Hey Everyone,
I am hearing and am currently learning ASL. Several months ago i met a new friend who is Deaf. The writting back and forth for hours was tiresome, and so much of who i am is lost in writting. I'm a very expressive person, talking with my hands, facial expressions physical comedy. I also HAVE to look people in their eyes when speaking to them. That is how i was raised, although there are some people who say my look is too intense and feel that i gaze too deeply. I'm a very perceptive person and eyes are crucial to me knowing what you are telling me beyond the words. Given these things i knew i had to learn ASL. A friend of a friend who went to college to become an interpreter taught me for free from the one book he had. I fell in love with the language. i was warry of going to school to learn because of the cost issue but now, it is definate i have to go. I have learned about 1,000 signs in 7 weeks. My Deaf friend and i have become closer because of that. i have gone to several Deafies parties with him and have had one at my house. This is all in the 4 months i have known him. I enjoy Deaf very much. i feel bad when he is with me at a party with my hearing friends. Not because he is Deaf, because it shows how inadiquate i am with what i know, what is 1,000 signs to such a complex language? That spurs me on to learn more!! ASL is such a beautiful language my only
regret is that i didn't learn it sooner!!
I am hearing and am currently learning ASL. Several months ago i met a new friend who is Deaf. The writting back and forth for hours was tiresome, and so much of who i am is lost in writting. I'm a very expressive person, talking with my hands, facial expressions physical comedy. I also HAVE to look people in their eyes when speaking to them. That is how i was raised, although there are some people who say my look is too intense and feel that i gaze too deeply. I'm a very perceptive person and eyes are crucial to me knowing what you are telling me beyond the words. Given these things i knew i had to learn ASL. A friend of a friend who went to college to become an interpreter taught me for free from the one book he had. I fell in love with the language. i was warry of going to school to learn because of the cost issue but now, it is definate i have to go. I have learned about 1,000 signs in 7 weeks. My Deaf friend and i have become closer because of that. i have gone to several Deafies parties with him and have had one at my house. This is all in the 4 months i have known him. I enjoy Deaf very much. i feel bad when he is with me at a party with my hearing friends. Not because he is Deaf, because it shows how inadiquate i am with what i know, what is 1,000 signs to such a complex language? That spurs me on to learn more!! ASL is such a beautiful language my only
regret is that i didn't learn it sooner!!
to Alldeaf! Have fun browsing and posting! 
Dave
