Deaf Coffee Night #1

So, I believe most people know that I became involved with American Sign Language about a year and a half ago through someone who meant a lot to me. I knew as soon as I met him that he was in my life for a specific purpose and that I was going to learn a great deal. This friend was deaf and I so badly wanted to communicate with him that when I moved to San Diego I immediately sign up for an American Sign Language course through our local community college. Long story short, I took the first course, followed by the second a year later and I am completely enthralled by this language. It is such a beautiful way to communicate and I feel that it is truly something that should be a part of my life. All that being said...I was unable to take the next course this summer because I was working nights. I missed being able to communicate with others through sign. I did have a friend who I was practicing with while I was in school but Andrea was called to serve a mission for the church in Nauvoo, IL where she gets to teach deaf visitors and interpret different activities. Andrea had me promise her that I would keep up with my signing while she's gone; it was an promise I definitely want to keep!

Anyhow, on to the coffee night. I found a website several months ago where it lists deaf coffee nights throughout the U.S. and I told myself that I should attempt to go to the one here in San Diego sometime to practice. It was something that was always in the back of my head until one day at the gym I looked and saw two people singing to each other. My heart ached; I missed it so much. I decided that I should go on Friday. Now, I never really made any good friends in my classes because the other students were either still in high school or between the ages of 40 and 60, so I had no one to go with. I happen to be a terribly shy person around people I don't know or aren't comfortable with, so this was going to be way out of my comfort zone. Not only would I have to introduce myself to strangers, but I was going to be doing it in essentially a different language. I was terrified! I made the drive which was a good 20 mins from my house so once I got there I had to go in. There were so many people there and hands were flying! I felt so much joy in seeing this. I took a deep breath and walked up.

I, of course found some ASL students so I could ease my way in using English. I talked with them for quite a while but it was good cause I was semi comfortable. Then a guy approached the group and started signing with a girl who was very advanced. Once they stopped talking(and of course I meaning signing, but it's really the same thing), I introduced myself. We were talking for several minutes about different things and then when he started explaining that they have a Deaf Bowling Night, he started actually talking. I was so bummed because I thought I was communicating with someone who was deaf and I was happy that I wasn't that nervous. After talking with him the coffee shop had to close due to some technical error so I decided to head home. I was a little sad that I didn't really put myself out there, but technically I did because I showed up and that was the hardest part. I'm hoping to go at least once a month and try to actually talk with someone who is deaf! All in all, though it was a really good experience and I am so glad that I went.