Tzipporah.Benavraham@f608.n107.z1.fidonet.org (Tzipporah Benavraham) (02/05/91)
Index Number: 13503
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
Part 2 of the Japanese deaf child's paper
Living in a Silent World
Kobe School for the Deaf
Aya Takenaka
I cannot hear. When I was a baby, I caught the
measles. My 40.5 degree centigrade fever lasted
for ten days and I was hovering between life and
death. Devoted care of my mother and father helped
me from the depth of death. But instaead of my
life, I lost my hearing.
I started practicing to speak from the age of
one. In the world of silence, I practiced the
pronunciation of each word again and again.
I memorized the names of things one by one. This
is how I mastered a language.
Words like "Mother" or "Father", normal children
memorize by hearing, even such simple words I had
to repeat again and again to memorize. The effort
cannot be told by words alone. I started to go to
a swimming school from a very young age.
Can you imagine why I went there? I needed a certain
amount of breath to speak. Without these efforts,
I cannot speak.
Can you imagine how happy I was when I could talk to
a complete stranger and she understood what I said,
and I understood what she said. I will never forget
that moment in all my life. That was the happiest
moment I've ever had.
Of course, I had many bad experiences, too. One
thing always makes me feel uneasy. That is when
I speak to a complete stranger, that person always
speak too fast for me.
I cannot hear your voice. I understand your words
by watching your mouth. If you speak fast, I can
not catch your words. Then I will ask you 'Will
you speak more slowly, I have a hearing problem."
If you don't understand what I say, I will rapeat
the same words again and again until you understand
me.
Every person who has handicap, makes great effort
to do the things which are a matter of course for
ordinary people.
I cannot hear. But now I can talk to many people.
I can play many sports. I went to the United
States of America alone last summer. I am learning
oil painting. I try hard to do many things.
I really thank my parents, and the people around me.
In the world of silence, my father and mother taught
me a languaga and gave me the pleasure of life. I
really feel very happy to be born into this world.
I wanted to share this. I am charmed.
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