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I was never a student at Gally because I was planning on going to Harvard (but things happened, and I ended up going to a state university). I, however, have visited Gallaudet many times for workshops, presentations, to talk with the folks at the Clerc Center, observations, and just to hang out with my friends who went there. I've always felt that it was "home" away from home. I noticed that there is an attitude of "Deaf Pride" that can go over the top - a little too much for me. I like to hang out with people from ALL backgrounds, not just the "big D" deafies. Several of my friends whom I met during oral camps and programs had a difficult time...and several other friends who were oral ended up there and loving it. I guess it depends on how you take things in stride and how you are willing to adapt. The friends who later learned sign language (most of them learned ASL, not English sign language) tell me that they cannot believe they lived without signing growing up. The experience was life changing for them. The friends who chose not to sign ended up transferring to other places with a bitter taste in their mouth whenever they talk about Gallaudet.
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