as some of the coolest outside art. It was so much fun. The first thing I spotted was a frog - concrete structure done with a mosaic pattern. Anyway, to me/us, this was pure delight. Surprise - art in the bad part of town!!
Then we get into the party and the people are wonderful. Many are dressed up and apparently some of the winners' identities of the costume contests were unknown to many people there. I'd love to go back and share more with these people. The place is great!
This night was so complete I wanted to cry the happiness cry. I woke up today feeling complete, alive and with hope for my future.

Nine and Seven

It is a given that April and Ruby want us to do our best. And for that I am so grateful. We will be excellent interpreters when we are done and get out into the real world. I have been reminding myself that my classmates will not be in my back pocket to help me in times of memory lapses. This doesn't panic me, just makes me more aware of what I need. While I still do have mental freezes when trying to communicate with both Ruby and April, I feel I am getting better at 'painting that picture'. Every day we have little lessons in this and it is taking hold.
Today I taught the class how to play Follow the Queen. It was so embarrassing when the queen landed and I forgot one of the focuses of the game - twice! I had fun with this exercise even if the cards weren't very cooperative during each game. I look forward to next week and more games to be shared.
The discussions today about oppression and touching on ethics was interesting. I don't know that my skin would have been thick enough to be an interpreter when I was younger. It may not be thick enough now, but I have more of life's experiences and perspectives to help me along in this. I am still looking forward to the challenges to be met and experiences to be had as an Interpreter. This is an exciting people-oriented field and I hope it suits me and I it.

Eight down, Eight ahead

Is it possible to slow time down a bit? Have I already asked that?

For my ability to not panic too much during an interpretation, I know my weaknesses have not improved yet. Practice, practice, missy.

With this cold-that-won't-quit, I have learned an unexpected lesson. When the cough caused my voice to turn to a whisper it was a good time to sign more with my friends as a forced style of communication. But today, Saturday, is when the lesson really hit home. I spent the day with hearing friends with no sign experience and I longed so deeply to just sign. Having this language and being unable to use it was frustrating. Thinking of so many people who have only one language - a foreign language - and are sequestered into a corner of life because they are not "normal" is sickening.

I'd like to expound on that, but my energy is sapped. I know there are more "good" people than "bad". Some days I look around and think what an unfair lot life dishes out. And yes, I am far from perfect, but I hope that every day my mind opens a little more.

7th...

Wow, tonight I really don't know what to say. Scared, still? Yes, a bit. Confident? Yes, a bit. I know I am in good hands with April and Ruby as well as my classmates. Last year Karla made me step back and catch my breath when she pointed out that life would seem incomplete not seeing Ruby five days a week. She was our well-spring, our source. This week April pointed out again that we will be ready at the end of the program (omg, really!?!!) and that we won't have each other to ask questions. We will be on our own and must be knowledgeable and prepared.
Okay - head between my knees and breathe, breathe, breathe!
We can do this. I can do this. Yes! I can!! (Hear my battle-cry!!)

Week 6!

And what a week it has been. We've begun the process of fund-raising ideas and plans; getting excited about our wintry trip to San Francisco. Yes, I love Columbus; but come on - how many chances will I have to see San Francisco!?!!

We have gone from Sailboats to Liturgy in consecutive signing. Using our Fall semester as an example and having completed a 30-minute video during week four, these challenges represent one heck of a learning leap and, after that, things will hopefully seem a breeze. Okay, a really, really, slight breeze.

April has been encouraging us and Ruby has been shaking her head. "Can't these girls get comparisons!?!!" All in due time, the concept is there, the applicability, well, that will take some time. Sorry! We will keep practicing, I promise!

I hope no one got my cold. Goodness! Bud gets a little cough and I end up in bed for a day and a half. And that is with good medicine! Please, ladies, don't get it. It isn't worth the ride or the late-night, rapidly-changing visual oddities (i.e., near-hallucinations). Perhaps it was the play I saw on campus. Well-done, thought provoking. And anything regarding WWII Concentration Camps usually depresses me a bit.

My being sick caused a couple of us to miss an opportunity to experience the Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf's Spaghetti Dinner and Baggo fundraiser for their Christmas program. Sorry about that.

We will have more opportunities. For fun and learning.