Our latest assignment for my ASL class is to attend “Game Night” at the Deaf Center, and then write a paper about our experiences. Here is mine.
At 5:30 p.m., I arrive at the Deaf Center to find a small group of people in the Lounge who are playing a card game. Since there is no room for me at the table, they decide to split up. I brought along a game called “ASLingo” that I found on the internet. I have never played it but it looks fun. After some deliberation, we choose to play that game. It starts out fine, but then we get words like “scrimmage”. No one knows how to sign it. I get the word “can” and the card shows using the A handshape. Our leader is confused because he uses the S handshape. There are more words we get confused about. I sign “dumb game”. We later select a card game that proves to be more fun.
More people arrive and proceed to play games. Nearly all of them are students. I believe the only deaf person is the coordinator for “Game Night”. But that does not matter since there is a no voicing allowed policy. We are all Deaf for the night, at least as far as communicating with each other. Unfortunately a group of people in the corner are very noisy. Julie, who is sitting next to me, signs, “me wish deaf now.” I am getting attached to these people who struggle with signing and who express feelings same as mine. Her comment seems to be a common reaction when a hearing person becomes aware of her noisy surroundings, and hearing is no longer important because she can communicate well without talking.
Our group finishes the card game and moves over to the ping-pong table where we are introduced to a dice game. I am pretty sure the leader tells us the name of the game, but I miss it. I am happy to be able to understand most of what he is signing. It’s a simple game that starts with 8 or 9 people shaking dice and ends up with a winner. After a half hour of playing this game, Julie and I are against each other. I am almost the winner, but alas, my opponent beats me. She asks what she gets for winning the game. I almost give her a hug for winning my heart.
It is now 8:00 and time to go home. I enjoyed interacting with people who signed and did not talk, but I am too old for games like this. I am worn out.
Filed under: Hearing Signers
