Jun 27, 2008 01:28
After ASL class today, me and Becca stopped off at Lady Siam to get bubble tea, partially because Rai was going on about how amazing they are and partially because we were both starving, neither of us having eaten anything since 5 AM this morning. This other lady there, looking at the menu and trying to decide what to order. So me and Becca were standing their and we were talking to each other, half signing, half speaking. I don't remember exactly what we were saying. It was about interpreting songs/poems. I think I was saying something to the effect of that The Highwayman would be beautiful in sign language, because there's so much vivid imagery, if only I could remember the words. I remember gesturing the road and the moon and the trees and the wind, and complaining that I don't know how to sign "highwayman" or even "inn". Ironically enough, I know exactly how I'd sign "tlot-tlot" (the horse's hooves).
Anyways, I happened go glance over at the woman, and she asked me, in ASL, "Are you an interpreter?" So I replied that no, we're learning sign language, and we talked a little. It turns out, her parents are deaf. It was just such a great surprise, that this random woman understands us signing and starts talking to us. I mean, I guess it's bound to happen that somebody around us knows sign language, but that was the last thing I was expecting. It felt really great, talking to her--a random person, not my teachers or a classmate--understanding and being understood. The conversation was really simple, but still. It was such a cool feeling. The lady who works there was smiling oddly at us while we talked. I don't know what she was thinking (probably something like: well, that's interesting ... I have no idea what they're saying >>).
I went in feeling exhausted and a little gloomy. By the time I left, my mood had totally flipped and I couldn't stop smiling, and the good mood carried me all the way home. It was great.
life