Monday, May 28
My Grassroots, Revisited
My viewpoint on "grassroots" (and the "elites")-- especially what does it mean to me. Inspired by Jay Krieger's vlog about the grassroots (which is quite a while ago!). Some references I made in the video was to Jay's vlog. How is it deemed whether you are "grassroots," or not, in any typical Deaf community? Where are the grassroots in San Diego, my hometown? Finally, my personal input about grassroots in San Diego and whether I am grassroots or not.
Monday, May 21
May Gloom Mixed with Happiness
May Gloom-- after a month of being sunkissed, I suddenly found myself reaching into the "thick socks" drawer and wrapping myself in a fleece blanket... it didn't rain enough in San Diego (maybe half an inch so far??) but I have enough with the overcast weather... I planned to surf but SHUCKS, the May gloom has arrived! Maybe I should invest in a drysuit... I do NOT want to FEEL the below-60 degree ocean!!!!
So far this month has brought so many events and surprises... but fret not... I won't cover them all.
The wine & cheese fundraiser for Certifed Deaf Interpreter Training Program was great-- so many people to meet! I have met some Deaf people who already enrolled at a local interpreting program at various community colleges. I wonder how much they benefit from a hearing interpreting program? Nonetheless, by having a Deaf Interpreting program embarked very soon, it should be a very nice addition to existing interpreting programs to help Deaf terps handling issues which are slightly different from hearing terps. I think this topic will keep me alive in D.C. where there are so many resources for me to become a CDI-- so thanks goodness I got something to keep me busy (after all I cannot surf in D.C.!!!).
I graduated last Saturday-- well, more accurately I joined in a graduation ceremony! I did graduate in December 2006, and got my degree within a month. However my mother put pressure on me to participate the university's annual graduation ceremony which is always in May-- and I gave in. She graduated from my university as well and she never had the opportunity to walk so she wanted to live vicariously through my graduation. Anything for her to get off my back-- and after all, it is a nice Mother's day gift that didn't cost me anything but my dignity!
Well, why must I lose my dignity, you may ask... and that I gladly answer... it was an all hearing graduation.
For the first time, I have NO Deaf friends to accompany me on this typically joyous event. There was another Deaf student graduating, but given the size of this university and our different majors, I don't know this student well enough to rub elbows. So I felt foolish for attending an event where I cannot celebrate with my fellow classmates... so I had to swallow my pride and just went through with it to see my mother smiling.
I had 16 deaf classmates/friends for my high school graduation (out of 300 students), so this recent graduation was a huge change for me. I sat lonely in a sea of black-gowned shouting (600?) students, pondering how long the ceremony would take, and where the hell my family was seated so I could chat with them (ah, an advantage of knowing ASL, FYI!).
But if you think about it, that graduation does sum up my experience at my university.
I was the only Deaf person all throughout my classes.
I made a very few Hearing friends.
I didn't partake in the tyical college activities (bong-drinking, uh, kegging, uh whatever you guys do...).
But I had no regrets. I learned a lot than I would ever from my crappy high school. I learned who I am and my preferences. I made a lot of friends (not ON campus). I enjoyed my times at the university in some favorite classes.
and I am very, very glad I don't have to return to my university (only for their lovely superlibrary and bookstore).
Bonjour, SDSU-- you were good to me, but I am leaving you!!
***
PS-- Happy a quarter of a century birthday to my dear dear husband "C"...! Here it is to many years ahead to grow together. I do look forward to those years. Doostat D'aram.
So far this month has brought so many events and surprises... but fret not... I won't cover them all.
The wine & cheese fundraiser for Certifed Deaf Interpreter Training Program was great-- so many people to meet! I have met some Deaf people who already enrolled at a local interpreting program at various community colleges. I wonder how much they benefit from a hearing interpreting program? Nonetheless, by having a Deaf Interpreting program embarked very soon, it should be a very nice addition to existing interpreting programs to help Deaf terps handling issues which are slightly different from hearing terps. I think this topic will keep me alive in D.C. where there are so many resources for me to become a CDI-- so thanks goodness I got something to keep me busy (after all I cannot surf in D.C.!!!).
I graduated last Saturday-- well, more accurately I joined in a graduation ceremony! I did graduate in December 2006, and got my degree within a month. However my mother put pressure on me to participate the university's annual graduation ceremony which is always in May-- and I gave in. She graduated from my university as well and she never had the opportunity to walk so she wanted to live vicariously through my graduation. Anything for her to get off my back-- and after all, it is a nice Mother's day gift that didn't cost me anything but my dignity!
Well, why must I lose my dignity, you may ask... and that I gladly answer... it was an all hearing graduation.
For the first time, I have NO Deaf friends to accompany me on this typically joyous event. There was another Deaf student graduating, but given the size of this university and our different majors, I don't know this student well enough to rub elbows. So I felt foolish for attending an event where I cannot celebrate with my fellow classmates... so I had to swallow my pride and just went through with it to see my mother smiling.
I had 16 deaf classmates/friends for my high school graduation (out of 300 students), so this recent graduation was a huge change for me. I sat lonely in a sea of black-gowned shouting (600?) students, pondering how long the ceremony would take, and where the hell my family was seated so I could chat with them (ah, an advantage of knowing ASL, FYI!).
But if you think about it, that graduation does sum up my experience at my university.
I was the only Deaf person all throughout my classes.
I made a very few Hearing friends.
I didn't partake in the tyical college activities (bong-drinking, uh, kegging, uh whatever you guys do...).
But I had no regrets. I learned a lot than I would ever from my crappy high school. I learned who I am and my preferences. I made a lot of friends (not ON campus). I enjoyed my times at the university in some favorite classes.
and I am very, very glad I don't have to return to my university (only for their lovely superlibrary and bookstore).
Bonjour, SDSU-- you were good to me, but I am leaving you!!
***
PS-- Happy a quarter of a century birthday to my dear dear husband "C"...! Here it is to many years ahead to grow together. I do look forward to those years. Doostat D'aram.
Tuesday, May 8
Life-- Back on Track
So many things are going on this month-- as I get closer to take control of my life. No longer my life is dictated by classes nor deadlines for assignments. No longer I have to shuffle around my schedule to fit everything I need. No longer I need to pinch my penny...(well I still am frugal, but at least I don't live from paycheck to paycheck anymore!)...
My life... is finally MINE.
and I am thrilled.
My graduation ceremony is next weekend-- so I will walk around and swelter in a BLACK polyster jacket and cap for hours until they summon my name and I zoom by to grad my papers and get over with it! ...Naw. I have to walk SLOWLY and let my mother savor in her proud moments with tears in her eyes. I am the only one in the entire family to have an American university graduation... that is what my mom kept emphasizing to me as she persuaded me to join the walking ceremony. Oh, I AM *so* SPECIAL!
Two days after my graduation is my beloved husband's 25th birthday. He is a quarter of century old!! Haven't decided what to do with him... Unfortunately he probably will prefer to work to just kill the birthday buzz, but alas the workplace may be fatal with overzealous co-workers to celebrate his birthday... They even wrote down his birthday on the eraseboard to remind to bring treats to celebrate. I might just take him out to a nifty vegetarian restaurant. Any further details will be refrained to indulge your imagination. :-)
A teaching job will be terminated in a week since it is the end of semester. I am thrilled! I had enough of getting up at 5am. It has got worser to an extent where I happened to wake up at 3am today! So the getting-up early routine is just throwing me off and I haven't slept a good wink... I think I am better suited to wake up at 7am. 5am is just too damn early.
and Happy early Mother's Day to first-time (and pregnant to-be moms)!!! It is a baby boom season in San Diego among the Deaf community-- I know of 6 babies being born to Deaf parents within this year and there are three more on the way!
(Heathy, Shana, 'Nessa, Bonita, Lindsee, Melissa, Tirhas, Priscilla, Liliyah)
and I am thrilled.
My graduation ceremony is next weekend-- so I will walk around and swelter in a BLACK polyster jacket and cap for hours until they summon my name and I zoom by to grad my papers and get over with it! ...Naw. I have to walk SLOWLY and let my mother savor in her proud moments with tears in her eyes. I am the only one in the entire family to have an American university graduation... that is what my mom kept emphasizing to me as she persuaded me to join the walking ceremony. Oh, I AM *so* SPECIAL!
Two days after my graduation is my beloved husband's 25th birthday. He is a quarter of century old!! Haven't decided what to do with him... Unfortunately he probably will prefer to work to just kill the birthday buzz, but alas the workplace may be fatal with overzealous co-workers to celebrate his birthday... They even wrote down his birthday on the eraseboard to remind to bring treats to celebrate. I might just take him out to a nifty vegetarian restaurant. Any further details will be refrained to indulge your imagination. :-)
A teaching job will be terminated in a week since it is the end of semester. I am thrilled! I had enough of getting up at 5am. It has got worser to an extent where I happened to wake up at 3am today! So the getting-up early routine is just throwing me off and I haven't slept a good wink... I think I am better suited to wake up at 7am. 5am is just too damn early.
and Happy early Mother's Day to first-time (and pregnant to-be moms)!!! It is a baby boom season in San Diego among the Deaf community-- I know of 6 babies being born to Deaf parents within this year and there are three more on the way!(Heathy, Shana, 'Nessa, Bonita, Lindsee, Melissa, Tirhas, Priscilla, Liliyah)
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