Last year, I remember using pen and paper when I couldn't understand people or make myself clear. This year, I relied a lot more on my language skills and gestures to explain and understand things.
Also, the icebreakers and games were a lot less fun for me this year--after one or two of them, I was ready to move on to something a little more "adult." While it is challenging as a new student to keep up with everyone else, I found this year to be equally challenging in a different way--having the patience to fingerspell my name OVER and OVER and not get frustrated when people would just smile and nod even though I could tell they didn't understand what I was signing.
I enjoyed most of my classes this year. The teachers have different styles, and we learned a different subject every hour. I didn't necessarily come away with a whole lot of new information, but it was really helpful to practice my skills and just get used to processing information immediately in ASL.
The best part (as was the same last year) was meeting people. I enjoyed hanging out with Bob, Deb, and Jan from Arizona so much that I'm trying to devise a way to divert my summer trip to include a stop in Phoenix (tough, because it is a pretty short trip, but there's GOTTA be a way!) And every night I stayed up past 2 chatting with Lisa, Nina, Jeremy, Sarah, and Melony. We laughed so loud that this one woman made us be quiet. Not to mention the struggles Melony and I went through with our skit group...wow. That was tough. But we made it :) And it actually turned out pretty well.
At the end of July, along our trip, I will stop for another immersion program in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am looking forward to seeing how the program differs from the one in Washington. And of course, every day I get more pumped up for my journey home and starting graduate school at Gallaudet!!
here's Bob during Deaf Deaf World
Jeremy and Sarah playing backgammon
And Lisa juggling a cell phone and sidekick
2 comments:
Hey! This is Amy from camp. I agree that the best part was the people and just being able to use and see signing. I miss it. Been sick with a bad cold since I got home, so haven't even been able to do my normal signing activities with my Deaf friends and classmates.
It is interesting to see the progress from one summer to the next. After a year at Gallaudet, you should be an efficient, proficient, professional (with an australian accent).
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