Learn ASL

I serve part time… I pick up a shift or so every week. I was working yesterday and a party came in of mostly hearing impaired people. The hostess are not super bright and they thought they were seating them in my section, but they didn’t.

Although, they were next to my section. A party of 14 is hard to begin with- but when you cannot communicate with them it is MUCH more difficult. Ashley, a new, young server, was granted the responsibility. I told her I would help.

I did. When their salads came out I helped figure out who’s salad went to whom—and drink refills. I had some conversations with them about an adorable little girl who totally cracked me up.

Meanwhile, this is the cool part. My tables were right next door to that party. A woman at my table called me over after I gave them their check with tears in her eyes. She told me I was amazing for knowing ASL. She was super impressed, and then tipped me damn well.

Granted the woman is probably crazy but it DID remind me why I think it is important for EVERYONE to know at least the alphabet. It makes me so angry that people cannot even learn the alphabet to communicate with others. It isn’t hard. It is actually pretty simple.

For the most part we all know how to count ot ten in at least one other language. ALSO we can say Thank you in MANY. - But very few Americans can even spell their own name in ASL. (Which is AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE!)

This makes me so sad.

It also makes me proud to know that I knew enough to help them get their french fries, medium rare steaks, house salads and coke.

I’m getting much better, but now I need to practice more.

Okay, that’s all.

While I was waiting for my bus (which I am still taking home from work) I watched a woman try to tell a new friend (I could only assume) that she would see her after work in five hours. The one woman had no idea what the one woman was saying—even though she could speak pretty well, and I wanted so badly to go over and interpret—I am so nosey, but I didn’t.

Instead I eavesdropped. So, even though I am rude and a bitch, at least I totally understood what the one woman was saying.

This made me so sad.
ALSO, a girl I work with has been learning from me signs, and she met a guy this weekend and told him “I am learning sign lanmgauge from my friend at work. But I am stupid now, because I am drunk.” He laughed, and she was just happy that she knew that much.

This makes me happy.

I haven’t signed much lately. But I would say that I haven’t lost much that I learned. My vocab is still about 60%... but speed is going downhill. My friend, Abbi, who is hard of hearing has taught me for the last year—we haven’t seen each other much- basically since I quit that last job and she moved in with Brad… but I think I will need to make an effort to hang out with her more. and get back up to where I was… although I am teaching someone at work to sign—this helps me remember.