Tim7
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
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First off, many, many thanks for the swamp of welcome messages. As a "hearing person" I feel very welcome here and appreciate all of the well wished I received.
Just to share, I wanted to tell what first interested me in ASL and the deaf culture.
I was attending an annual holiday presentation at a church I attend regularly a few years ago. Sitting in front of me was a guest who I suspect was the only deaf person at this particular performance; yet there was an interpreter who was signing just for her. Though the performance was wonderful, it was even more touching and wonderful for me to witness the beauty of the experience of signing. The motions and expressions of the interpreter were amazing and I found myself wondering what the experience of the program must have been like for the woman watching.
I've never forgotten that experience, and over the past few months, find myself watching during a morning service as an interpreter signs for about 15 or so attendees.
When I get interested in a subject I usually start reading and researching, and the deaf culture and ASL have been no exception. I've viewed a number of DVD's on ASL and deaf culture. I've learned to fingerspell, and I'm learning some signing from two manuals I bought around Christmas.
I don't know where this will lead, ultimately; whether or not I'll want to be an interpreter or simply learn so I can get to know people who are deaf. But one thing I do know; I am interested, sensitive, and newly aware of an entire group of people who live in a world much different than mine, and I'd like to get to know them better.
It's great to be here, and to learn, and to begin to understand.
with warmest wishes and appreciation,
Tim
Just to share, I wanted to tell what first interested me in ASL and the deaf culture.
I was attending an annual holiday presentation at a church I attend regularly a few years ago. Sitting in front of me was a guest who I suspect was the only deaf person at this particular performance; yet there was an interpreter who was signing just for her. Though the performance was wonderful, it was even more touching and wonderful for me to witness the beauty of the experience of signing. The motions and expressions of the interpreter were amazing and I found myself wondering what the experience of the program must have been like for the woman watching.
I've never forgotten that experience, and over the past few months, find myself watching during a morning service as an interpreter signs for about 15 or so attendees.
When I get interested in a subject I usually start reading and researching, and the deaf culture and ASL have been no exception. I've viewed a number of DVD's on ASL and deaf culture. I've learned to fingerspell, and I'm learning some signing from two manuals I bought around Christmas.
I don't know where this will lead, ultimately; whether or not I'll want to be an interpreter or simply learn so I can get to know people who are deaf. But one thing I do know; I am interested, sensitive, and newly aware of an entire group of people who live in a world much different than mine, and I'd like to get to know them better.
It's great to be here, and to learn, and to begin to understand.
with warmest wishes and appreciation,
Tim