One job down, one to go

It’s been a looong week writing evaluations on my computer, so I’ve avoided writing anything else, including my blog. It quickly became clear that I didn’t allow myself enough days to put the evaluations together, so some late nights writing and early mornings printing had to be thrown in. But now they’ve been written, printed, explained to the parents, and it’s on them from now on! The meetings with parents seemed to go well – sometimes I knew that parents understood and would use the techniques at home, and for others, I’m afraid I’m not sure how far they’ll get. Or if they even understood the concept of what we were doing! Especially when they asked if they come back next week at the same time for their therapy session. Then, it’s time for an interpreter!

I went to Bahay Bata today, a Saturday missionary project nearby where parents take a sign language class while their children participate in different activities and games. There are about 80 parents who usually go, and I saw many parents from Commonwealth Elementary. Glad to see what they are doing for their children! At the end of the session, I was taken into a room, sat at a table with three other women, and offered juice and cookies. A teacher sitting diagonally from me folded her arms, titled her head, and asked when I would be able to visit her school, because there are many students who need speech and language evaluations. On the inside I burst into laughter (another school, are you kidding me?!), but on the outside I calming told her that it would not be possible as I have another contract to attend to and my days are fully booked. At this point I feel like I’ve heard that line so many times that all I can do is laugh. All the offers now are really making me see how I have to stick to what I have planned! I also have to turn down “school visits,” as every other teacher I meet invites me. It would be great, if I could be in three places at once!

Anyways, the teacher later showed me the signing book they are using with the parents and students, and it’s the same Signing Exact English book that I first started with. Personally, I feel (and so does the research) that the students would develop a more complete language if they used Filipino Sign Language, or even American Sign Language. But SEE sign? I questioned the teacher a bit on the book, but I didn’t want to say the wrong thing so I didn’t go too far. She said they do use some ASL, but they alter it because in the Philippines they like to initialize everything. No wonder the kids correct my “flat o” “eat” with an initialized ”e” “eat”! They really do initialize everything! Hmm…but they’re signing and initializing in English while speaking in Tagalog…just seems a bit much for me! Oh! I forgot! I just remembered that I wanted to ask (give a hint) if there were any Deaf adults working there. There wasn’t anyone there today, but they would surely be a rich model for the kids.

So my time at Commonwealth is done, save for a “Gratitude Program” being prepared for me on Tuesday. I’m not sure what that entails, but I’ll show up hungry - I’ve learned that’s a good idea when you go anywhere, if you don’t want your stomach to explode! Although overwhelming at first, I’m glad I spent the time at Commonwealth and took the time to see all of the children. It has given me a nice, broad picture of what a speech and language therapist deals with in a developing country. Much different from what I’m used to! And it will surely help me prepare my work for my next internship site, LINK Center for the Deaf. During the summer (April), LINK goes to the provinces to train Special Education teachers on how to work with deaf/hard of hearing students. They have asked me to add a speech component to their program. So, I will spend March preparing this, and in April we will travel to Tagaytay and Cagayan de Oro to give the training sessions. I’m looking forward to it!

This week will be a busy one as I help prepare for and then attend a Human Rights seminar sponsored by Perkins and Harvard Law School. A little transition before I begin working with LINK. I’m going to stay with the family here for the rest of my time in Manila, which I am happy about. They have been wonderful to me and it’s nice that I don’t have to move!

It’s getting hotter and hotter each day…I didn’t know it could get hotter, but apparently it can. Summer is coming, they say. Silly me, I could have sworn it was already here!

A couple of pictures of the family I am living with.  All but Grandpa made the pictures!