my first experiences at gallaudet

I have arrived at Gallaudet University after a very fun and refreshing road trip across the country!! (see silly pictures below)

here are my first impressions of my new home:

Gallaudet itself is much smaller than UMD--and the feeling as I moved into the dorm was totally different. At Maryland, as soon as you show up, you get lost in the shuffle, pushed out of the way, and you have to wait in lots of long, long lines. Here, people were immediately smiling and offering to help carry in my bags from the car, and it seems the school truly is dedicated to accessible communication and developing a community feeling from the very first day.

People always say the Deaf community is small, and my first day at Gallaudet was solid proof of that. waiting in line to get my parking permit came the greatest surprise and happiest moment of my time so far here at school. through the door walked my high school friend Jen's mom and sister...and her sister is a freshman at school here this Fall. I hadn't seen Jen or any of her family for years, and it was such a surprise and delight to see them walk through that door! Whenever people ask for the long story of why I started learning ASL or taking an interest in Deaf Culture, it always winds up back at Jen's house, meeting her Deaf family for the first time. That experience was one I didn't give a second thought to at the time, but I think I learned something then that I have carried with me years later.

My second surprise (and further reinforcement of the "small world" thing ) came in the dining hall. A favorite teacher of mine from Washington State was eating lunch with a guy I had met in Portland..little did I know, they are father and son! Wow.

I am set up in my new spot in Carlin hall, where many of the grad students live. I have 3 suitemates (one of whom is an actual room-mate), lots of books stacked up on my desk, a brand new mailbox, and 1 dinky chair.

Tomorrow morning is orientation for my department and I couldnt be more excited!

I hope all is well with friends and family, please write soon!