Bolehed!

Well, it finally happened. The Deaf-initely Boleh! Carnival 2006 came and went over the weekend. Most of us in the organizing committee were flustered and flat out by the end of yesterday.

I thank God for the fact that the carnival actually happened. While there were minor hiccups here and there, and some tempers flared, it was nothing short of a successful event. I have done several commercial events before and I can say from the bottom of my heart, this one beat them hands down.

This carnival was like a baptism of fire for me. I overcame my initial fear of interacting with people who use only sign language. Despite having joined The Singapore Association for the Deaf for over a year as volunteer, I have never managed beyond a polite smile to every signing deaf person that I have met. It's not so much that they are to be feared, but I was too concerned about how I am gonna hold a decent conversation with them. These couple of days, I discovered some of my signing friends are a lot more patient that I imagined them to be. They took in whatever gestures, mouthing of words, broken signs, etc that I could give and we actually could converse, and even shared jokes! It's amazing, and I am certainly more resolved to improve my sign language so as to be able to interact with these friends better. Thanks Ee Wun, Nancy, and Elizabeth. You all inspired me, no less.

I must admit that I was getting cold feet over my stint as an MC for the carnival. The reason is that I don't usually hear myself clearly over an open-air PA system. How to enunciate clearly when I can't hear clearly? Secretly, I was hoping that someone out there with better hearing than me would suddenly offer to take over from me.

There were a few bloopers. While I practised hard not to trip over "The Boy's Brigade 60th Company Pipes and Drums band from Raffles Institution", I tripped over other words. Just digress a little. During rehearsal, I kept saying "The Boy's Brigade 60th Anniversary Pipes and Dreams band from Raffles Institution". Wouldn't it be nice if the name was shorter?

Anyway, as usual, I was reading aloud all words that I came on both mornings in preparation for the marathon speaking stint. Shop names, notices on walkways, notices on walls, signboards, you name it. On one occasion, a couple walked past me and gave me a puzzling look. This guy's got no handphone or bluetooth earpiece on, so who is he speaking to? Hey, I've got the latest in-the-ear earpiece man :D

I really enjoyed doing both the opening ceremony and the afternoon/closing stint yesterday. With Lyn around, you can count on her to make enough noise to keep the excitement quotient up.

My family came to support me on both days and guess what, both my girls picked up the signs for alphabets pretty well! I think they will go far :) My friends, colleagues and relatives all came to give their support. To Pastor Tan, James, Man Lin & family, Bee Hoon & family, Eileen & friend, Michelle, 2nd uncle, 3rd aunt, cousin Tueng and family, Val, Chee Siang, Yumi, Lawrence, YC, Dad, Mom, Veron, Deborah, and Rachel, a BIG heartfelt thanks from me to all of you. To Val, toilet is signed as letter "T" shaking from left to right :)

To my loved ones: thanks for respecting my wish to identify with the deaf community because I really hope to do something for this community. Thanks for sharing me, especially Veron, Deborah and Rachel, with the deaf community.

Dad, I know you are not too comfortable with me taking on such a role because in your eyes, I am not deaf. Physically I cannot run away from the fact that my sense of hearing is significantly impaired (hence, deaf), but as a person, I am not handicapped or unable. I have gamely taken on everything that comes my way as any other able-bodied person since young, even though I have had to contend with some disadvantages. This alone is something you can be proud of. I will continue to advocate and push for changes to help this group of people because having experienced what being unable to hear is like, I know how it feels. Too many talented persons with deafness have been hindered from realizing their potential, and if I have been blessed with opportunities to allow my potential to bloom, I am sure many parents of children with deafness would like to see the same for their children, to see them grow up with a sense of purpose and achievement.

Physically deaf, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually hearing.

Thanks for all your support, and God bless you all.