I studied ASL and Deaf culture for three years with Deaf instructors and my kick-ass interpreter friend Pam. I don’t have many Deaf friends anymore, and I am losing the language, both of which I find distressing. But I am glad to have studied so intensively, and learned so much — not just language and grammar, but also culture and perspective. I don’t know if I would have made a good interpreter: I like to think I would, but it’s huge work to do, and I wonder if I would have been able to stretch myself to meet it.
Still, in an alternate lifestream, I went on from my studies to work with Pam as my mentor to become a performance interpreter. In that lifestream, I am standing on the floor of Key Arena interpreting David Bowie or U2, or in the intimate space of the Triple Door (lovely club here in Seattle) with Suzanne Vega or… well, but that’s another lifetime.
Still, you may imagine my glee at finding this: a woman’s final exam for a college ASL course.
Totally NSFW. Totally fun. I love my life, but things like this make me imagine lives not lived, and smile at how cool they would have been.
Enjoy your day.
Got a big smile here to start the day with… I’ve sometimes been so distracted and entertained by performance interpreters I’ve forgotten to watch the muso’s!
Love it! And I can easily picture you there interpreting U2…
I never thought about profanity in ASL. That’s a skill that could come in handy.
You interpreting U2 would be awesome. You should make a vid, y’know, in your spare time : P
I, too, have taken years of signing and once had a deaf community but moved and now have lost both my skills, deaf mates, and dreams. Keep Dreaming! LIFE is NOT over and you never know when opportunity arises. I totally loved the video and it put a smile on my face 🙂 Thanks…my hands will be signing ALL day!