Miss-Delectable
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http://www.theeagle.com/stories/012906/lifestyles_2006012900z.php
At any given time, several conversations occur simultaneously, but no one is interrrupting. In fact, no one is even speaking.
The group consists of people who are deaf, partially deaf, and American Sign Language students. All communication is through sign language.
Lira-Anderson founded a local Deaf Coffee Chat group about two years ago to give deaf people an opportunity to meet and socialize in a casual atmosphere. She said before the group started meeting, her main interactions were at work or on the computer.
"The deaf community is a small community," she said. "It's kind of like a small town. Everyone knows everyone."
Similar groups meet in 35 states and Canada, according to www.**********.com. The Web site also contains information about where different social groups meet and contact information.
Lira-Anderson said the local chapter has grown mostly through the grapevine, and people drive as much as 50 miles to meet.
The Bryan-College Station group meets the second and third Saturdays of the month at Sweet Eugenes and Starbucks on University Drive, respectively. Anywhere from 10 to 20 people show up each weekend, but Lira-Anderson said as many as 50 have attended the meetings.
Lira-Anderson first started to lose her hearing after contracting German measles, or rubella, when she was 9 months old. By age 2, she said her hearing was totally gone.
Despite being deaf, Lira-Anderson lip-reads and can speak when communicating with someone who doesn't know sign language. If she needs help, Lira-Anderson asks her husband to translate.
Most of the Deaf Coffee Chat members are deaf, but some students from Lira-Anderson's sign language class at Blinn College attend to practice.
Although some of her students complain that the signing is too fast for them, sitting in is an effective way to practice. "In the classroom, they learn the language," she said. "Out here you learn the conversation."
There are no dues or membership fees to join Deaf Coffee Chat. Members, who are close friends, want to meet and have the face-to-face interaction they prefer.
"In the deaf culture, we have to [talk] in person," Lira-Anderson said. "We do a lot of our comunication through body language, signs and eyes."
Technology - instant messaging and text messaging, for example - has simplified communication within the deaf community, but it's not as personal.
"I think we like to socialize in person," said Carla Carey, who also teaches sign language at Blinn and is deaf. "When you're on the phone or computer, it's not any fun. It's more fun to see them in person."
Cramming a week or two of socialzing into one night, however, requires time. And Lira-Anderson's husband, Tyler, has learned deaf people don't mind hanging out as long as it takes.
"It's a big joke among us," said Tyler Anderson, who is not deaf. "They'll start saying their goodbyes and walk about 5 feet, then start talking for about 10 more minutes. It's called 'deaf standard time.' They'll take the time to catch up."
Because entertainment options for the deaf community are limited, Lira-Anderson said Deaf Coffee Chat is a way for them to spend a weekend night.
"I wanted to do this because I enjoy socializing," she said. "Otherwise I'd just be sitting at home with nothing to do. This way I have some fun and get out of the house."
At any given time, several conversations occur simultaneously, but no one is interrrupting. In fact, no one is even speaking.
The group consists of people who are deaf, partially deaf, and American Sign Language students. All communication is through sign language.
Lira-Anderson founded a local Deaf Coffee Chat group about two years ago to give deaf people an opportunity to meet and socialize in a casual atmosphere. She said before the group started meeting, her main interactions were at work or on the computer.
"The deaf community is a small community," she said. "It's kind of like a small town. Everyone knows everyone."
Similar groups meet in 35 states and Canada, according to www.**********.com. The Web site also contains information about where different social groups meet and contact information.
Lira-Anderson said the local chapter has grown mostly through the grapevine, and people drive as much as 50 miles to meet.
The Bryan-College Station group meets the second and third Saturdays of the month at Sweet Eugenes and Starbucks on University Drive, respectively. Anywhere from 10 to 20 people show up each weekend, but Lira-Anderson said as many as 50 have attended the meetings.
Lira-Anderson first started to lose her hearing after contracting German measles, or rubella, when she was 9 months old. By age 2, she said her hearing was totally gone.
Despite being deaf, Lira-Anderson lip-reads and can speak when communicating with someone who doesn't know sign language. If she needs help, Lira-Anderson asks her husband to translate.
Most of the Deaf Coffee Chat members are deaf, but some students from Lira-Anderson's sign language class at Blinn College attend to practice.
Although some of her students complain that the signing is too fast for them, sitting in is an effective way to practice. "In the classroom, they learn the language," she said. "Out here you learn the conversation."
There are no dues or membership fees to join Deaf Coffee Chat. Members, who are close friends, want to meet and have the face-to-face interaction they prefer.
"In the deaf culture, we have to [talk] in person," Lira-Anderson said. "We do a lot of our comunication through body language, signs and eyes."
Technology - instant messaging and text messaging, for example - has simplified communication within the deaf community, but it's not as personal.
"I think we like to socialize in person," said Carla Carey, who also teaches sign language at Blinn and is deaf. "When you're on the phone or computer, it's not any fun. It's more fun to see them in person."
Cramming a week or two of socialzing into one night, however, requires time. And Lira-Anderson's husband, Tyler, has learned deaf people don't mind hanging out as long as it takes.
"It's a big joke among us," said Tyler Anderson, who is not deaf. "They'll start saying their goodbyes and walk about 5 feet, then start talking for about 10 more minutes. It's called 'deaf standard time.' They'll take the time to catch up."
Because entertainment options for the deaf community are limited, Lira-Anderson said Deaf Coffee Chat is a way for them to spend a weekend night.
"I wanted to do this because I enjoy socializing," she said. "Otherwise I'd just be sitting at home with nothing to do. This way I have some fun and get out of the house."