Wednesday, November 17, 2010

For Real.

Contemplative thoughts have danced through my mind like the leaves on the sidewalks of North East D.C.
It's all starting to get real.
The mystical people I've read about in undergrad assigned reading 
Iconic schools and national protests 
Movemakers and Contributors.
Campuses 
Colleges 
Universities 
Directors 
Departments 
Statues
    These facets are all becoming a part of my life. I am visiting and interacting with iconic beings which have until now, only existed in books, stories, and video tapes.




    I've attended LaGuardia Community College and met with Robert Hills.
    I have acquaintances whom have attended, work, or teach at Lexington.
    I was escorted through Gallaudet by friends who have already attended, and am currently applying for grad school at this near-ethereal institution.




    Black printed words on beige and white papers are morphing into tangible verifiable entities.
    It's real.
    It really is real.
    For reals.
    And it is a part of me. Soon, I will be a part of it all, too.




    Monday, November 15, 2010

    Post Gallaudet Post

    I did it!
    I made it!
    I went.
    I signed. 
    And boy... did I walk!

    Sooooo many thoughts are swimming around in my head. 
    Once I arrived at Gallaudet, I saw people like me and Jeremy, my dear friend who guided me around my way. I saw people who sign. People who talk with their hands, even when their mouth is full. 

    I met some great girls in the dorms and their friends. Some education students, a psychology major, an interpreter, a graduate student in international affairs, and the other prospective at the Open House. I was so nervous people would judge me and I wouldn't understand them. That was not the case at all. Everyone I met had patience with my level of comprehension, supported me in my efforts, and encouraged me to keep on trekking. The faculty I met were so encouraging and gave me all the information I requested. Class size, requirements, testing times and accessibility, advice, free magnets and pens, and smiles. By the way, my hot pink and platinum extensions were the perfect ice breaker. Everywhere I went, someone was there to tap me on the shoulder and sign, "I love your hair! That's so cool," which always lead to a real conversation. I met another education grad student in the bookstore with my hair alone. I met a dancer from New York with a cochlear implant, a Deaf man who helped establish the Deaf studies department at Washington State, a man who hates fingerspelling and interviewed to work in San Francisco for social work, people from texas, Californians from Freemont, and two international students (Malaysia and Japan). 

    Wow. 

    The best part of the whole trip? Wayne's birthday. Jeremy's best friend's boyfriend turned 26 and of course, the gang got together to celebrate with chips, salsa and beer in sippy cups (which is actually pretty useful, signing with a cup of beer in your hands can be detrimental). Oh! Don't forget the games!!! This was the real deal. This was real ASL. This was me signing in real time. My reception sure picked up, as did my speed. The sayings holds true: 
    Practice makes perfect. 
    You don't use it, you lose it. 

    People I hadn't met put me up on their couch, their spare bed, their dorm room and gave me directions and advice for the area. I've never met such friendly and earnest strangers. Being a part of their community for three days has helped me learn so much about myself, my skills, my dreams, my weaknesses, my goals, and my role. Just when I told them I started to feel overwhelmed, more than once the reply was, "Struggle is a part of the process." 

    and on a personal note: "Everything can't be a big deal." 

    In closing, I want to thank my dear friends Anna, Tiffany, Aspen, Devin, Chris, Jeremy; my best friend Marjorie; my brothers Joe & Jim; and my parents for all of the support and pushing. I would still be sitting in this very chair like a sack of potatoes dreaming about my future instead of making my future, if it weren't for all you folks and your words of wisdom and pats on the back. 

    What's next?
    It's Application Season!!! So if I fail to return your text and ditch our plans, please know it is because I am busy typing away for letters of rec, resumes, and transcript acquisitions. You'll hear from me in January. Until, keep reading!

    and I'l keep signing.

    Saturday, November 13, 2010

    Learning Signs

    Learning experience #683:

    I comprehend ASL better from men, as opposed to women.

    Hmmmm. Why? How come? I wonder why that came to pass... Let's look at my background.
    First ASL instructor: Wendy, female. Hearing with an unhealthy pity perspective of the Deaf.
    All other ASL instructors during undergrad: Male. 1 hearing, 2 Deaf.
    Sorority sister: raised orally, spoke a LOT when she signed.
    Other college Deaf friends: mostly male.
    NYC--
    1 Instructor: Deaf Woman, Carmen King. Strong ASL skills, yet very feminine & assertive approach.
    1 Instructor: Deaf Man, graduate of Gallaudet.
    Current tutor/good friend: young Deaf man, social butterfly.
    1 CoDA coworker: man.

    See a trend?? I'm not used to the tapered fingers and fluttery trills of thought. Women's hands move differently, on average. Mens hands appear visually more stable, in my humble opinion.

    So it looks like I know just where to start my homework for grad school:
    Single Hearing Female ISO Single Deaf/CoDA Female Tutor :-)




    - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

    Restaurant rules

    Today I rode the metro all by myself. I even switched colors. Why? To meet some newfound friends for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Of course I had the Hawaiian BBQ, with half to go. This was yet another learning experience:

    I arrived late, culturally appropriate. When the waitress came to take my order I spoke in my native tongue to speed things up. Plus, my hands were usurped by taking my coat off.

    What a big mistake.

    And I knew better.
    'Why?' -you may be thinking. Did my Deaf friends judge me? Don't think so. Did I stop signing? No.
    But the moment I spoke, it signaled the waitress that I communicated like her and, naturally, she gravitated toward me. So when she addressed the table, she only looked at me. When she wanted to know if they want water, she looked at me. When she wanted to know if we were ready for the check, you guessed it; she looked at me.

    Once I realized her dependency on me and lack of acknowledging the other side of the table, I began to use my hands with a very low voice volume. And avoided eye contact. Mission accomplished: she started looking around to everyone.

    Moral of the story, don't talk with your mouth(ful) at the dinner table.

    :-)
    Amber & Me sharing some tunes.


    - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

    Friday, November 12, 2010

    Grad. School Open House


    Go Bisons!


    I just had the lunch social with the graduate school's department if education. Early, Elementary, Secondary.... hmmm. So specific. So many tests and exams. So focused. So much support and encouragement! And they even have their own sorority.

    During the open house, which is set up like a fair with tables and balloons, I was able to meet with Admissions, Financial Aide, Deaf Studies, Ed., Interpreting, the organization which administers the ASL Proficiency Interview. Wow. $175 where they quiz my language skills. Admittedly this becomes a little daunting. But success is so much sweeter when you have to work for it, right?! When I return to NYC, it is time to hunker down and sit in on some classrooms in the real world where I can get an eyewitness account to help me form my final decision. I am so very glad to be here.




    - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

    Upon Arrival at Gallaudet

    Of course on the first night at Gally, the student diversity organization is holding a dance showcase, filled with hip hopper, pop interpreters, krumpers, preachers, and capoeiristas. And it was all in ASL. Most interesting part? My group of friends kept asking me if the music was too loud for me. I could feel it rattling the plastic chair I sat in and my sternum. I for to see rap in ASL for the first time. A pair interpreted a new song by Monica and Ludacris. I think that one was my favorite. The ASL was smooth and easy to follow. One girl who performed Videophone by Beyoncé and Lady GaGa gave what I thought was a great musical representation of the piece. Her ASL skills were top notch. But a Deaf woman sitting next to me said the whole performance was too bouncy and harder to follow. Interesting. And of course, everyone kept tapping me on the shoulder to tell me they like my pink braids.


    So this is the DC metro. Doesn't their subway system look like Star Trek? I kept looking for my Vulcan boyfriend.


    Chinatown DC
    This is where we landed and Jeremy took me to Potbelly, one of the best sandwich shops I've ever been to. This is also where I got kicked out of McDonalds for have a glass bottle of rootbeer. Go figure.


    - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

    Friday, November 5, 2010

    Gaullaudet in a week!

    Gallaudet in T-6 days!!!!

    Running Check List:
    1. Staying with a friend of a friend.
    2. Weather is going to be nicer than in Manhattan; 60s. Thank God. 
    3. Have an appointment with an advisor.
    4. Campus tour with another department.
    5. Planning on returning with a shotglass, and potentially a sweatshirt of DEAF PRIDE!

    Do you want to know what my biggest fear is?

    I fall in love.

    If I fall in love, then I DO have to take accountability and start making moves.
    Application for Fall 2011
    Financial Aide Application
    Housing options
    Employment transfers
    moving?
    yard sales?
    doctors?
    re-register to vote
    find friends

    etc...................... is your head spinning yet? Mine sure is.

    But I'm not even there yet. I'm not even on the bus. I don't even have the ticket!
    *exhale*
    I will focus on having a good time gathering as much information as I can while meeting new and exciting people. Then I can take it from there.
    But first?
    baby steps.