dorkette: EXPOSED

No Longer a Diary?

2009-09-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

A bit of history about this blog: I originally started this blog as a diary. It was over at "scribbles.nu" but then it closed down so I relocated to this site, Blogger.

For me, this blog was like writing a diary but anonymously. I didn't use names and I only mentioned where I am from. But if you read through the entires, you can figure out who I am-- a deaf female student... high-schooler...with typical teenager stuff. Stresses about dating, SAT scores, college admission, raving about not having a car, and so on.

I used "gnarlydorkette" as my handle. Nobody knew who I was and I was able to write freely about anybody-- included my ex-boyfriends and so-called "friends."

Why? I was safe. Nobody in my circles were geeks like me. Nobody in my circles knew what a blog is. So I was safe with my secret about this blog out in the public.

But of course, as time went on... and the next hot thing was video log, known as "vlog" now.

Yes. I am blaming the vlogs for exposing me.

Funny-- the title of this blog is "dorkette:exposed"... which came true. Oh, the irony.

By adding a vlog, a face is plastered all over my blog-- my face. People in the real world (anybody remembers "irl"?) identified me as 'gnarlydorkette'.

Now this blog is no longer a diary.

This blog now serves as my information center where I can share information and write down thought-provoking entries.

Now as I become nostalgic about the old days-- I definitely miss writing a diary anonymously. The exhilaration of getting my emotions and thoughts out in the public. It is like making my signature on the world-- a graffiti online.

I do not like own an actual diary because who would read it? I like the idea of people reading my diary online, because they may find it interesting, helpful, or entertaining. I didn't mind all that because I just hoped that I can find my niche. An audience that understands me. That sense of bonding. I miss that.

But how do I write a diary anonymously?

I am "gnarlydorkette" ever and forever.

I am no longer an anonymous person.

I cannot share my thoughts, emotions, anything without a fear of retaliations.

And that is a bit sad... I have limited my creativity because of what I have done on my blog. Now I wonder if I regret the title of this blog? Did I curse myself when I became witty with the title, "dorkette:exposed"?

Oh, here I go again-- thought-provoking.

Upcoming CDI-related Workshops

2009-09-12T16:34:00.002-07:00

New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the DEAF (NJRID) is providing an introductory workshop about Deaf interpreters presented by Eileen Forestal, RSC.

http://www.njrid.org/pages/index.asp

The dates provided for "Introducing Deaf Interpreting" are:
Saturday/Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, November 21 & 22, 2009
Saturday/Sunday, December 5 & 6, 2009

And the costs would be $60 per weekend which brings the total around $240 and "attendance at all four weekends is required."

The deadline to register for this workshop is on September 18, 2009 so hurry up!
Click here for the registration form.

******************************

Illinois RID will provided a workshop entitled: "CDI Emergency! What every CDI/DI should know about medical interpreting"
at Mt Sinai Hospital in Chicago under the Deaf Access Program which will be presented by their staff and a physican all fluent in ASL.

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20-- so register soon as possible!

It is a weekend workshop on Sat, Oct 10th; 9:00am – 5:00pm and Sun, Oct 11th; 9:00am – 3:00pm.

The synopsis about two days workshops are copied and pasted below:
Sat, Oct 10th:
“Key Players in Hospital” by Dr. Gary Kaufman & Diana Thorpe, CI, CT, NIC Master
Discussion of hospital departments, as well as, staff roles & responsibilities. Interpreter thoughts and experiences in the hospital will be shared.

IVIN Demonstration by Teri Hedding, M.A. & Andrew Farnon, NIC
VRI equipment will be demonstrated, providing CDIs/DIs a clear understanding of how to work with it, when interpreting for Deaf patients

“DI, Sign That!” by Nancy Campbell, M.A., CI, CT & Michael Herschberg, CI, CT
Medical language encountered daily while interpreting medical history, rendering a diagnosis or providing medical instruction will be analysed. Practice and role play interpreting these common questions and phrases will be provided.

Sunday, October 11th:
Special Considerations in Medical Interpreting by Jodi Hains, CI, CT, & Nancy Campbell, M.A. CT, CI; Tips and advice will be given to best prepare CDIs/DIs as they interpret in the hospital environment.

Role Play in Hospital by Michael Herschberg, CI, CT
CDIs & DIs will have opportunities to practice their interpreting skills in various hospital settings at Mt. Sinai Hospital."

The early-bird registration fee is $60 before September 21st, and after October 1st it will be $75

Click here to view the ILRID Interpreter Workshop flyer

The Terror of District of Columbia

2009-09-08T18:56:00.002-07:00

The Terror of D.C. is....

THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS!

I have received three tickets so far this year. The year previous, I also got three tickets.

And almost every ticket costs me $100.

Hold up, just let me explain....

You see, District of Columbia has this silly, silly, silly law that requires you to have a residental parking permit. Yessire, if you live right here in D.C. and you don't have a garage-- you gotta pay to park on your home street. Silly, I know!

Since this urbanite lives in an apartment in good ol' District of Columbia, I gotta park my car on the street. Summer of 2008 flew by and no ticket and I was one happy girl.

Until somebody jinxed it for me.

"Didja know you were supposed to register and get a permit even if you are from out-of-state? ROSA, that is what it is called... check it out... you might get a ticket."

DAMMIT! Why did you jinx me, dude?

I got a ticket.

Out of curiosity, I tried to find information about the whole ROSA scheme.... 300$ for a student to register for a parking permit?!

"Fuggetaboudit," I said to myself. I got by for months without getting a ticket, maybe that one ticket was just a bad day for my car and me.

Wrong.

More tickets followed up and I resorted to buy a 86$ yearly parking permit at Gallaudet.

I should be safe by now.

Well, you would think that, huh!?

Not true.

Whenever I decided to park at a friend's home somewhere else in D.C. or innocently parking in front of a nice restaurant after feeding coins to the meter and all--

the PLAGUE OF PINK SLIPS followed me.

Dang it!

The pink slips claim that I "fail to secure DC tags."

Oh, the nerve of those pink slips! Accusing me right and left!

BUT now those pink slips have became really angry, I mean, really really angry. They are threatening to tow my car. Threatening to boot my car. THREAT.

An orange boot on my blue car? Nuhhhh-HUH!

So.

After a year of dodging the parking enforcement cars, dodging the pink slips, dodging the threats...

I got to think... that 300$ student parking permit is definitely cheaper.

Think about-- three tickets at 100$ = three hundred of dollars going to the parking enforcement. I would rather to have my three Benjamin Franklins going to my car instead to the terror.

Say NO to the Terror.

Buy the residential parking permit.

You cannot escape the pink slips.

Say NO to the Terror by NOT funding them.

Eff you, D.C. Eff you.

I ain't gonna keep on feeding you! I am gonna set my blue car free in Virginia! I ain't gonna support the Terror!

Nuhhhh-HUH!

Post- RID Conference Reflection

2009-08-12T21:10:00.003-07:00

Well, well-- I went and came back home!

The 2009 RID conference was conducted in Philadelphia, PA. It was definitely an experience!

I enjoyed meeting other Deaf interpreters and found myself inspired and more motivated about Deaf interpreting. As always, it was nice to see old faces! It got weird for a minute when I realized that I am now a peer to my old interpreters from my high school-- "Hey! I am one of you now!" But it's all good-- I didn't get to see everybody because almost three thousands people attended-- so it was one BIG conference and one big flurry of faces in the hallways!

I tried to use every minute available for every workshop available, to meet people and socialize, but in the end, the conference just wiped me out-- I had to take a break a couple of times to just kick back in the hotel room with my classmates. So on one or two days, I didn't take the opportunity to go to the second Deaf Caucus get-together and one Deaf-related workshop. Disappointed, but I wish the schedule would be better-organized so everybody can have a breather in between workshops. I have heard that this year's conference is different from the past conferences and it is all for the best, so perhaps we shouldn't complain... nonetheless-- hey, RID conference-planners? for 2010, consider about giving us longer breaks in between workshops! It is hard to grab a lunch WITHIN an hour when you are hurrying past a flurry of familiar faces who want to say "HI, HI! HI!" and back for the next workshop!

As you may know, Deaf Caucus has a new team which I look forward to see their plans and actions unfolding for next two years! Check them out at http://riddeafcaucus.wordpress.com/

One point that was brought up at the conference that I thought worthy is about the membership of other organizations in addition to their RID membership. As a member of an organization, one should support other organizations that share the same goals as your organization, namely NAD (National Association of the Deaf). At the opening ceremony, the presidents of NAD and RID, Bobbie Beth Scoggins and Cheryl Moose respectively, came on-stage together to sign an memorandum of understanding. People said that one should be a member of BOTH organizations because both organizations need all members to affirm and support the ally. I thought this to be a valid point...

But then what about all other organizations whose presidents that didn't walk up on the stage with Bobbie and Cheryl? I want you to acknowledge that there are other organizations that need our support and membership as well-- just to name a few: Canada's Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC), World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) and many more that I am hoping you can help me naming.

Right now, the membership fees for (using my case as an example) a student/certified interpreter/individual for various organizations are:

NAD (National): Student $25, Interpreter Member Section (optional) $5 = 35$
NAD (Chapter): for example District of Columbia Chapter DCAD, Student $10
RID (National): Student $30 (uncertified), Certified Member $120-ish but this is not listed on their website
RID (Chapter): for example Potomac Chapter PCRID - Certified $30 or Student $15 (certified or not?)
WASLI: Individual $50 = $50
WFD: Individual, 50 euros ($70-ish)
AVLIC: their website's down :( so I cannot investigate for their membership fee.

To support just NAD and RID at both levels, national and affiliate, a typical student who happens to be certified would have to pay $195 annually. If one wants to support all organizations such as WASLI and WFD, the total cost for annual memberships would be $315. WHEW! Well, I can't speak for everybody, but my status as a graduate student lacking a handsome salary annually make my piggy bank trembling in fear at the sight of those membership fees!

With so many choices out there to join and become a member of their organization, we have a hard decision to choose which organization to best invest our membership into. With that said, I hope you do not judge somebody if they fail to be a member of your favorite organization... just keep it mind that they made their choices and you should respect their choices just as they respect your choices of membership.

I hope in the future, there can be a sliding scale fee for students or interpreters who are working full-time/part-time /unemployed, maybe staff/freelance, and based on their state's GDP, so they can pay a membership fee that doesn't break their piggy bank. WASLI uses this mechanism to use each country's GDP to serve as a sliding scale for individual membership ranging from US$3.00 to US$50.00.

Here I go, rambling on and on!

Anyway, as I said in the beginning, the RID 2009 conference is definitely an experience that serves as a learning lesson for me as a Deaf interpreter and I want to thank you all for the inspiration and motivation which comes in a nick of time as I am about to start my second year as a graduate student in the Interpretation program!!!

THANK YOU ALL!

Speedy Results - RID

2009-07-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Test Name	Test Date	Location	Retake	Results Sent
CDI Written	06/07/2008	Gallaudet University	No	07/01/2008
CDI Performance	01/28/2009	Gallaudet University	No	02/23/2009

Notice that I received the results from each test within a month after I took it up.

The speed of mailing results by RID has been impressive, given the history of people waiting over six months or so to receive their results. This complaint has been well documented in VIEWS, a quarterly newsletter published by RID, where RID members has written letters and there is several articles by RID to assure the members re: the backlog of all examinations to be graded/evaluated.

"Performance test results are now taking an average of less than two months."
(http://www.rid.org/education/testing/index.cfm?)

So you can breathe with a relief knowing that you can get your results almost immediately. Especially with NIC written examination that's computer based, which I was told that the computer will tell you your results right after you finished the written examination.

Radically different from those letters and articles, oh, those old days of snail mail... :-)

Stickin' it out...

2009-06-20T19:45:00.003-07:00

Differentiating from your typical ASL-English interpreter, not only I am a Deaf interpreter but I am also a Deaf consumer. I team with hearing interpreters one day and they are interpreting my doctor's appointment next day. How could they look in my eyes and confide me as their peer interpreter when all they see is a Deaf consumer? This conundrum has been disrupting my world lately.
Don't you see?

Because I have spent almost a lifetime as a consumer of sign language interpreting services, I understand more about how to empower the consumers in an interpreting situation.
What does “interpreter experience” mean? This baffles me-- is it asking me about my experience as an ASL-English interpreter or generally my experience with ASL-English interpreter? Damn you, connotation!
The more I think about it, I realize that my twenty years of interpreting experiences is hard to beat when a large population of ASL-English interpreters usually have at least two years of ITP under their belt... so my interpreter experience is going to take several pages to type out!
Don't you see?
But don't you see,
don't you see,
Every ethic discussed so far in the graduate program, I have a flashback of an interpreting situation-- usually bad, and use it as my prototype-- how do I avoid that situation from occurring, and how do I, as a Deaf team interpreter, resolve the situation? I use the good interpreting situations as my goal as an Deaf interpreter-- how do I make sure it will happen for the Deaf and hearing consumers when I work as an interpreter?
Nobody has just a goal-- if you think about it, everybody has two goals-- a goal to become something and another goal to avoid something else. Setting the bar, that is what we are doing with our two goals. The high bar to reach for and the low bar to avoid tripping over...

Don't you see?
Every ethic has at least one personal story behind for me.
For all 7 tenets in RID's code of professional conduct, I can give you seven, fourteen, twenty-one anecdotes to serve as learning experiences-- hell, let's call it all an interpreter experience. With those anecdotes, I learn all strategies and approaches--which all go into that “filing cabinet” in my head so when I find myself in a very, very familiar situation, I can just pull that drawer out and flip through my folders to get that flashcard/flashback because I have been through all interpreting situations, even ones you read in your interpreting textbooks...
But don't you see,
Don't you see,
I know what it is like-- I have walked more than a mile in Deaf consumers' shoes-- and I want you to acknowledge it-- and look in my eyes and trust me as YOUR team interpreter.
Don't you see?
I am your team interpreter... with a lot of interpreter experiences to share.

Working as an interpreter with them knowing me as a Deaf consumer been difficult for me as I attempt to change the hearing interpreters' perceptive of me-- I am no longer a consumer, but now I am one of them... regardless they like it or not. Something in their eyes tell me that they are not taking me serious. Something in their eyes... All I know that they do use me. They only ask me for feedback on their ASL interpretation. Nothing else... no quid pro quo.
I am just an ASL tutor to them...
No.
I am YOUR team interpreter. Yes I am Deaf, but dammit, I know way more and you should consider me as your interpreter colleague! Embrace the diversity... and you will learn much more in this field.
Don't you see...?

It is not only the hearing interpreters. But it is my own people-- the Deaf consumers. They smirk, “Interpreter? How is it possible? You are DEAF.” “Why are you wasting your time with a master's degree in interpretation? They are not even requiring Deaf interpreters to have a BA degree!”
Oh, please don't tell me... et tu? Don't give me your grimace face as I utter “Deaf Interpreter”
Don't you see?
Oh, but don't you see?

Roll with the punches, stick it out.
Keep telling myself that
It will pan out in the end...
Way back in my head, I wonder
When that end will come?
When you will look at me,
and see a Team Interpreter.

Don't you see?

(C)2009, KMG.L

Blogs about or by CDI

2009-06-13T11:13:00.003-07:00

http://dilbretta.blogs.com/cdi/ "CDI Study Group"
- a Deaf interpreter study group operated by Dilbretta

http://riddeafcaucus.wordpress.com/ RID- Deaf Caucus
- a blog operated by Juliann Wasisco, the chairperson of Deaf Caucus, a member-section group under RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf)

http://www.i711.com/vlogs/logs.php?id=283 "Certified Deaf Interpeters" by Lauren Ridloff
- a blog entry made by i711 about Certified Deaf Interpeters

http://www.youtube.com/mkrajnak
- a vlogger who occasionally made vlogs about CDI issues to discuss.

I will LOVE to add more blogs about CDI or bloggers who are (or will become) CDIs, so if I miss yours in this vast WWW, let me know by leaving a comment!

Deaf Interpreter Workshops This Month

2009-06-13T10:58:00.003-07:00

University of Vermont is offering a summer course, "Certified Deaf Interp Prep Crs" from June 22, 2009 to June 26, 2009. The instructors for this course will be: Keri Brooks Ogrizovich and Regan Ann Rae Thibodeau, both CDIs.

http://www.uvm.edu/~summer/course_CE.php?term=200906&crn=60257

More information can be found on the link above or if you are on Facebook, go to this link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=57311526704

A workshop to teach Deaf interpreters how to become a mentor for future CDIs at St Catharine University in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 20—26, 2009 -- For more information and registration, click on the link: http://minerva.stkate.edu/offices/academic/interpreting.nsf/pages/deaf_mentor_training

If you do know any of CDI-related workshop, feel free to email me gnarlydork (AT) gmail dot com, and I will post it here. It is hard to keep track of all workshops and access to all flyers from various chapters or regions of RID, NAD, CIT, et cetera. I will like to create a hub of all information relevant for CDIs so we all can have access to the information with ease.

Walking Through This Forest Called "LIFE"...

2009-05-29T19:50:00.004-07:00

As we get older (not old, mind you), we begin to take our own paths in our lives. Some of it may crisscross with friends' paths... sometimes they just get far apart. Some paths stay parallel.

I think the style of my paths is weaving all over, with no desire to stay parallel to whatever path is laid by a friend. Perhaps an English idiom would be best described: "I march to the beat of my own drum." However I have to admit that sometimes I wish my path will stay parallel to one or two close friends, but because of my independence and strong-will, I will just pave ahead and say "see you around!" to those dear friends with a heavy heart, knowing that our pathways may never cross again.

But I accept it.

There are so many friends and people that come in your life-- some long enough to make a good connection, some just too brief to find out each other's birthdays, some that you wish you never met, some that you vaguely remember other than that one-time good conversation you two had at a mutual friend's home, some who you want to walk up and introduce yourself but feels too shy, and some who you just cannot avoid at all.

I accept that people will weave in and out my life, just like I weave in and out into scattered pathways that belong to different people present-- and in the past... and more in the future. It is all about adventures of meeting people, isn't it?

And I think you need to accept the fact as well about me. I am too independent. I don't cling. I don't grow close to anybody who I know will drift away naturally. I don't force anybody away. I do savor our time together. But if your path becomes too close to mine-- I will shift my pathway away.

I don't know why I shift my pathway on purpose. It is just me-- I do not want to be stuck and restricted in paving my path-- just because your pathway is in my way doesn't mean I will stay passively and pave along beside you.

You should be confident in yourself-- paving your own way, developing more deeper friendships with people who are in your life now, tearfully remembering those people who went out of your life due to a job, family, or relocation, and smiling as you meet new people as you grow up.

Pave on. Don't wait for me. Go on. I will just pave over here...

What is Deaf Interpreting?

2009-05-23T20:43:00.003-07:00

People do have assumptions about what exactly Deaf interpreting is.

Oftentimes, people associate Deaf interpreters to be tactile-ASL interpreters for Deaf-Blind consumers. Especially when you see a Deaf interpreter working in or around Washington D.C.. But that is not the case.

Deaf Interpreting is not limited to tactile interpretation. It includes international interpreting (think WDF and Deaf Olympics), Deaf persons with minimal language competency (semi-lingual/English dsyfluency, whatever term you prefer-- I never like the term of "minimal language competency"), and your regular ASL interpretation for platform interpretation. All of those situations are applicable for Deaf Interpreters and are common as well.

Deaf Interpreting is a small yet highly diverse field within the profession of interpretation.

Just take a look at RID's Standard Practice Paper about CDI (1997)-- the Deaf persons in situations where Deaf interpreters may be dispatched:
• idiosyncratic non-standard signs or gestures such as those commonly referred to as “home signs” which are unique to a family
• use a foreign sign language
• have minimal or limited communication skills
• are deaf-blind or deaf with limited vision
• use signs particular to a given region, ethnic or age group
• have characteristics reflective of Deaf Culture not familiar to hearing interpreters.

And their role can be as a team interpreter, solo interpreter, platform interpreter, or as a tactile interpreter (for Deaf-Blind consumers).

So even though the most prevailing situation may be with a deaf-blind consumer, it does vary from region to region. The situations that are common in Washington, D.C. are not the common situations in San Diego, CA.

For me, personally as a Deaf interpreter, my passion for Deaf interpreting doesn't exactly include tactile interpretation. Don't take me wrong-- I do enjoy work as an interpreter for Deaf-blind persons. To call myself as a certified Deaf interpeter, I should provide any type of interpreting services without any troubles. I do take workshops and courses in tactile interpretation but my passion lies somewhere else-- Deaf persons with language dysfluency.

This group of Deaf consumers have several different labels-- some may present some negativity, others just cause more confusion, so forget your label for this group because I know who they are. I grew up with them. I was one of them. I understand what it is like to have language dysfluency. I understand how could you mix some English grammar rules with ASL grammar rules and in the result you have an odd language system. This group is highly diverse-- it may include Deaf immigrants, Deaf persons with mental challenges/illnesses, or just a regular Deaf American whose education has not maximized.

To optimize the understanding and communication access for this group who may need interpreters in a courtroom, hospital, police station or at a school, an interpreter with first-hand knowledge or have the understanding of what this group grew up will provide the best interpreting services.

To recap, Deaf interpreters do have a wide variety of situations where they find themselves working. In some regions, the most prevailing situation would be Deaf-Blind interpreting, international interpreting, or whichever that has been listed in RID's standard practice paper. So when you meet somebody who is a Deaf interpreter, hold your horses before you jump to a general assumption about what their work is. Let them tell you what their job is. :-) You might find it interesting!

Fighting against the gloom...

2009-04-12T14:06:00.003-07:00

Spring has arrived.

(photo credit: http://www.i-magine.no/)

I Could Care Less

2009-04-07T11:15:00.003-07:00

As I typed in "I Could Care Less" for the title, I had to stop myself for a second, searching for verification that I have used the idiom correctly... a quick Google search has yielded to confirm my understanding of the English idiom.

English is a funny language, really. It has so many moot phrases or lexical units that make no sense; and you couldn't explain to any second-language learners (like ME!) why it comes into form.

It seems the only way to actually become fluent in English is by rote learning all of its crooked grammar rules.

Don't fight it. Don't question it. Accept it. "ACCEPT-HARD"! If you think about it, the English* language is like Mafia. Don't mess with it or their minutemen will throw you across the borders!

(*=American English, not to be confused with British English.)

Anyway... getting back to the point, that being the original goal of my post which I decided to entitle "I Could Care Less"...

There is about five weeks left in the spring semester, five weeks before I declare my first year as a graduate student completed, five weeks before I stick my head out of the hole just to see the REAL WORLD, five weeks before I am myself again, five weeks...

five.
weeks.

People have begun to discuss about their summer plans-- where to find a job, whose place to stay at, whether going back home or stay in the city...

But me?
I Could Care Less.

My home is here.
My job is random-- babysitting, petsitting, research assistant-- wherever the money is, I am there.
I have my own place.
And I don't think I will go Home for the entire summer. Maybe a week here or there... who knows?

I Could Care Less.
Life goes on...

Actually-- I do care.

I have two things to look forward this summer-- ARTOMATIC and the RID National Conference.

I am actually a bit nervous about the RID conference since I heard that only 33% of their workshops are actually given in ASL. I hope I don't have to request for interpreters WHILE I am at an interpreter conference!

Hm.

Then again....

I Could Care Less.

Uncharted Territory: CDI

2009-02-27T14:32:00.006-08:00

You don't expect life to be pre-packaged and coming with a manual for you to know how to operate your life.

So why should you expect the CDI journey to be any different than the above statement? Even though this field is over 30 years old, there is not much about the Deaf interpreting field, especially with educational and networking opportunities to expand ourselves.

Don't expect the Deaf interpreting to come in a single book, ready with all facts highlighted for you to memorize.

Don't expect everybody to understand what you want and teach you about Deaf interpreting.

Don't expect to slack off and wait for information and opportunities to be delivered into your hands.

The fact still stands: Deaf interpreting is novel under the umbrella of Interpretation and you are a pioneer. You are wandering into the uncharted territory. It is known that people have gone through this territory but unfortunately the lines of communications are pretty much primitive-- no blogs, no publications, no articles, not so much of research, and very few workshops.

Strange as it may sound, but if you play "Oregon Trail Game" at your elementary school, you witness the reality of pioneering played out-- how some families made it across the Rockies in their covered wagon just fine; while some families suffer with famine, illnesses, harsh weather, or worst their wagon wheel broke and there is no station in sight.

That game is akin to the people within the Deaf interpreting field. Some of us achieve. Some of us fail. All of us struggle along the way. We all are pioneers, walking down on the Deaf Interpreting trail.

The only advice I can give you is: take up a map, try to plot your course, and write down what you have seen along your journey and share with your fellow pioneers.

Deaf Interpreting Workshop in San Diego-- PAH!

2009-02-14T09:36:00.002-08:00

Deaf Interpreting: The Next Frontier
Presented by Trenton Marsh, CDI

Hosted by Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc. and San Diego County Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

April 24th - 26th
...Friday 5:00pm - 9:00pm
...Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00pm
...Sunday 9:00 am - 5:00pm

16 of the 20 hours of content instruction are in accordance with RID's requirements for candidates to take the CDI written exam.

THIS WORKSHOP IS OPEN TO DEAF ONLY and limited to 20 people.
Priority registration given to San Diego County residents

Registration information, Vlogs, and flyers coming soon!

Workshop to be held at DCS.
If interested, please email Mala Poe at PDC@SDCRID.org

In early June, we will have Part II for Deaf individuals focusing on the performance side working along with certified hearing interpreters - more information in upcoming months.

The Lullaby of my Life...

2009-02-13T19:38:00.003-08:00

Observing.
Writing.
Logging.
Reading.
Discussing.
Logging.
Reading.
Interpreting.
Logging.
Observing.
Translating.
Logging.
Reading.
Interpreting.
Logging.
Recording.
Re-recording.
Interpreting.
Logging.
Burning.
Logging.
Observing.
Logging.
Interpreting.
Logging.
Writing.
Burning.
Writing.
Presenting.
Reading.
Logging.
Presenting.
Observing.
Logging.

When will this end?

News Flash! CDI-Training Workshop Opportunity!!!

2009-01-28T19:41:00.002-08:00

Certified Deaf Interpreter Prep Course
University of Vermont in Burlington, VT
Summer 2009: June 22nd through June 26th

This course is designed to familiarize deaf students in the field of interpreting as a deaf interpreter with role-play and open-dialogue discussion of case scenarios in practices such as when a deaf interpreter can be used and decisions involved with financial responsibilities like tax deductions and setting your market value.

Contents of the course will fulfill the 8 hours of interpreting practices (the role and function of a Deaf Interpreter as worded under eligibility requirements on RID) and the 8 hours of RID Code of Ethics training required prior to taking the CDI written exam.
Details in preparing for the CDI written and performance exams will be covered throughout the week.

The course will be taught by Regan Thibodeau, a CDI since 2001 and Keri Ogrizovich, a CDI since 2007. Regan is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine's Interpreting Program and Keri is a
graduate of the University of Vermont's Interdisciplinary Studies.

Credits: 2 (or you can register as a non-credit student)
Please Note: Credits earned at UVM are transferable at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Classes will begin on: Monday, June 22 and end: Friday, June 26. Each day the class will meet from 9 am to 4 pm with lunch breaks from 12pm to 1pm.

Tuition: $738 for in-state students and out-of-state non-credit students. However, if you are an out-of-state student AND want to earn credit towards a college degree, the cost will increase.

Housing prices have not been determined yet but to give you a general idea, last year's prices were:
Single Room: $35.75 a day
Double Room: $29.00 a day

Check with Vocational Rehabilitation or place of employment to see if they can provide tuition assistance. Past students have received VR support for this course due to the fact that this course will create employment opportunities.

Registration and housing information will be added by the end of February.

Questions? E-mail the ASL Program Coordinator, Keri Ogrizovich: kogrizov@uvm.edu

(with thanks to RID Deaf Caucus's chairperson, Juliann Wasisco, for posting this information on the mailing list!)
On a personal note: I haven't attended this workshop, which was offered two years ago, but have heard from a friend who gave it an amazing review and highly recommended it. And because I do trust and relay on this friend's opinions, I decided to post this on my blog to give you a wonderful opportunity to get that enriched and enlightened education to prepare yourself to enter the field of interpreting as a Deaf interpreter. Psst, this is also a great opportunity to network as well, to get familiar with your peers!!!

A Follow-up on "An Open Letter for President Obama"

2009-01-27T19:47:00.004-08:00

I never said that I decided the name sign. I have seen this name sign used by many. Even an ASL logo created by Brian Milburn, Randy Jackson and Sheena Stuart wasn't made by me. Here are vlogs with the name sign for President Obama that preceded my video assignment:

"Cry for Peace" - December 01, 2008
SignName for Obama? - November 08, 2008
You neutral? - November 02, 200
Obama Rally - February 05, 2008

(if you have more vlogs of various name signs for Obama, feel free to add it by posting a comment.)

Tell me-- how could I invent a name sign that was ALREADY invented by the Deaf communities that I frequent?

All controversial issues aside-- why don't YOU make an open letter to President Obama and TELL him who you represent and what does that group decide. Don't let me stop you-- go ahead and make your own open-letter in ASL.

After all, he is OUR president.

WhiteHouse(DOT)gov is a good place to start. If you wish to mail your video, the address is:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

An Open Letter to President Obama

2009-01-18T09:33:00.004-08:00

An open letter in ASL to notify President Barack Obama of his name sign which was given by the Deaf community in USA.

Disclaimer: This is a final project for a course I took last Fall. Also I acknowledge that there are several name signs suggested for Obama and encourage you to look at other vlogs discussing name signs for you to determine which you prefer. For this video, I chose just one name sign that I felt comfortable and at ease to sign specifically for this video project.

In time for the inauguration, I decided to share my final project with the public and in hope that President Obama, being tech-savvy, will view this video and learn how to introduce himself with his newly-given name sign at the inauguration this Tuesday!

American Sign Language Only

American Sign Language and Subtitled in English

Pharmacy

2009-01-09T10:05:00.003-08:00

"5 bucks."

I took out my wallet- but I stopped myself... wrong body language.
She handed back my RX note. No pills.
Hmm...
A replay-
maroon lipsticked lips opening wide...
"fiiiffffttteeennnn ....bbb" no. I must misread. Fifteen? Bucks? Cannot be it!
...loop the replay....
Oh!
FIFTEEN MINUTES. That was what she said.
Feeling a fool with my wallet out, I smiled and acted smooth-- I took out my wallet to put in my RX note in.
What? Serious? I sure look like an idiot. Stuffing a giant RX note in my tiny wallet.

Whatever,
I walked back to the lounge, placed my foolish butt down in the chair, fumbled around-- wallet, RX, purse.

Rolling eyes at myself, how could I misread her?
Five bucks, fifteen minutes? Huge difference here!

Plotting who to blame for my idiotic actions, think think.
Aha!
Assumption is at fault here.
I blame it on the fact that I know that certain RX costs me 5 bucks, so my predictions of an usual routine has caused me to be overconfident.

Silly me, I darted my eyes around to figure out the time-- does she mean exactly 15 minutes or your typical 15 minutes which really means an hour?
Longtime dependent on the electronic billboard where your name will pop up in green led lights, indicating that your RX is ready to be picked up, I assure myself when I spot such a billboard--
Wait
No,
It is not working! This wonderful device is broken. It is black. No led lights perking up for your name. No light at end of the tunnel...

I am at a loss. How do I know when my RX is ready??? Will they yell out my name?

Oh no.

Eyes alert now, dependent on body language now. Eyes glancing over my neighbors- there were only three of them. Note to self: if their head turn around to both sides, it means a name was shouted over and over -- and that name must be mine. Yes, that poor Deaf woman doesn't know her own name.

Roll my eyes.

Waiting for that body movement--
head tilting, circling around...
circle...
circle...
Nothing yet... why?

WAIT!

Frozen, a pharmacist waved for my attention.
But!
Not in a humiliating way-- waving big and shouting at same time that many ignorant hearing people seem to adopt. Not this one. He waits until I glance up and then he waves as if saying: "you, come."

Wait, they remember I am deaf? Wow, nice of them.

Flabbergasted, I found myself walking up to the booth.

"Five dollars." This time, I read right.

23 years already?

2008-12-13T08:41:00.002-08:00

So yeah, I turned 23 last Thursday. No snow for my birthday as I wished for. It is ok. I will live. It did snow a week prior to my birthday (as always, it seems.)

To review my life in a glance to see how I have spent the past twenty-three years on Earth:

I was born in San Diego, California.
I swam.
I went to Lafayette Elementary School.
I learned how to be Deaf.
I went to London.
I went on a family car trip up and down California.
I went to Finland to visit my family.
I went to Kroc Middle School.
I went to Washington D.C. as part of 8th grade school trip.
I graduated from Madison High School, go class of 2003!.
I went to Finland to visit the family again.
I met my husband one day before my birthday.
I went to Turkey.
I surfed on my own.
I graduated from San Diego State University.
I went to Europe, dozens of countries.
I visited my family in Finland.
I moved from San Diego to Washington D.C..
I go to Gallaudet University.
I live in Washington D.C. with my husband.
I am a graduate student.
I am twenty-three years old.

Deaf Interpreting Education Programs

2008-12-13T08:19:00.003-08:00

It seems the information about Deaf interpreting classes or ITP (Interpreting Training Program) is not widely shared so here are the 411 if you are interested in taking some courses or a program as supplementary training to the mandated 16-hour workshops provided to satisfy the RID's requirement prior to take up the CDI written test.

Seattle Community College, Washington a Certificate program. Offers an ITP (AA degree) as well

Phoenix Community College, Arizona, AA degree program, it seems.

Gallaudet University, Washington D.C. two programs, BA and MA, in Interpretation. Open to everybody, hearing or deaf. Summer courses offered re: Deaf-Blind interpreting and so forth.

University of Vermont, Offered a summer course in CDI training in 2007. An ongoing or annual program, uncertain. I only can find old information from "Deaf Today" website so if you do have the current information, please do share!

To find a CDI training workshop in your area, use RID's "Find a Workshop" search. You might tweak it a bit, try various keywords such as "DEAF", "CDI", "ROLES", "FUNCTIONS" to find the two workshops required for prospective Deaf interpreters: "Code of Professional Conduct" and "Role and function of a Deaf interpreter."

Representin' the MAI, yo

2008-11-24T13:35:00.002-08:00

Disclaimer:
This rap video was made when I was insane. Insanity results from pressure and tons of papers to type up.
Don't be a graduate student. Say no to higher education.

MAI = Master's Art in Interpretation... that is the name of the graduate program I am enrolled at Gallaudet University.
This video is intended for my MAI classmates, but feel free to watch and laugh at my insanity.

Remember-- say "NO" to MA and Ph.D

CDI Survey for San Diego Deafies

2008-11-24T12:04:00.002-08:00

I am copying and pasting this email from SDCRID (San Diego Chapter of RID). They are conducting a survey to see whether the Deaf community in San Diego would be interested in signing up for CDI training workshops if offered in the future.
This is your chance to speak up if you wish to learn about Deaf interpreting. The SDCRID need to see the demand so they can serve you, the Deaf community.

Hi all,

SDCRID is doing a survey to find out how many deaf individuals in our community are interested to become deaf interpreters and their willingness to be trained. Your feedback will be helpful in determining whether SDCRID should offer training here in San Diego.
The more responses I get, the better! :-)

The survey can be found at this link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Lo7MrHPhOFKuo59hVu_2f5yA_3d_3d

Any questions can be directed to me at representative-2@sdcrid.org.

Thank you,

Naomi Sheneman
SDCRID Deaf Community Representative

...Did somebody say "Snow"?

2008-11-15T20:14:00.003-08:00

LOOK AHEAD
Another cold front passes the region Monday leaving behind variably cloudy skies, the chance of some snow flurries or sprinkles (20% chance), and even chillier temperatures. Highs should only reach the mid 40s with a cold wind from the northwest at 15-20 mph. Variably cloudy and cold overnight, with a slight chance of snow flurries. Lows should drop down to 28-33 (suburbs-city). Confidence: Medium

OH YEAHHHH!!!

My only birthday wish is that it *will* snow on December 11th!!!
(Some of you may remember that I was greatly disappointed last year when the first snow of the season melted before my birthday)

Yes, We Can!

2008-11-05T18:07:00.002-08:00

Last night, in anticipating of who would win after counting the electoral college votes, I was at Gallaudet's James Sorenson Lee Communication Center (SLCC) and I ended up being in one of pictures in an article published by Inside Gallaudet.

Inside Gallaudet: Kendall Green watches Election Day unfold

so from that article, I am copying and pasting:

Students check election results on a laptop in the SLCC atrium during an election night "Sleep-In.

Hey, Inside Gallaudet writers, sorry to correct you, but I was actually working on a Powerpoint presentation that was due next day (today!).

It was crazy and CROWDED at the SLCC. I was lucky to grab the seats in the center, armed with three slices of pizza (selfish, I know but I am a graduate student! Don't you know that Graduate students don't eat unless the food is free?) with the laptop powering up, trying to finish my powerpoint presentation.
Let me tell you, it was a BAD idea to try to do my homework at last minute, especially at the SLCC while watching the election on the big screen TV! The professors really shouldn't assign us anything due the day after the election day.

But I managed to finish my powerpoint presentation (and I delivered it well this morning!... I think.).

The story tidbit about the big screen TV went dark-- TRUE-BIZ! I was running back to the SLCC from the Rathskeller bar with a friend, soda in my hand and grilled cheese sandwich for her, and as we slowed down to catch the update as we entered the building, ALL SUDDENLY THE TV WENT BLACK!
Apparently somebody tripped on the power cord. People were shouting and screaming (and signing, of course): "WHAT HAPPENED?! I SAW THE CLOSED-CAPTIONING SAY THAT OBAMA WON?!" so people ran up to the second floor (and some tiny televisions in the hallway and classrooms) and they were able to relay the information: Obama won.

At first we were like, "NO?! ALREADY?! 11pm?!" Because we thought the western states were JUST closing their polls so how could they be done with their votes counted?!

Nonetheless, we were enthusiastic and we were hugging everybody, stranger and friend. Immediately the students were planning where to get alcohol and whom dorm room to throw a celebration party. Unfortunately, I have moved past that stage and don't forget, I got that darn powerpoint presentation at 9am the next day...
so I biked home with my other half and went to bed smiling.

(for the video recordings of the event, go to Deaf Perspective's blog)