the universal language of...

Last week, I had the chance to visit a program that helps deaf students. We walk in the place and meet the woman in charge, whom I spoke with over the phone. She takes us into a room with the beginners class...all deaf children with a deaf teacher. I wave hello. I can't decide whether or not I should sign since I don't know that much. After looking at the beautiful faces of these children I decide that I at least need to try. So I look at this girl who was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. "Your name?" I sign? Her face lit up. L-U-C-Y. "Lucy" I sign back. "Yes" she answered, "Your name?" "P-A-T-T-Y" I replied.

Oh, then the other kids started signing too! We leave and get to see the other deaf students who are integrated in classes with the students who can hear. I did get told that I was very beautiful by a 12th grade boy, but communicating (or should I say attempting) with these kids was such an experience. Here I am 9,000 miles away from where people understand what I am saying, talking to these students who cannot hear. In that moment, I felt like the world was so small...that we're all the same.

I know it may not make sense, probably because I'm not explaining it well, but it was definitely a life changing experience. The picture above is the deaf teacher named Norah, who is also deaf signing to me, "I love you" and me signing back. So, it's a universal language really....a universal language that breaks all accent barriers and color barriers and is just simply a language that shows love.

i'm glad..

so, i've been in Liberia for 3 1/2 months now. i'm pretty sure that you're supposed to make a blog before you leave or when you first hit the ground, but i never tend to do things the way i'm supposed to.

so, i thought for my first blog post, i'd get into why i picked the blog of i'm glad you're not ordinary. you can ask my housemates. this was definitely a difficult task in picking, but i decided on it because in all of my travels, i have realised this quote by c.s. lewis to be true. in his infamous quote he says how there are no ordinary people and how the people we talk to are not mere mortals. if you've ever been to Liberia, you will quickly find that these are not ordinary people either. the people you meet are the same ones that as recently as 5 years ago were running from rebels to save their lives. yet, if you only met the people, you would never know it. yep, these aren't ordinary people.

then, i see all the people that have crossed my path, both past and present. and i'm so glad that i'm surrounded by people who are not ordinary and who make sure that i don't settle for such either. i'm grateful that everyone i've met has had an impact on my life. i'm glad that different people continue to teach me different lessons everyday. and...i'm glad that you're not ordinary either.