Last weekend, because I am the bridesmaid it's traditional for us to organise a hen party of the bride. For months, I had secretly organised a weekend in wigwams http://www.wolferlowwigwams.co.uk/ and a greatest day out at the "Go Ape" http://www.goape.co.uk/whats-it-all-about. We had such a brilliant weekend and it couldn't have been any better for Rosie.
In the evening we had campfire and played a lot of games. There was 7 of us who is profoundly deaf (and I am the only one with CI) we were in our comfort zone and signed for England, there was also Rosie's mum and her sister, who both are hearing all weekend we encouraged them to join in and they both had great time and laughed a lot even there is language barriers but they seems comfortable and enjoyed being with us and never showed any signs of isolation, Rosie, I and few others took turns by keeping them in the loop with the signing, we translated everything they had said etc we didn't feel it was a burden to do it. It's only fair when they cannot understand 7 deaf people signing very fast! what hitted us as one of the girls had said recently that if it was 7 hearing people and 2 deaf people the attitude of the hearing would be completely different such as not making sure that the deaf people are fully participate. It's always like "never mind" "tell you later" or "u have your deaf friend with you, talk to her/him" or fully explain to us what the game is about or inviting the deaf people in the game (which is mostly verbal), for us deaf it's quite sad and isolating. It's one of many reasons that I am not too keen on outings/events with hearing people apart from few people who I know very well and who bothers to explain every details of the event/whatever like it's no trouble for them I am forever grateful for those people.
Interesting isn't it?
2 comments:
Hands up to saying 'tell you later'. My problem was always feeling life was 3 groups of people - You, me/friend and 'the others'.
I always seemed to spend my time trying to relate the game or conversation to you and missing half of it myself. You were a bright youngster and always new I had left something out.I used to end up feeing very sad that we could not slow life down a bit and enable me to interpret situations better. Following your journey with the CI is eye-opening, my one regret is that you did not get it sooner. mum x
Mum, I could have been in worser life, I am forever grateful for the life you had given to me, you never wrapped me in a cotton wool or hid me away from the society, I couldn't image life without travelling, the love for animals, Daddy, Stephen and you (and my extended family, dysfunctional or not), I love you both very much, please do not regret anything it wasn't your/my fault, what's done is done, dusted and is in the past. Yes, I wish I had screamed for CI 10 years ago when Caroline had hers but the NHS was too chicken. Lets fight for 2nd implant..........
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