Volume 2 Issue 3 November 2008 www.discoveringdeafworlds.com
Photo courtesy of Christopher Abate
Living Simply: Back to Life in the U.S.
Stimulating streets of Cambodia, April 2008 Out of the eight countries we traveled to this past year, we would have never guessed our greatest culture shock would be returning to the U.S. But as soon as our plane landed in Rochester, N.Y., so many things, once so comfortable, no longer seemed familiar: the smell of beef from fast food restaurants after spending the last four months in countries where cows are sacred; driving on empty, paved roads and stopping at traffic lights at midnight when we just came from the stifling traffic and fumes of taxis, rickshaws, tukstuks, buses, mopeds, chickens, and children crossing
What is DDW? Dave Justice and Christy Smith are traveling the world to learn and share stories of empowerment, inspiration, and connection between international Deaf communities. Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW) is an opportunity to give deaf people worldwide a voice. For more information, photos, video logs, and newsletter stories, visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com.
Silent suburbs of the U.S., October 2008 the street at lighting speeds, where everyone seems to have the right of way; and passing suburb after suburb, realizing it had been nine months since we had last seen a yard. We’ll have to get used to all this again. Some things were easy, like the simple day-to-day routines of brushing our teeth from the faucet instead of a bottle of water, or having a toilet to sit on instead of a hole in the ground to squat over. But the sudden lack of stimulation can be depressing. We miss the activity of strangers tugging at our sleeves to take us to their shops or practice their English, the unique smells of street vendor foods, diesel smoke, spices, urine, and unfamiliar incense all blended in one, the endless noise of circus-like bus horns and hagglers bargaining prices, and the challenge of speaking, signing, or writing new foreign languages everyday right outside our front door. As we cope with the reverse culture shock of our transition back to an American lifestyle, we find ourselves still pulling clothes out of our backpacks instead of using a dresser, sleeping on a borrowed mattress on the floor, relying on e-mail and pay phones while resisting the urge to buy cell phones or pagers, hand-washing our dress-up clothes in the sink inLIVING SIMPLY, continued on page 6 November 2008 1
Another One for the Team complete lack of education Ni hao! I’m Davin Searls, and language development the newest member of in the recently-born CamDiscovering Deaf Worlds bodian deaf community. I (DDW). I come from a was troubled by the laws, deaf family in Rochester, institutions and public N.Y. After graduating from perceptions that denied Sarah Lawrence College, them their humanity, but I had to scratch the travel inspired by the powerful itch that had been buildwork of non-governmental ing up in me once again. The DDW team with students organizations filling in the I connected with PEN Inat Beijing’s No. 3 Deaf School. gaps of their government. ternational at the National I could no longer idly sit Technical Institute of the by. It was in that moment Deaf, and before I knew it, I was on a plane I fully realized how lucky I to China. am to come from a houseI taught American Sign Language and hold with total commuEnglish to deaf students at Changchun nication access and selfUniversity for ten months as the school’s advocacy running through only deaf teacher. Living in a city that was my veins. removed from the typical tourist route, Davin Searls teaching at After reconnecting with I was able to immerse myself in Chinese Changchun University in China Dave and Christy in Rochmainstream and deaf culture, as well as ester, we knew our goals Chinese Sign Language. It was here in March 2008 that I met Dave and Christy. We hit it were in sync: to advocate for deaf communities in underdeveloped countries and to enable them to reach off immediately. Several months later, while backpacking through their full potential. I look forward to working with Southeast Asia, I was blown away to learn of the near- DDW for a long time to come.
Did you know...? • Discovering Deaf Worlds is based out of Rochester, N.Y., which has one of the largest deaf populations per capita in the country and has an international reputation as one of the most “deaf friendly” cities. • Rochester was the home of Susan B. Anthony, who was active in the abolitionist movement and who fought for women’s rights. Visit her home and her grave next time you’re in town. • The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology has welcomed deaf and hard of hearing students from over 25 countries. • Many renowned companies were founded in Rochester, such as Kodak (by George Eastman), Bausch and Lomb, Xerox, Wegman’s Supermarket, and R.T. French Company (who made classic yellow mustard at their address, One Mustard Street). • Rochester is home of the “Garbage Plate,” which consists of hot dogs (red or white) or hamburgers on top of french fries and macaroni salad, covered with a meaty hot sauce. You have to try it!
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Adventures in Education with DDW
DDW presenting at RSD’s Adventures in Education program
Christy and Dave visit with RSD students
When the idea for DDW first came up a couple ing each other classroom presentations on the culyears ago, we had no idea which direction it might tural differences found in Asian countries, creating take off in. We questioned whether our friends, fam- sculptures of the Taj Mahal in art class, researchilies and schools back home would wholeheartedly ing Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religious diversity, follow our adventure or just wait to hear about our and cooking Japanese sweets, New Zealand spaexperiences when we returned. But when we arrived ghetti pies and Indian mango lassis. They even gave us a 40-minute docuat Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD) on Oct. “Comprehensive educational materials defining mentary, showing all the 22-23 for our first appear- the languages and customs of people who are hard work, commitment, ance after returning from deaf and hard of hearing in foreign lands and and good fun they’ve had spinning off of DDW’s our journeys, we were cultures are resources that teachers and students travel route. blown away, touched, and These students are immensely proud to see need right now. Documenting and sharing what how their coordination DDW has learned about people who are deaf and fortunate to have an edenvironment took DDW to a whole hard of hearing in other cultures and countries ucational such as RSD that fosters new level. will contribute greatly to the enlightenment of opportunity, individualAs part of RSD’s 16th our global community.” ity and accessibility. We annual Adventures in Ed–Harold Mowl, Jr., Superintendent/CEO hope, through our visit, ucation program, we were Rochester School for the Deaf, Rochester, NY honored to be the prowe have left a footprint on their paths to ignite gram’s first deaf-oriented guest speakers. To build an interest in the world up interest and excitement for DDW’s visit, teachers around us. As the world becomes a smaller place, and staff spent the summer preparing SmartBoard easier and more affordable to travel, these students visuals of world maps and adjusting curriculums represent the future leaders and ambassadors of tobased on the eight countries we visited this past year. morrow’s American deaf community. For more information on Rochester School for the Students of all grade levels from preschool to high school, spent the beginning of this school year giv- Deaf, visit www.RSDeaf.org.
Pending Non-Profit Status DDW is slowly but steadily working its way towards non-profit status. Are you interested in becoming involved? Let us know! November 2008 3
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A Thank You to Our Sponsors The Next Generation of WebSites Take charge of your site Your website is your brand. It’s you, Your company, appearing in the landscape… Take charge today! www.sitebrandbuilder.com
Ralph P. DeStephano
Add your logo or banner to the DDW website!
Shout -Outs! Shout Shout-Outs! -Outs! Rochester School for the Deaf…the Adventures in Education program has entirely WOWed us! We were touched and honored to see what your students and teachers have built around DDW this past year. You have added a deeper level of meaningfulness to our organization.
Over 22,000 cumulative hits from 107 countries!
Deaf-Hearing Connection…thank you for your warm hospitality and allowing us an opportunity to share our story with The College of New Jersey. We wish you all the best through your studies in ASL and Deaf Culture & Education!
Contact info@discoveringdeafworlds.com for more information, options, and pricing.
Davin Searls…only one month officially on board, and you have already made a lasting impact on DDW. You bring hope, creativity, and a fierce energy to our team. Yes, we can!
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Remembering Emma Last year, we began our DDW adventure in Christchurch, New Zealand (NZ). On our very first day, we met and connected with an outgoing, happy-go-lucky girl named Emma at the Canterbury Deaf Club. She was a leader and a good friend who was committed to improving the lives of deaf people in NZ. She invited us to her home for NZ-style fish fries and we got to know her circle of friends, trading off American Sign Language for NZ Sign Language. When we parted a week later, we had no idea it would be the last time we would see her. During our travels through the South Island of NZ, Emma went missing. Eleven days later, her body was found. A man named Liam Reid was quickly arrested for Emma’s rape and murder, as well as the rape and attack on another woman from Dunedin. Emma Agnew After months of postponement, the grueling four-week trial finally 1987-2007 closed on October 29, 2008, with a sense of relief, tears and bursts of anger at the man who could have done such a thing. Reid was found guilty on all six charges and sentenced to life in prison. Over 100 witnesses testified before the jury reached its verdict. Emma...we hope you are up in heaven finding peace, that your family and friends are finding comfort in the sentence, and that the NZ community will continue to be reunited through your memory. It was an honor for us to know you and you will be remembered, always. For more information on the trial, visit www. stuff.co.nz/4745474a11.html. See a song tribute at www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2CxHiltDzs dedicated to Emma. LIVING SIMPLY, continued from front page
stead of sending them to the dry cleaner, and keeping our one monthly expense to a $56 public bus pass. In one year of traveling the world, we spent less money than if we stayed right here in Rochester. We did so by living simply. And we will do our best to continue this lifestyle, such as trading babysitting for rent while living with family, cooking simple meals from a wide range of new ethnic recipes instead of eating out, and making the most of the random gadgets and throw-aways we already have around us. One of our greatest lessons of this past year was developing a newfound appreciation for simplicity and prioritizing what we value most. What seem like excessive luxuries to us now – a car, fancy drinks, another pair of shoes – are expenses we would rather apply to editing our video footage, supporting deaf-oriented programs in India, Nepal or Cambodia, planning further travels to South America and Africa, and building the future of Discovering Deaf Worlds as a non-profit organization. Thank you for your continued support as we reconnect and ease back into a healthy balanced life. 6
Discovering Deaf Worlds
“…any nonprofit does only one of two things: increases human potential or decreases human suffering.” - Randolph Belle East Bay Nonprofit Center Oakland, CA
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