Hello! Well first just a little info for those who might stumble upon this blog that do not know me. I been procrastinating for a long time to start a blog….. PAH ( “finally” in ASL) I am starting one. Why? Because, I have been blessed with a wonderful opportunity to attend Gallaudet University for their summer program. This is the first Deaf University in the United States, located in Washington D.C. It is the BEST University for Deaf studies. It is a very prestige school. Many people who helped me get here have asked me to start a blog and document my adventures and experience during my stay. So here I am.
It seems most bloggers always do a “who am I?” So, who am I? I am one very blessed person. Who has been touched by many kind souls in her life. The whole reason this blog is even happening is because many have contributed to help me get here. If not for all of you individuals who helped, this opportunity would not be possible. I would not be on my way to living something I only dreamed about. So I want to say a HUGE thank you. I would name everyone, but there are so many, and also I am not sure who would want to be mentioned and who wouldn’t. So you know who you are, and know that I am forever grateful to you for helping me chase my dream and further my education. I promise I will make the best of it and I will someday pay it forward.
As far as information about me, I find it difficult to really get the true essence of me down on paper. But here’s my best shot ME: fun, easy-going, caring, goofy, spontaneous, straight-forward and friendly; an adventurous free spirit willing to try almost anything. I am extremely honest and considerate. I love to have fun! People who know me would say I am creative, passionate and that I make the best out of every situation. I am a giving person, and am very sensitive to the needs of people around me I’m a confident, happy and outgoing person and I love my life. Honesty and integrity are core values and extremely important to me. I’m a go-getter, but my most important goal is that my family is healthy, happy and balanced. I’m a very passionate, loving, and affectionate person. I like cooking, roller blading, going to the beach, dancing, any outdoor activity. I also like to curl up with a good book or watch a good movie. Iam a huge tom boy, not afraid to get dirty, break a nail or get my hair wet, but I am all girly too and have that soft side also. LOL I am the mother of 2 beautiful children and my favorite thing to do is spend times with my kids. My kids are first in my life. I have a amazing boyfriend who I am madly in love with. I am a full time student, majoring in ASL (American sign language) , Teaching and Arts and Humanity. Yup three majors! I am Deaf and proud! I just recently got in touch with my Deaf culture. I was never exposed to ut growing up, I actually thought I was a very rare individual and did not realize there are a lot of people jut like me out there. So I am kind of on a personal self-exploration journey , learning so many new things about myself as I go. It has been great so far!
I could go on and on, but that pretty much sums it up. You will learn more then you want to know about me throughout this blog I am sure, so stay tuned and enjoy!
Tam 🙂
“It is starting to feel real”
June 25, 2014 6:00 a.m.
Yesterday I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off….. My flight isn’t until Thursday. But Melissa and I are leaving today to stay at a hotel near LAX. Our flight is at 7:00 a.m. So rather than wake up at 2a.m to get ready then drive the hour there (or longer if we hit traffic) we are staying near airport and catch a shuttle there.
I been really emotional today, happy, sad, excited, scared nervous. I don’t know if I PMSing or being a pre-menopausal fool! Or maybe this is just normal, I can be normal for once right? This is the first time I have ever taken a trip like this. Sure I have been a few places to visit family and friends. Those trips were awesome and amazing, this is still different. I know I am going for school, but it is also going to be like a vacation, I mean Washington D.C.? Major sightseeing location! I believe school is from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. So the rest if the day is for us to have adventures! Watch out D.C. The three of us are going to take you by storm! Anyway so the school and the location, very exciting, thrilling…..so happy to be going! So, why sad? Well I have never been away from home this long, it is a long time to go and not see my kids and Mark. Granted, my kids do not live at home any longer, but I still usually see Nathan once a week. Ashleigh being busy with her school and working, sometime we have gone a month. So that isn’t going to really be much different, but then it is because there still a sense of comfort knowing they are just a short car ride away, not three thousand miles away! What if something happens? Mark and I have only gone once the last five years without seeing each other this long. Now that we live together, I have gotten used to him being there every day. And my Roxii pup and Baby Kitty! Will they forget me? 😦 lol What if something happens while I am gone and I can’t get home? So yeah….. That’s why the sad part. It will pass once I get there and to hell with them all I am sure! Ha ha just kidding.
I was a little somber on the car ride this morning at 6:00 a.m. I was holding back tears I could tell, I just wanted to climb into Marks lap, but obviously I couldn’t he was driving. So as my head was on his shoulder ….. Started feeling my eyes burn, my throat swell a little bit, kept telling myself in my head… “Stop silly this is a good separation”….. but that little pep talk didn’t work…. My chest got heavy; I felt the warm tears slowly filling my eyes… Then my nose started feeling a tingle, all through my cheek bones, right before the tears fell slowly down my face….. Kept telling myself how silly I was… Then I kept writing about this feeling in my mind, you know like rehearsing in front of a mirror? So I decided to pull out my iPad and started writing it while I still could feel exactly what I was feeling….. I knew I wouldn’t be able to describe it again as well once this feeling passed. Plus I didn’t want to bawl my eyes out, so this is distracting me…..
Of course the floodgates opened again as we arrived at Starbucks, where Mark was dropping me off and I am waiting for my friend Melissa who I am going with, to pick me up. Also where Tracie works, our other partner in crime for this journey!
So goodbyes are said, I go in and sit down start playing “scramble” one of the many word games I play, and in kid you not these were the first words that I found in the little box you have to find words in…”sad, tears, tear, sob, sobs, sadly, mark, miss” What’s up with that? Talk about putting salt in my wounds!
I know , I know….. I am being silly. I am not going to be gone for THAT long…… ::::: sigh ::::
2:30 p.m.
My kids, Ashleigh and Nathan just left. I was so happy they could stop by before I left. I wasn’t sure, because they both work today, but it worked out they had time. Of course I cried a little when they left….. I am such a silly sap. Lol
11:00 p.m.
Melissa and I packed up the rest of our stuff and then off we went to stay at The Sheraton Four Points near LAX. Our flight leaves at 7:00 a.m. so Melissa’s mom got us a room near the airport so we didn’t have to wake up super early and drive there. Now we are a quick shuttle away! We all had a nice dinner together before Mom and Dakota left. I already got my good byes out of the way, now it was Melissa’s turn. Her daughter Dakota is 3 years old, this is the first time Melissa has ever left her. It was sad to watch, but sweet at the same time. So much love radiating between those two!
Got settled into our room and decided to watch a little T.V. to unwind before bed. T.V. remote didn’t work, batteries are dead. Ok it happens, so call down to the front desk and requested new batteries. Then we noticed no Ice bucket, so call for that. When the maintenance man came to change the batteries in the remote, Melissa asked him how to turn the closed caption on, on the T.V. He told us that it didn’t work, said the T.V. had to be programmed for it, that they un programmed it because too many people didn’t know how to turn them off when they see them on. He said he had to call the cable company tell them to program it. He called and the cable company said he had to look in the T.V. manual. He informed us he did not have a manual. He tried to do it himself and didn’t get it on and he left. We tried fidgeting with it and we couldn’t get it figured out. Usually I have no trouble figuring it out but was stumped this time. Melissa called down and she told them, “there is a Deaf person in this room, she needs closed caption” they kept transferring hr to one person after another. She got quite frustrated and finally said “look there is a ADD law that you have to have accessible Closed captions” as soon as she said that she got transferred to the manager. He came straight up to our room and tried to get them on. He was actually a very pleasant gentleman and really seemed to want to help. After about ten minutes he got them to work!! YAY!! He then asked if we were hungry, well just having finished dinner a little while ago we were not very hungry. I said I was thirsty though, he asked what we wanted, I said to Melissa (actually I am signing to her the whole time, not talking) that I wanted some wine. She looked at me and said “you can’t have wine” and the manager looked at her and said “why is there some reason she can’t drink wine?” and she said, “no she can” and he told her “OK then we will bring you some wine and a cheese and fruit plate” Shortly later two glasses of white wine and a plate were delivered to our door! Melissa and I giggled and squealed a little and then rehashed what happened and joked a little, while doing so she said as if she was talking to the front desk “ I know my friends rights I just finished a Deaf Studies class damn it!” ha ha It was funny…… yeah, I know, probably something you had to be there in person to appreciate though right? I got a good giggle!
Not a bad start to our journey. Two glasses of wine before bed is not a bad ending to our day. On that note, midnight is approaching, time to hit the hay; we have to wake up at 4:30.
Next time I post I will be in D.C.!!!!! Until then……… peace.
Here is our complimentary wine and Cheese tray and a nice note from “Adam”
justmetamtam's jabber 