Hurricane Irene is stirring up some change.

     I've calmed down a lot since the last post, partially due to the fact that I finished unpacking and moving in. There truly is something that affects the brain regarding the feeling of "home." My mirrors are up, plants are out, baskets and trinkets in their places, pillows plushed and coffee paraphernalia equipped. Last night I finally got some real sleep. PTL! (praise the lord, yes I made that up...)

     Yesterday was take-care-of-business-day. I applied for a Graduate Student Assistant job. Squared away financial aid/scholarship shenanigans. Bought less than half my books at $356...yikes! Thank you, Student Federal Loans:-) Went grocery shopping for snacks and food to hold me over during this lovely tropical storm, thanks for Hurricane Irene. Inconsiderate heifer. (Yes, hurricane @Irene is passing through town today). Did the final unpacking, information internetting, late night chats with the boyfriend, sister, and mother. And am now basking in the fluorescent lighting in my dorm room watching the rain cascade onto the soccer field and sipping on Irish cream coffee. *exhale* I think I'm ready for school to start.

     Thursday night was Happy Hour sponsored by the Graduate Student Association (GSA). That was a great experience! I wish I hadn't been so tired from running around (the roommates and I traveled to Pentagon City to check out my transfer to a store in Virginia). Anyway, I met several folks from different programs, saw a few familiar faces, reacquainted with many Deaf Ed. students. Funny, I told some of the girls that I guess teachers like to drink, because at least a third of the attendees were Education students. She replied, "Well, we just know how to have fun!" That's for sure:-)

     During the Happy Hour I found myself in a sticky situation. And like the blonde that I am, I didn't realize it until the moment was over. A sweet Speech Therapy student, whose ASL skills were basic and seemed slightly clueless about Deaf Culture, began asking why some hearing parents send their children to Oral/Aural schools vs. schools for the Deaf or mainstreaming. Being the eager and gregarious person that I am, immediately I piped up my opinions and shared the store of the three deaf children from my hometown, their experiences with cochlear implants and the pros and cons of the situation. I assumed she had more knowledge than she evidently shared about the topic. Once we finished the discussion I thought to myself, "Man, that's a heavy topic for a Happy Hour." Once the speech therapist and her Deaf roommate went on to mingle elsewhere, my hearing IETP (interpreter educating training program) hearing roommate slying signed to me, "That's a sticky subject. A few people were watching. That's why I stayed out of it."

Instantaneously I felt so.... uncomfortable. I'm not even sure of the appropriate word: embarrassed, awkward, ashamed, guilty, ignorant.... like a social ignoramus who should have known better. Along with this incident I am finding so many people with interpreting and education backgrounds who seem to know so much more than I do about so much. I'm not used to that. I'm used to being extremely prepared and aware. Aware of what to expect, what hurdles I need to jump over, what I need to work on, what I am successful at. However, here at grad school at Gallaudet University, studying a new field (Deaf/Elementary Edu.) in a foreign language (ASL) in a new city (Washington, DC) with no friends or family around.... I am utterly humbled.

     A day or two later, I have decided that I am not embarrassed in my conversation. Perhaps in the future I will handle something like with a little more insight. Regardless, I am who I am and I am here to meet people, share ideas, experience the language and the culture of Deaf communities and learn along the way. Learning can not take place without mistakes... that's what we learn from, right?

It feels passe to say,
"There is always more to learn."
"There will always be someone who knows more and is better than you."
"You will always face challenges."
"Pick yourself up and start all over again."
...but these expressions are applicable to what I am experiencing and feeling right now, right here. For the first time in my life I feel like I am pushing myself to the limit. It feels scary, but I am excited to see how I do and where I go from here. It is time to push back those curtains of emotion and really apply and commit myself to this journey.

So let's open the door and get to steppin!

Perseverance

Jitters

Yesterday, the lovely roommate drove us to a nearby CVS pharmacy for a goodie-run. I snatched up some Claritin-D faster than you would believe, well... as fast as I could with some crazy old man who kept trying to refill a prescription too soon. There are a lot of old folks out there who just don't realize you can't get drugs whenever you want them. Anyway, I digress. Today, I can breathe! No pressure, no sore throat. So happy. 

Department of Education

The first day of school jitters caught me last night. After dinner I came home and stayed on this computer for about four hours. Four hours! The day's discussion of finances, health services, transporation, etc. reminded me that I didn't know any information about any of those things. So I got my research on and am now more settled. I ended up in bed just after midnight. THEN, I woke up in the middle of the night coughing and hacking. This was a good sign, the Claritin kicked in and I felt better right away. Then I started getting excited about feeling better, excited about today's orientation (which is just for my department; I'll be meeting all the faculty and my mentor!), and couldn't sleep. I think all together I got roughly 4 hours of sleep. But I'm still in a great mood and feeling good. Partially due to the fact that I was FIRST in the shower this morning. Man... four women sharing a single shower?? I've never had to live through such a thing. 

Cheers to another successful day on campus, and let's hope this Claritin keeps working!

Gallaudet Graduate Student Orientation Week

Wow. So I'm at Gallaudet. First week of new graduate student orientation. After arriving three days ago, Saturday, I have processed so many emotions; nervous, worry, concern, excitement, anticipation, fear, resignation, enjoyment, surprise, loneliness, appreciation, and pride.

I had to let go of so much in NYC, at least that's what it felt like at the time. And a little, still. My friends, my job, my kitchen, my dishes, my dream princess bed, my apartment with the beautiful view, my dream location of New York City with all that culture. But you know what? NYC isn't going anywhere. There is lots of culture and art and museums and knowledge and more here in Washington, DC. I have made friends with my roommates, after being so nervous we wouldn't get along. Just my paranoia... as usual. Turns out one of the girls and I have a lot in common. Both our Dad's are from Texas and work for the government and in technology. Our mothers are/were school secretaries. We were both raised conservatively and don't align with that lifestyle now. Small world. I've met a few other women from California, one from Sacramento who knew all my professors!! It is so inspiring to see and meet so many signers who have these great big goals and dreams for their professional careers involving ASL and the DEAFWORLD. I must admit, I might be second guessing my program of Elementary/Deaf Education. All these international studies, social work, linguistics, and Deaf studies folks make their programs so attractive. We'll see. If I change my mind, I'm in the right place to do so. Until then, I'm going to strive to become the best school teacher for the Deaf, ever. Ever.

Today we had an earthquake. I know, in DC?! 5.8 magnitude. All of the CA students looked around like it was no biggie. So the floor shook, big deal. I kid, I kid... everyone was fine and only a few buildings were damaged. But it sure did make the world seem that much smaller. Everyone was texting, tweeting, emailing and facebooking friends and family around the world talking about the earthquake, campus, and that they are all right. In a hearing campus, we would hear announcements from a megaphone, or word of mouth running amuck. Not at Gally. A main speaker stood in the middle of the stadiums, several interpreters stood to the left and the right of him spreading the news. Information was so accessible so immediately. I felt more aware here than I would on a hearing campus. Needless to say, the rest of the day's schedule was cancelled and my two roommates and I escaped to search for a coffee shop.

Indeed we found Sova, a very college-coffe-shop feeling place (appropriate soundtrack and all), and grabbed some drinks and waited out the quake safety (no buildings were open for entry and it was hot as hell today). Two iPhones, one LG phone, and one iPad later...we all were up to date with information about the quake, campus, and when we could return to eat at the cafeteria. Technology really does keep the world spinning, more than we know. Well, more than hearing people are conscious of.

I am so glad that I chose to come to Gallaudet. Letting go of comfortable crutches and everyday expectations pushes us to strive for more and assess our own strengths, values, and development. I am looking forward to the two year journey here and anticipate many stories and discoveries to share with you along the way.

Wish me luck!!

Second Presentation

Last night was my second PowerPoint presentation in my ASL class w/ Carole. This presentation was much more comfortable and surprisingly last minute. The feedback Carole gave me was very positive. The major thing I need to work on is my vocabulary. :-/ means more practice!!!



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Pondering Hands

I'm not sure what I'm thinking. But I need to get it out. Out of my head and onto this screen. Funny how maybe a few years ago I would have said paper instead of screen.

I don't know what I want to do with ASL. It feels like I have more options than I thought, but limited choices. Oxymoronic, but true. And I don't know what the best path is to get me to any of them. I've heard so many different opinions about all the schools, all the programs, all the perspectives... and they're all different. It's hard to make an educated guess or even informed decision based upon such contradictory statements. Argh.

I kinda want to just pack everything up and go to DC. But all my networks and everything is here. What about funding? What about job placement? How do I know what I want to do? Interpreter, teacher, specialist............ ....

I need a guidance counselor.


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Wow....school update!!

Well now. It has been a long time. So I 'll start from the beginning.

1. I GOT INTO COLUMBIA!!!!!!! Yep, I had a phone interview and she said they looked for students with high GPAs like mine because the program is so intense. They heart me. No scholarships, though. But a bunch of loans. Great. Just what I was looking for.
2. I still have to screen for the interpreter program in Queens. I really hope I get in.

Advanced ASL II ended, I miss that class. I miss the students and how helpful my instructor was. I need more deaf events in my life... stay tuned for more of those.

In my ASL 4 class, we are reviewing things I have already learned. Things like time, money, location, etc. So although the vocabulary is redundant, I am taking advantage of the reception and socializing skills practice. Practicing TOSV is hard and important for me. I don't think I learned any of that in Sacramento. Another benefit from the class is that because of all the PowerPoint assignments, my knowledge in Keynote & Powerpoint is building quite rapidly.

Two nights ago, my dear friend Jeremy hosted the ASL Slam at the Bowery Poetry Club in the LES. He was great! He and another man shared stories, then Jeremy conducted a few ASL games using body language, gesture, and facial expressions. It was fun! The place was PACKED!!! I was so happy for the producers; we were lined up all the way to the door. A lot more young adults were in attendance, and a few folks from my ASL 4 class. It feels nice to be a part of a community. I met some new friends and chatted with some old ones. And of course... got home waaaaaaaaaaay too late. Next month I should set an alarm to remind me when I should go.

Now for Gallaudet, my applications and interviews are all complete. However, my Praxis exams are not. I completed the Praxis II on Wednesday. It wasn't that bad. I got a 183; equivalent to an 85%. Today I was scheduled to take the Praxis II, including Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. I'm not sure if it is because Mercury is in retrograde, it's that time of the month, or the rain.... but the universe was against me this morning. Long story short: I got nauseated, the express train was a hot mess, the 34th Street stop was congested, an entrace was blocked off, and my feet got wet. I was too late to take the exam. I'll have to reschedule on Monday. I just pray that the rescheduling fee will not be ridiculous. BTW: the phone receptionist was was the rudest, least helpful I have ever encountered. Even worse than Logitech.

And that's about it!! I've been really torn about which school I should enroll. But I will wait until all applications/interviews/exams are complete and all schools have given me an answer. Until then?
Just keep signing, just keep signing, just keep signing....

I passed the ASLPI!

I did, I did!!!!

with a 3....out of 5. Which is not very impressive.

*sad face*

BUT! I do know, after some self-analyzing, that while I discuss an unfamiliar topic during conversation my strong ASL skills slowly turn into signed english. And sometimes I just don't trust myself. And sometimes I second guess what I'm seeing.

WHICH all points to.... I just need more time socializing and beefing up my reception skills.

Prescription?
more Deaf events!!!



See you at the ASL Slam!
(every third Thursday at the Bowery Poetry Club)