Help me find a city with lots of friendly deaf people

[kajm]

Hi,

I'm 34 years old and deaf on one ear. On the other ear, I'm loosing more and more hearing. Now I'm thinking I should move to a city with lots of deaf people, and learn the sign language, so I can find some new friends. Because the life I'm living right now is otherwise lonely and isolated.

But to which city should I move? With lots of friendly deaf / hearing-impaired people, 20 - 45 years old?

Please suggest a city?

(Or do you have some other suggestions? I have a hearing aid already.)

I currently live in Scandinavia in northern Europe. I'd prefer the city to be located somewhat nearby, preferably in Europe. I work with software development, so once I've learnt the relevant language, I should be able to find a job. — I do have a city suggestion of my own, but I'd rather not tell you right now. I'd like to hear your unbiased opinions, first.

Kind regards

 

[Mewtilation]

I do not know Europe other than what I read. So, unfortunately demographical information such as deaf population per city will be best left to Google as usual. However, I hardly think just because you happen to be losing -not loosing- your hearing, that is a reason to go meet deaf people. You act as this is your only option and it's being forced on you or something. I was born this way and I have hearing friends. So basically you're losing -not loosing again- your hearing and you're like, oh I'll just move to a city with more deaf people, learn sign language and screw everyone who I currently affiliate with in my current city? I don't know your particular case, maybe you don't have friends for all I know... however again I hardly think losing -not loosing- your hearing is a good sole reason to start emersing yourself in deaf culture. That should be something you want to do because you want to do it, and this is sounding like more of an obligation the way you're putting it. Just saying...

 

[kajm]

Hi Mewtilation, thanks for your reply and for clarifying the impression you got from my post.

I do not know Europe other than what I read. So, unfortunately demographical information such as deaf population per city will be best left to Google as usual.

Okay. I guess most people are familiar mainly with the city where they happen to live. And this forum seems to be mainly used by people in the U.S.? (not Europe)

However, I hardly think just because you happen to be losing -not loosing- your hearing, that is a reason to go meet deaf people. You act as this is your only option and it's being forced on you or something.

I like hearing people and deaf people, and I like the spoken language and the sign language. However I don't learn new languages (not Spanish, not German, not the sign language) unless I have to — for example because I'm moving to a new country, or because I'm losing more and more hearing. This does not mean that I don't like people in Spain or Germany or deaf people or that I wouldn't like to live there. It rather means that people in general are short of time?

I got the impression that you were a bit annoyed because it is forced on me, but isn't that as if people in Spain or Germany were angry that I don't learn Spanish or German, until I move to Spain/Germany.

On the contrary, I think people in Spain/Germany would be happy if someone moved to their country, perhaps because of work, and wanted to learn their language. But you're reacting with resentment when I'm going deaf and want to learn the sign language? Because then it's not "genuine"?

I was born this way and I have hearing friends. So basically you're losing -not loosing again- your hearing and you're like, oh I'll just move to a city with more deaf people, learn sign language and screw everyone who I currently affiliate with in my current city?

You're correct in guessing I don't have that many friends, partly because I'm hearing impaired (and some other reasons too from when I was a child), so I'm not giving up anything or screwing anyone.

I don't know your particular case, maybe you don't have friends for all I know... however again I hardly think losing -not loosing- your hearing is a good sole reason to start emersing yourself in deaf culture. That should be something you want to do because you want to do it, and this is sounding like more of an obligation the way you're putting it. Just saying...

I didn't intend to make it sound like an obligation. I was actually a bit surprised that that was your reaction — I was rather thinking that people would be happy for yet another person moving to their relatively small society. Instead apparently you feel resentment? (How would you have phrased the worlds, so as not to give that negative impression, which I didn't intend to give)

Thanks again for your reply

 

[Bottesini]

I think we only have one or two members from your area of the world. So you may need to seek help closer to home.

I would look for a Deaf and Hard of Hearing services office in one of the cities that you might be considering relocating. They could probably help you in your quest.

 

[caz12]

London not bad but not wonderful i got circle of friends in Paris mostly Algerian as i get impression you dont mind out of country.Afraid can be lonely anywhere but good thing travel a bit,if you got no ties go for it

 

[A Nihilist]

Go anywhere near an airport. People there end up deaf anyways from all the noise anyway ha ha ha ha