As probably some of you already know, two years ago I started my Silent Journey through Italian Sign Language.
A lot of people are surprised about my choice and they often ask me how I came out with the idea.
I never had Deaf friends, and I don’t even remember if I met some Deaf people when I was younger.
However, when I look back, I can recall some memories.
The first time I saw Sign Language
The very first time I saw someone using their hands for talking was during a Yoga gathering, somewhere close to Milan, Italy. A lot of people went there, including a bunch of bikers.
Usually, it’s really common to think that bikers are noisy but, that day, they were the most silent.
I remember a girl approaching me and asking me if I wanted to know how to spell my name in LIS (Italian Sign Language). After that, I was super curious and I wanted to know more!
Unfortunately, I found out I needed to be at least 18 for attending the school and I was 13 only!
Sadly, I forgot pretty quickly about Sign Language.
How Sign Language came back to me
Lately, I read “The Alchemist”, from Paulo Coelho. It’s probably his most famous book in which you’ll find the even more popular quote:
When you really want something the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it
That’s basically what happened with Sign Language! I just found a flyer about a Sign Language Intensive Course… and I applied.
And what happened after?
I simply fell in love with the culture, the language itself and the people. I realized I had finally found what I really like!
It’s really more than a language! The whole body needs to talk, together with your hands. Instead of talking you need to draw your thoughts and instead of listening you look at what someone else is creating.
It looks like your Soul is talking!
What about Sign Language abroad?
At the end of every course, I was asked to write a short thesis about what I had learned during the past year.
I decided to focus my work on Deaf Children living abroad, especially in the so-called “poor” countries.
While I was writing I was feeling very emotional and also very curious about how Deaf education was provided in different countries.
I eventually decided to travel to those countries!
Although it’s a very visual language… It’s still a language. This means every country has its own Signs, grammar and culture. Just like English is different from Spanish.
So, while I’m still learning Italian Sign Language, I decided to try to learn American Sign Language on my own.
Even if that’s not easy, I found ASL (American Sign Language) very useful, especially for my trip to South-East Asia.
That’s why I am so happy I was able to meet some Deaf people in Yangon, Myanmar!
I just recorded a video about my experience. It’s in Italian Sign Language, but I will provide a transcript in English for everybody else here below.
Myanmar was the country of new experiences! After meeting a nun in a nunnery I had found this School for Deaf.
I’m leaving this country with a smile and with my heart full of joy.
About my meeting with Deaf people
English transcript
” Hello!
Today I’d like to share with you an interesting experience I had.
Currently, I am in Yangon, Myanmar. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit a School for the Deaf [Mary Chapman School for Deaf].
Unlucky me, yesterday was Sunday, therefore the school was closed; but two kind teachers helped me. They were both Hearing [Speaking] but could sign. They could also speak a bit English.
Together we visited the school.
It’s a pretty big school, 400 students of different ages attend classes.
Which sections did I visit?
I visited three rooms. The first, was a Beauty Saloon called Maudita.
There, I found three young ladies working. They were surprised as the saw me, and one of them approached me. Her [sign] name is R, and she was born in Yangon. She’s happy there because she loves her work.
After that, she wanted to teach me some signs. I learned how to sign three different cities: Yangon, Mandalay, Hpa-An.
After that, we had been to a massage room. There, they provide Shiatsu massages. Two guys were inside the room, chilling and signing.
They were kind as well but they were a bit ashamed, thus I couldn’t communicate that good. But it doesn’t matter!
Finally, we visited the library. The room was huge, with a lot of natural light and thousands of books. I really liked it.
Our tour finished, and I’m super happy! Of course, I’m satisfied too, ’cause I met a lot of Deaf people and I was able to communicate with them.
I remember an experience I had about three months ago. I was traveling in Haiti and there I met some Deaf people. They were using American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate.
The conversation was terrible! The thing is, I had never studied ASL.
It’s been three months now that I decided to study ASL on my own. Even though it’s not easy, I hope I will learn a lot.
There are a lot of Deaf people out there, and I would love to communicate with them all.
This was my first video using Italian Sign Language, I hope you liked it! What do you think?
Please, let me know about your thoughts & big thanks!”
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I would LOVE to know what you think. Did you know about Sign Language? Are you new to the topic or you did your research already?
Just drop a comment and let me know, I’m curious!
Love,
Sonia
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