It's a Deaf, Deaf, Deaf, Deaf World

What an experience.  The first thing

is that there were about 50 people 

there and not a sound.  Of

course, as hearing people, you can

hear people walking, whispering

as they are mouthing the signs,

that sort of thing, but it was

as close as a hearing person can 

get to the silence a Deaf person

experiences.  There were

6 stations, bank, cafe, hospital, 

job application, electronics store 

and real estate office.

One of the guys in our class, Dave,

stayed with me throughout and

that helped.  I was really nervous.

I did not do well at the job application

or the electronics store.  That one was

strange.  You were supposed to

tell them that your grandmother's

smoke alarm wasn't working

and you needed a new one.

OK.  Well, I knew a few of those

words but not all.  My teacher, Pam,

was there when this was happening.

The lady at the station was signing

it and I knew what she was saying

but I didn't have a clue what she was

trying to get me to say.  Turns out that

Pam didn't have a clue, either, so I

didn't feel so bad.  She's been signing

for 25 years!  For the first time I don't

think I did too badly.  Out of 10, I got

4 6's and 2 7's.  I did really well at

the cafe.  You were supposed to order

eggs, toast and coffee and then, OOPS!

you forgot your wallet!  At the bank you

were to get an 800. loan.  He asked

me if I was going to pay it back weekly, 

monthly, if I had a job, things like

that, so I did well there, too.  And I 

enjoyed the real estate office, 

as well.  Dave

doesn't play by the rules, lol.  So he 

robbed the bank!  They got a kick out

of that and wanted to know what he

was going to do with the money he got

in the robbery!  At the hospital he told

them he was having a baby and that

his water broke, things like that.  It 

was hilarious!  He had the most

points and won a prize.  I'm glad I 

went and had the experience.

Maybe if I go next year I'll do

better ( I SHOULD do better

after another year!)