I head to school the other day to do some lab time. Chris and I leave for our immersion program in 1 week and 1 day. We start the immersion program with a proficiency assessment. YAY!! A test again already. Golly – I can’t wait.
Unfortunately, I’ve done such little signing since the last hell week, that I feel like I’m a 101 student. Lab time is VERY MUCH needed before we leave.
I get to the lab first, and the only people in there are the real 101 students.
Ohhhhhh yeaaahhhh…I’m one of the big kids now…..
I look over at the tutor desk and there’s a new person sitting there. Hmmmmm…..
Now, there is some background information to be had here. Our beloved and adored lab manager Ryan, selfishly moved to San Francisco at the end of last semester, completely abandoning us bofore we finish the program!!
So now…..we’re waiting for some new guy Sharin has hired as lab manager.
Now we’re back to the other day. I walk in and see someone new sitting at the tutor desk, face in their hand, looking at the computer screen.
I sign “Hello – are you the new guy?” For everyone who isn’t Chris…….to ask this in ASL the signs are HELLO, YOU NEW MAN?
The person behind the desk moves their hand and shakes their head “No” as they point to Mo – one of our lab tutors.
Ohhhh nooooo……it’s a LADY!!!
This is a moment equivalent to “OMG JonThomas!! What’s WRONG with that chick’s stomach?!” For anyone who doesn’t know that story – it’s mortally humiliating….and probably worth a blog.
At this point I am SO embarrassed. She looked like a man! I felt horrible.
Turns out, she was one of the school’s computer teachers, who had been recruited to help fix the lab computer – which apparently died a horrible and firey death.
Even better – SHE KNOWS NO SIGN LANGUAGE!
WHEW!!
That was a potentially damaging moment.
