Deaf Club

I went to Deaf Club today with a friend of mine, J, that's also learning BSL. This particular Deaf Club is held once a month is aimed at helping BSL learners get a firmer grasp on the language.

I was very, very nervous before going. Also extremely excited. After all, this would be the first time that I really socialised with other deaf people. Would I be welcomed? Would my signing be good enough? Would I be looked down upon because I still have some hearing?

But I needn't have worried. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and didn't mind repeating what they had signed or getting another hearing person to say what they had signed. There were BSL students from all levels - ranging from level 1 through level 4.

For the first few hours J and I sat back and watched what was going on, taking in all the new signs and trying to figure out what they meant. Then we joined in and started to sign with people. One guy was absolutely hilarious and had me in fits of giggles.

I did find that I only understood about 1/4 of what was going on, but I loved it. It has made me realise how much I still have to learn though. I'm just a beginner, my signing isn't smooth and I'm still translating from english to BSL or vice versa. It will take a long time before I'm fluent.

Luckily there's some awesome people out there that are very patient and are more than happy to help all us BSL learners.

There's a Christmas dinner being held next month which I'd like to go to. Will have to make sure I'm free, it should be good fun.

In the meantime, I need to practice my signing so I'm not left asking 'could you please repeat that?' every two minutes.

I will master this language!

Deaf Girl

Those intimate moments

I've been debating about writing this entry for a while. Finally, I decided to take the plunge and write it. After all, this blog is to inform hearing people of all the aspects of my life as a deaf person. This would also include my life in the bedroom. So be warned - if you don't want to know, don't read on! (I really hope my family take the hint and don't read on - there are certain things relatives just don't need to know!)

One of the problems I've noticed with my hearing aids is that if my head is in a certain position (ie, if I'm cuddling someone and have my head rested against their chest etc.) then I get feedback from them. The same goes for if my head is in several other... positions. I find it easier to just take out my hearing aids when I'm getting intimate with someone.

This of course means that I am deaf in the bedroom, which can have its drawbacks! When it is someone's first time sleeping with a deaf person, the fact that I am deaf can slip one's mind in the heat of the moment. I'm assuming it has something to do with the fact that during the heat of the moment, most of their blood flow isn't reaching their brain!

Or they remember that I'm deaf, but don't think it applies to this situation. It's happened once or twice that I've been asked 'why didn't you answer me when I talked to you?'. There is no point in whispering sweet nothings to me as I won't hear them to respond to.

Sometimes they think that I'm being a bitch, because I don't talk during those intimate moments. It's not such a big deal if it's a regular partner - my ex was used to silence in the bedroom. But if it's a first time for someone being with a deaf person, it can make them nervous. Let me assure you though - everything else is working properly, it's just my ears that don't work!

I've also had one or two surprises suddenly happening. I won't go into detail, which I'm sure you're relieved to hear, but I have had to ask one or two people what on earth they thought they were doing.

'I took your silence as a yes.'

'I'm deaf.'

'Oh yeh... oops!'

Like I said, it can lead to some very ...interesting... situations.

But what is life if it's not about making discoveries and being able to have a laugh at those kinds of situations, and of course, experiencing new things!

Deaf Girl