HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hoping everyone has a Happy Christmas!

For all you Americans out there, Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Eat And Be Merry!

Remember, everyone! Diets don't exist on Turkey Day!

Reaction Paper: ASL Club (for ASL 101, I GOT A 100! A+ XD)

Every Wednesday at the Starbucks down the street from campus, a group of 20 or more people meets up from four to six in the evening to chat. Quietly. They’re members of the NOVA ASL Club and the surrounding area’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens. It’s a weekly chance for new and native signers to get together, chat, and get better at their signing, or just socialize. The perfect place for ASL students like me to go and hang out on a Wednesday evening and get some practice in while having fun.

My first ASL Club meeting was fairly strange and highly intimidating. I was more worried I’d offend someone than I was about making a complete fool of myself. We’d only gotten done with the first two Units in our class book and were working into our third, so I felt like a fish out of water. Thankfully I wasn’t alone, I’d gone with a classmate of mine, so we got to mentally freak-out together rather than alone. The first thing we did was introduce ourselves and gather names of some of the other attendees, then we figured out who was Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Hearing. We ended up spending a majority of our time with a Hearing couple at first, but then spread out to the others.

During the meeting, I was slightly subdued and extremely shy to trying to sign to the other members. I worried that I’d end up offending someone with the wrong gesture or that my horrid grammar would make others less willing to talk to me. But I found an open, friendly, and willing to suffer group of people who didn’t mind that I signed like a two-year-old (as I’m pretty sure I did, if not worse). No one begrudged me of my ability (or lack thereof) with signing and everyone was patient when I had to fingerspell to get my point across.

ASL Club is the first time I’ve been able to completely immerse myself in a language I was learning, besides English, of course. It’s a weird experience because the last two languages I was learning didn’t really have a larger audience outside of the classroom. Now, it’s like I can’t get away from ASL. At school, at the movies, even in the grocery store around the corner from my house, I see people signing everywhere. I once asked an ASL II student who came to the meetings if she noticed that she paid more attention to peoples’ hands when they spoke now. She said yes and that I’d eventually get used to it.

Now I’m thinking about going into Interpreting, which a lot of the Deaf and HoH members said would be fantastic. It’s like Christmas comes early when you mention going into Interpreting to one of them. They get excited and start signing too quickly for my brain and eyes to keep up. It’s a field that has been neglected and they love hearing how people want to help them and others like them in navigating this audio world.

Then again, ASL always fascinated me because it wasn’t audio, but visual. I’ve now attended more than 5 ASL Club meetings and each one is more fun every time. I learn more signs, I have great conversations, and I keep in practice. It’s absolutely fantastic and I love it. I still wish I could convince my mom and sister to come to one of the meetings with me, but alas, still no luck. I just want them to see me having a conversation in ASL like they’ve heard me butcher other spoken languages. I guess I’ll just have to keep working on it. But until then, ASL Club is like a second home with a cooler language…and coffee. Can’t forget about that.

Quick ASL Club Update

So yesterday evening, my mom and sister were awesome enough to come to ASL Club with me like I've been asking since my first time going. It was so much fun! They got to see me sign with everyone else, Interpret for the Deaf members who introduced themselves, and Jess got to use the fingerspelling I taught her all these months ago. :D In short, it was a blast and I hope it happens again! XD

Spring 2010: Double Major Time!

Yes, that's right. You read the title correctly. I'm going to be a double major next semester for Photography and the ASL Interpreting Certificate (which is the beginning to the Interpreting program). I've already signed up for my courses and I'm so stoked for this semester to be over already. Two semesters until I'm done with my Photography degree and then on to my ASL one. And, if I want my bachelor's degree for either, I can probably transfer to Gally or somewhere for both of them. :D

Anyway, sorry for not updating lately. Been busy with multiple things going on. I entered the 2009 FotoWeekDC Night Visions contest (where local photographers shoot from 6PM-6AM) and was displayed for a week. So cool! XD I have to go pick up the print now so my mom can frame it like the proud parent she is. And she should be! She and Jess drove me around until 3AM that night. So grateful to those two. :)

So, I need to go and finish up my ASL paper. And to leave off, I give you my Spring 2010 schedule! Laters!

Spring 2010
Day : Time : Class : Campus
Mon./10A-11.40A/ASL II/Ann.
Mom./12.30P-1.45P/Intro to Interpreting/Ann.
Mon./4.30P-7.20P/History of Japan/Alx.
Wed./10A-11.40A/ASL II/Ann.
Wed./12.30P-1.45P/Intro to Interpreting/Ann.
Thu./3.30P-7.15P/Studio Lighting I/Alx.
Thu./7.30P-10.15P/Studio Portraiture/Alx.

EDIT (11/17/09)
I'm officially a double major! And I'm starting on my classes next semester! Just added the Interpreting: Intro to The Profession class. :D Whoo!

Fun Times, Bus Rides, and "V"

Yesterday was the first ASL Club meeting of the week. Normally their on Wednesdays at the Starbucks down the street from the campus, but yesterday one was held in the cafeteria for those students unable to make it to Wednesday meetings who wanted help on classworks and such. We started working out on the classwork we had but since it was only 4 people and then one professor until almost 5, it just turned into a normal meeting of conversations. But it was fun all the same. And me, male-BD, D-curl-hair, D-swim, and...OMG, I just blanked on his name...anyway, the four of us (and those were our NAME-SIGNS in case you were wondering) just hung out with Brian (the ASL prof) until he left and then, BOOM! Everyone else comes in. Oh joy. Show up when I only have 45 minutes left to stay! :(

Then I left to catch my bus home (b/c I was stupid and decided not to vote this morning instead) and my bus was late (evil thing). But I managed to make it in time with minutes to spare. So yayness to that. And no, I'm not telling you who I voted for, VA is just gonna have to suffer either way it went.

V premiered yesterday evening. It was awesome! I'm not gonna say it was the stuff becasue it wasn't a Heroes premier, but it was still good. Now if it has a strong 2nd episode, more power to it. I'm still trying to figure out where I've seen that blonde Visitor chick from. The blonde "Others" lady from Lost is in it as well as some other actors I know. And dude! Alan Tudyk, one of my favorite character actors, is in it! But as a bad guy! Why is he always a bad guy?! After Firefly and I, Robot (he played Sunny) he's just been bad guys! WHY!?! ((sigh)) Oh well, at least I get to see him on two shows this year, V and Dollhouse (maybe). :)

Well, that's all. I'm off to get ready for class now, then ASL Club after. It will be fun! XD

Oh! And yay! Fotoweek is this weekend! XD

"Days With My Father"

It's not something I often discuss much, as of late. Just as a side note. This past March, my father died of lung cancer. He was diagnosed the day before Thanksgiving at the local VA Hospital, where he stayed until just before Christmas and returned shortly after. All in all, it was short, brief, and gave us both too little time and too much. I still tear up even now, as it's not something I like thinking of. Why bring it up now? Because it seems that too many people have been passing away this year. First my father, then my friend, a classmates best friend, my best friend's family member, then another classmate's uncle and today his best friend's father.

Then, just a few minutes ago, I was linked through an LJ I follow to this website: Days with My Father by Phillip Toledano, author/photographer of the infamous Phone Sex photo book. Days with My Father touched me the most (okay, it totally made me bawl (quietly) in the middle of the student lab) because I did my own photo series of my father's illness in the hospital. Sadly, the idea for the series didn't hit me until after he was too sick to stay at the house. Christmas is the last time I took photos of my father when he was still mobile and ones I will always cherish. My sister was angry with me (and possibly still) for daring to take the photos of him while he was sick and was openly hostile towards me whenever I had my camera out. But I think in time she'll be able to at least look at them and not feel the urge to hit me.

((sigh)) I have to end this post now before I really end up crying again. In any case, please take a look at the website. It's just too sweet for words. :')

Bad Luck, plus some recs!

So I figured I'd post something before I go rake the yard for my mom. Anyway, my bus broke down on the way to class, so cash in my bad luck that I managed to avoid all weekend. Whee. The only good thing I got out of it? The card reader was broken so I got a free 3-block ride and to keep my fare for tomorrow. Oh joy. So thanks, Metro. You rock.

So, as far as recommendations go, I have a site and photographer to contribute. I'm a photography major, so it goes to reason it would be those, wouldn't it? XP

Site: We Are Sleeping Giants by Brooks Reynolds (who has TOTALLY become one of my favorite photographers for sure)
Bea-U-tiful photos! And NIGHT photos! One of the few genres of photography I myself have not yet gotten a chance to explore due to lack of equipement. Although this next couple of weeks I'll be able to with the local FotoWEEK, so yay! In any case, check it out with your speakers on b/c it has some awesome music to accompany the photos.

Photographer: Shawn Records ("Owner of This World," 2009)
Everyone knows who Max Records is. He plays Max in "Where The Wild Things Are." His father, Shawn, did a behind the scenes photo art book of the four month shoot, which contains some GORGEOUS pictures. WeLoveYouSo.com (Spike Jones' blog) has a generous preview of the book. I want it for Christmas so baaad! But I want my Mac popped open to, so it'll probably take a backseat to that. Anyway, check out his site, book, and his son's movie. All of which are awesome (or I hope so, as I haven't seen the movie yet).

Now I'm off to rake, so I'll talk to you all later! :)

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(oh how i miss the classics...)

is it weird?

just woke up from conking out on the kitchen table for the last, oh, 4 or 5 hours? ugh. anyway, is it weird that i keep asking my mom and sister to come to ASL Club? not that i want them to learn it or anything. i just want them to see why it is i come home every wednesday night on Cloud 9. ((sigh))

anyway, taking my (mom's) laptop to some tech guy to see if it's saveable. i don't think i can handle loosing a second computer again. not after i've finally started making it mine. it's just now coming up on a year since my Mac died. :C

oh wow...

I am, of course, very bad at keeping up with this thing (as I'm sure you can tell). So, I've decided that I'm going to use this blog to talk about my progress (or failure) in learning ASL (American Sign Language) and my last few semesters to my Photography degree. Mostly the ASL though, I think. :)

Yesterday was my 5th attendance at the school/area ASL Club. It's not that many people, but then again, it's on the second floor of Starbucks (which I love love LOVE, btw!), so only so many people are going to fit in a giant circle. Anyway, yesterday I took my friend Cindy with me. She was in the ASL Club at our alma mater, but it had only been started in her senior year, so she was verrrrry rusty. I didn't think about it until we were in the car on our way (in rush hour traffic, too) to point out that the club we were going to was more like socialization and practice than it was learning. So of course, like I did at my first meeting, she got really nervous and was seriously intimidated when we arrived.

I did point out to her that I was intimidated every time I went too. I mean, who wouldn't be? I'm in ASL I, which means I'm low on the totem pole in proficiency (I still do SEE syntax, ugh!) and here I am signing with Deaf and Hard of Hearing folks? Am I out of my mind? YES!!! But in a good way, of course. Best way to learn a language? Immersion. Which will be interesting if I decide to continue on in ASL, but that's another post for another day. Anyway, Cindy had fun. She wasn't totally lost after I taught her some basic signs to add on to her remembered Fingerspelling. And after asking a the Hearing students to say what they signed to her (or me, as I would do the same), she relaxed enough to tentatively try signing with one of the other Hearing signers.

Although I do have to say, despite that it's going to sound like bragging, I didn't realize how good at ASL I was until I brought Cindy along with me yesterday. Why say that, you ask? Because there were a couple points where someone signed something to me and I would reply quickly in order to get back to teaching Cindy (save for me telling the Prez that I'd met a friend of his during a class trip to Gally). The realization came when Brandon, who was far enough across the room from me to be hanging out with Santa, quickly waved for my attention and started explaining about some new Club meeting times that would allow our friend Dory to come. Since Brandon's Hard of Hearing, he's already taken more in-depth ASL classes and ends up signing faster the longer your conversation goes on. So I apologized to Cindy and went over to finish up our conversation where I could see everything he was signing and when I came back, the completely flummoxed look on Cindy's face took me by surprise (didn't stop me from laughing though).

The realization came during the following conversation after I sat back down: (no, it's not word for word, I'm only human)

Me: What's wrong?

Cindy: I have NO idea what you guys were talking about!

Me: Oh, sorry! Do you want me to tell you? It was just about meeting times. Except for the insults at the end, that was just us being us.

Cindy: You guys did that so fast, though!

Me: (laughing) Oh! Brandon's taken ASL before.

Cindy: No, you were going really fast, too!

And blah blah, etc. So yeah, that's when it kinda clicked into place that I was getting better at signing. :) Sad little bit of prideful accomplishment, but w/e, I loved it. XD

And I still find it funny that I can greet and ask questions of my ex-Japanese classmates in Japanese, even though I haven't spoken it in months. O_O And boy was it a shock when my ASL professor (who's HoH) whipped out some Japanese on me in class one day and I answered right back. Now all I need is someone to come into class spouting Latin and I'll be set. X)

Oh wait....Torchwood did that for me....nevermind! Until next time!

p.s. - strike Ballet from my schedule. I sprained my ankle a few weeks back and won't be strong enough to resume until next semester at the least. ((crosses fingers))

Last of the First

Well, I can finally jump up and down in happiness! Today was the last day of the first week of the new school year. And it's also my first Fall semester where I have day classes as well, so it's still strange seeing so many people around. (o_o) So! To make things a bit easier for later on, I'll tell you my schedule for this semester. Oh, and that I'm a photo major for you new peoples. ;D

Fall 2009
Day | Time | Class | Campus
Mon./2P-3.15P/Art History II/Alx.
Tue./10A-11.50A/ASL 101/Ann.
Tue./6P-7.15P/Ballet I/Alx.
Wed./10.30A-12.15P/Photo History (bi-monthly)/Alx.
Wed./2P-3.15P/Art History II/Alx.
Thu./10A-11.50P/ASL 101/Ann.
Thu./2P-4.40P/Intro. to Speech/Ann.

Well, I'm only going to give you the abbreviations for the campuses since I only know so many of you (ha ha, I know). Well, ta for now!

snow snow snow!

I figured my first post should be about something relevant to me at the moment.

What is it currently? Simple.

Snow.

Almost half a foot to be exact. Now I can enjoy the 3 DVDs I got from Redbox day before last. :)