This week I am going to write about American Sign Language, otherwise known as ASL. Many of you have seen people speak to each other through signing, but most people don’t understand the language well enough. ASL is a very useful language to learn because there are more people in the deaf community than you would think. This is a language that is just like every other language, but it isn’t as well known as it should be. I started ASL when I was young, but I recently picked it back up about a year ago. Since I've learned the language, it has changed my social interactions a lot.

I still don’t speak ASL fluently, but the people I have spoken to have mostly been very pleasant and helpful when I’ve had incorrect grammar. I have learned how to improve the way I sign from working at Target and going places in public, like deaf events when I went to BCC. Most of the time, I find that the deaf community is very down to earth and very kind. They will joke around with me if I feel intimidated by not being completely fluent; one time I laughed with a guy about my signing speed being a turtle’s speed. I have also had many other experiences at work and met some of the nicest and smartest people because I learned ASL.

Because I learned ASL, I met inspiring people in Ireland too. ASL has some similarities to Ireland Sign Language and because of this, I was able to understand a woman from Galway and one from Dublin when I drank tea after the zoo. Within the conversation I realized that a lot of the alphabet is the same and the sign for Boston is the same in both languages, but I enjoyed that the two women taught me the differences that I wasn't aware of. It was a nice moment and one of my favorite moments because I bonded with two people over tea that were very nice older women, even though I won't see them again. I think the beautiful thing about ASL is that you can bond with many people and get to know people in other places and see the world in a new way. It’s a culture and language that helps you bond quickly and I have had some amazing moments because I learned this language. In my opinion, more people should take ASL in America because it’s an amazing language and culture that has so much.