"She is not an animal"

Thursday 28th August 2008

Well, this was the first time I was going to meet more of the Deaf. I was excited and anxious and I really did not know what to expect. But my experience with Ian and Shevon was great so I wasnt too worried. Aunty Olga was about to teach them and prepare them for their regulations exam.

This day was one I cant easily forget mainly because I probably had one of the closest experiences of how a Deaf person feels in a Hearing world. With a limited knowledge of Sign Language and the fact that I did not know most of the people in the room, I felt so alone and isolated, maybe even out of place to be amongst the Deaf as they signed and laughed with each other. I really did not know what to do lol. I wondered if this is how a Deaf person feels when Hearing people are talking and ignoring them. I admit that it was not the best feeling in the world and I couldnt stand to think that this is what they have to endure daily...sigh.

Well I immediately occupied myself to overcome the feeling but soon enough the class was almost ready to start and Aunty Olga began to introduce me to some of the Deaf present. I remember Himlater and how friendly she was. Everytime she passed me she smiled. I also remember Shiva and Shivan. They seemed so hyped about the introduction but at the same time nervous! lol I felt the same way lol. Everybody was just waiting eagerly for their turn to be introduced. I cant say with confidence that I remembered everybody's name that day. To be quite honest I was just too happy lol. I remember Rayon's fingers trembling as he signed the letters of his name and I thought to myself "Oh no! I'm so normal and ordinary...if he only knew!"

Well the class began and Aunty Olga presented me before everyone. I just slowly signed my name as all eyes focussed on me. They all seemed to genuinely want to know my name. Sigh...so precious. After introducing myself I sat next to Shivan and he seemed very aware of my presence. And I, with all the happiness injected in my soul, just smiled and smiled and smiled!! I'm smiling now! Have you ever smiled with your soul? It's that kind of smile..:)

I just looked at Aunty Olga in such amazement and total admiration as she dramatized the driving regulations! I laughed so much! I felt like a child again :)

Later on in the lesson, she used me as a prop to dramatize the hand signals. In her dramatization, she held my hand and motioned it to demonstrate the different hand signals. I of course, sat and was ever so eager to be of assistance but Rayon did not share those views. He stopped Aunty Olga abruptly and told her "She is not an animal!" :-O When she told me what he said I was just amazed! I was touched actually.

How sensitive they are to the little, seemingly overlooked things in life! My perspective of life was beginning to change...I was beginning to see that we complicate life so much. A Deaf person seems to see the world through the eyes of a child.

Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." KJV