This week has gone by quickly. I think going home for the long weekend and then only having 4 days of school helped make it fly by. I enjoyed the beginning of this week much more than all of last week. I think last week I felt overwhelmed. Every morning before class I felt a little nauseas and nervous. Anyway, over the weekend I decided I would try and relax more this week. I really wanted to enjoy my experience and get the most out of being here. I didn’t really acheive the latter but I did have a good week (up until today..but I’ll get to that later).
I didn’t pay to stay in the dorm the second week of school bc it was too expensive. The plan was to stay with Bryan’s cousin, Jon, and his wife, who live in northern virginia. After being here a week I really wanted to stay on campus the 2nd week, and I found out that I could be a guest for 3 nights. I asked Andrea, my roommate, early last week if she would mind if I came back as her visitor. She was really nice and said she didn’t mind, so instead of driving back up to dc on Monday night I drove Tuesday early morning, a little after 3am! It worked out really well I made it to dc by 6:30am. That gave me plenty of time to get a parking pass for the week, get my bags back into my dorm room, get to the computer lab to retrieve the dvd I left there thursday! (thank God it was still there!), and to get to class by 8:30. Surprisingly I did pretty well and didn’t fall asleep in class.
Tuesday and wednesday’s class went really well. after class I went to the computer lab and finished my homework then went to the tutoring lab to be sure I knew what I was doing. After tutoring I went to my car to get my workout clothes (couldn’t go to the dorm room because I can only get in with andrea) so I put anything I thought I might during the day in my car so I could get to it. My roommate was always in the gym when I went so we got to hang out some. I skipped breakfast and and dinner because I wasn’t really hungry and also because the meal plan I had paid for was only for the first week (or so I thought). I decided I would save myself some money and not eat when I wasn’t hungry. It worked out pretty well.
Wednesday night the program coordinators planned a silent dinner for us so abt a dozen of us planned on attending. I didn’t want to take the bus and I didn’t want to drive into the city so I asked the priest (a guy also in the program) if he wanted to drive my car. he was willing and we ended up sandwiching 6 ppl in the car. we were supposed to arrive at 9pm but didn’t get there until 9:50! the kitchen was closing so those of us who were planning to eat that night missed out. We hung out there for about an hour as others had ordered drinks, then we left. A few of us hoping to see a restaurant still open and serving food. We walked several blocks and came to a bar where other students in the program (including Andrea, my roommate) and Deaf people were hanging out. We saw on a chalkboard outside that they served food so we went in (others didn’t even hesitate). The priest, a girl name Anna, and I sat at a table, chatted and ate. The others went downstairs or upstairs and hung out (3 floors to this place). Finally around 12, the priest and I were ready to leave. Only 2 ppl were interested in coming home at that time, so we hopped in the car and headed back. My roommate came in at 3:45am!! on a school night! Wow. We were both super tired the next day.
Thursday, exam day. My first exam was difficult but for some reason I felt relatively calm about it. The first part of class we practice and reviewed making comparisons, etc. I spent the first 20 mins of my lunch time in the computer lab and then sat in front of the the Gallaudet statue and practiced my sentences for the test. Finally! Lunch was over and it was time. We drew numbers just like last time to see what order we were in. Mina and I were 2nd. so we sat out in the atrium with milly, who was 3rd, and waited for the first pair to finish. Kathy came out and as we exchanged phone numbers (she was leaving for new york after the test) she said the test was impossible. Scary words coming from the most skilled one in class!! Mina and I went in and sat in front of the video camera. We decided we would take turns telling our facts. We finished that and I felt pretty good about it. Then for the rough part of the exam! Mina elected to go first. she got up and walked over to the tv and watched as christy (our teacher) played a pre-recorded video of herself signing a story. She watched it twice then sat and retold me the story. Then it was my turn. so nerve racking! I’m weak in this area. I watched the video and to my surprise I understood what she signed. I asked if it was okay if I missed some of the signs but was able to relay the concept. She said that was fine. So I sat down and retold the story the best I could. Phew we were finished and it wasn’t half bad!! or so we thought!! She called mina back up for another video viewing! What?!? Oh it was awful and SO unexpected! to be continued…..