What am I?

Are we defined by our careers? Our assets? Our income? Wages per hour? Our cultural identity? Our ethnicity? Our majors?
The definitions help people classifying and measuring each other up. I am not all for it, but it is a fact-- people want to know who you are so they can measure you up by what you define yourself-- in other word, what you identify yourself.

I think it depends on which stage of life you are in.
Right now I am in that odd phase-- the transitional phase between the graduate school and the staff position.  This phase is also known as "internship", "externship", or "apprenticeship."

In most of my interactions with the general population, I am defined by my cultural identity, my current education background,  and of course, my career since I am in that awkward phase.

Now, what happens when the identity confronts with the major?
I personally have seen it happened so many times. And it is a bit disheartening especially after it becomes too often.

An example of a typical conversation in ASL...

Them: "Oh, congratulations on your graduation! What was your major?"
Me: "Interpretation"
Them: "Oh... do you want me to turn on my voice?"
Me: "Um, I am Deaf?"
Them "Huh? You said you are an interpreter?"
Me: "Yes. I am an interpreter. A Deaf Interpreter."
Them: "Are you bullshittin' me? What, how can you interpret if you can't hear?"
Me: (taking out her soap box, stepping up, and beginning her explanation about Certified Deaf Interpreters) "...and so, that is how Deaf interpreters work."
Them: "huh... so YOU are Deaf? I just wanna double check..."
Me: "D-E-A-F."
Them: "Huh... and you just graduated?"

Imagine this conversation a thousand times over. You can see why I am a bit disheartened. I love the profession of Deaf Interpreting, but really as it adds up, I do get a bit deflated when people question my Deafness or my career.

I do try to see it differently-- I am exposing the general population to Deaf interpreting and as always, awareness is important so I am just doing my part being a walking billboard for "Deaf Interpreter"...
You know those "THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE" products? We should get a similar slogan for all C/DIs out there-- "THIS IS WHAT A DEAF INTERPRETER LOOKS LIKE".

Next time somebody ask me about my career, my education, my whatever--
I will just say: "I am a story."
And proudly wear my black unisex tee with the new C/DI slogan.

Live near or in Vermont?

Interested in taking up some workshops on Deaf interpreting?
Here you go!!
You have until August 28th, Friday to register!



[[[Reposted from Deaf Interpreters on Yahoo!Groups]]]

************************************************************************

DUE TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF A PRIVATE DEAF DONOR, VERMONT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, AND VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF (VTAD), DEAF FOUNDATIONS II IS NOW BEING OFFERED AT A REDUCED REGISTRATION FEE OF $100.00!  TO GET THIS PHENOMENAL VALUE,

PLEASE SEND REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT BY AUGUST 28TH!

Foundations of Interpreting Processes, Part IIFor Certified Deaf Interpreters, Deaf Interpretersand Future Deaf Interpreters

Participation in Deaf Foundations I is a prerequisite for participation in this workshop.

~ Co-Presented by Betty Colonomos and Jan DeLap ~Co-Sponsored by Vermont RID and the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

For more information: www.visitbmc.com

DATES:                     Friday, September 10, 2010 – Sunday, September 12, 2010

TIMES:                      Friday – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

                                    Saturday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

                                    Sunday – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

LOCATION:             Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

                                    Austine School for the Deaf, Vermont Hall Conference Room

                                    Brattleboro , Vermont

                                    Get directions at: www.vcdhh.org

CONTACT:              Janet F. Parker - jparker@vcdhh.org; VP: 802-275-0105

******************************************************************

AGAIN, the deadline for registration is AUGUST 28!!!

Spoiled?

With all the hype over iPhone 4, I iSucccumbed  as well.

I was a free agent with no contract held over my head, so I was checking out the HTC EVO (which offers two-way video calls via an app called "Fring") but the Sprint stores were sold out and the online store was out of stock for more than two weeks.
I got fed up of waiting for a new phone so I decided to break away from Sprint and signed up for iPhone with AT&T.

A month later, I am still clumsy with my iPhone-- my typos are more noticeable in emails and I can't walk and type at same time. Prior to iPhone, often my friends would comment on how I can follow a conversation with full attention while typing on my BB without looking--  I was very skilled at multitasking. Not anymore with iPhone. I have tunnel-visioned with iPhone and missed the world turning around me.
However I recently found an app where I can type while looking where I am going because it sets up the whole screen as if it is transparent while using the camera so it is as if I can see through my iPhone. Definitely gonna download that one.

Anyway, I have to get back to what I wanted to write about--  my reaction to to Facetime.
People asked me how it was, have I download the ZVRS app, who did I call for my first Facetime call, and how often do I Facetime?

It seems to me that people found the feature Facetime more impressive than the iPhone 4 itself.

To be frank, I haven't used ZVRS. I didn't download the app. I have the VP at home for that. I don't use Facetime everyday. I might have used it like three times so far in a month. I am a bit leery of using Facetime because I do not want people to see where I am or what I am wearing. I do not want to take up time to answer calls when I can multi-task by playing a game, answering a text, surfing Facebook and ignoring emails. Call me snobby but  I am more fascinated with Hipstamatic than Facetime! That app is my FIST-SMACK!

So. Why am I not impressed with Facetime like everybody else?
Is it because I am spoiled? Is it because I do expect Facetime? Is it because I demand more as a Deaf consumer? I mean, Facetime is only compatible with other iPhone 4 users-- and that is a bummer. I want to be able to video-chat with anybody who has a webcam.

Should I be grateful to Apple for making it possible for Deaf people to video-chat on phone? Should I bow forever to Apple for including Deaf people in their iPhone4 commercial?
Should I feed to the hype of iPhone by getting super-duper excited about Facetime as a Deaf person?
Should I be humble and enjoy what I, as a Deaf person, have instead of expecting the high standards?

Sorry, but it looks like I am pretty spoiled with my accessibility.
I want to be able to video-chat with my loved ones on gChat, with friends who do not have iPhone4, with people who does have a VP or webcam.
I want my Freedom to Facetime with anybody! And I want it now!

OR ELSE, I WILL THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM!

image credit to http://anoagibson.blogspot.com/

Neljä!

Four jobs I’ve had

1. Nanny
2. Research Assistant
3. Librarian Assistant
4. Dog walker
   

Four movies I can watch over and over

1. Amelie
2. Run, Lola, Run
3. The Professional
4. Land Before Time

Four places I’ve lived

1. Anchorage, Alaska
2. Travis AFB, California
3. Pori, Finland
4. San Diego, California

Four TV shows I love

1. 24
2. V
3. Project Runway
4.  Top Chef

Four places I’ve vacationed

1. Turkey (Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Eskisehir)
2. Italy (Venice, Florence, Bologna)
3. Tallinn, Estonia
4. Barcelona, Spain

Four of my favorite dishes

1. Caprese
2. Kale and pasta
3. Karjalanpiirakka
4. Queso Manchego with honey drizzled and pepper.

Four sites I visit daily

1. Frozen Tropics
2. Capital Weather Gang
3. Hulu.com
4. Facebook. You would be lying if you don't include that on your list.

Four places I would rather be right now

1. At a beach with surfers out on the waves.
2. Istanbul.
3. San Diego.
4. Anywhere that has snow.

Attitude

I will admit that I do have an attitude problem. Now I must say that I have improved as a person since high school (the worst years of having an attitude problem). Often I have to check myself before I bite people's heads off with snippy remarks. My attitude is something that some people love, and also something that people dislike me. I don't blame them, after all I am not your average happy easygoing person.
I do have a bitter side that infects my attitude problem. My first reaction is to be armed with a mean remark. Luckily, it only happens in my head so I would feign a smile in public while my "attitude" voice raged inside mu head.
Occassionally my husband witnessed my attitude* outbursts toward other people who were not aware (*attitude problem is also called "road rage"). If you have been in my car while I drive, you may see a glimpse of my inner attitude-- a glimpse of a bitter teenager-- but I always apologize afterward.
My attitude is a love-hate relationship. My attitude sets me apart. It makes me who I am. I am that "hard-ass bitch". I don't view "bitch" a a negative quality. It just means I am not a pushover and you know it. I like my attitude because it made me real.
However, too often I missed opportunities of making new friends because of my inner bitch. So I regret that I can't be that silly-happy girl who doesn't care about anything but life and fun. That girl who always smile all the times. That girl always has plenty of friends.
So even though I want to have fun and have a careless life, the major hurdle for is to smile.
It ia like a chicken and egg problem-- do I not smile because of my attitude problem? Or I have an attitude problem because I don't smile often?
So in conclusion-- I am fully aware that I may come across as a bitch, but at least you know I am real and you can use me to bite people's heads off if they do you wrong. I am a fearless bitch an I embrace it. Now I will try to work on being a fearless bitch that SMILES.