5a Train Go Sorry

I am a hearing student assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my introduction to Humanities Class. Other readings assigned in this class include several essays from the book My California. In both books, we examined the cultures of California that form a microcosm of the U.S. In this essay, I will incorporate 4 required questions.

The phrase “Train Go Sorry” refers to the ASL expression for literally, “missing the boat”. Consequently, it can also be used as a metaphor for the misunderstandings and miscommunication between the hearing and deaf world. The phrase gets meaning when James, a member of the deaf community, goes to visit his younger brother in prison, who was locked up for robbery (Rikers). After waiting for hours in the waiting room for his brother to show up, he then finds out that Joseph is in court. The second time he visits he is again unsuccessful at seeing his brother. He thinks to himself that he has “missed the boat” and also realizes that his younger brother may have “missed the boat” on life. Finally, on the third attempt, James is successful in visiting his brother. The differences between the two brothers make Joseph out to be the rebel, and James the prince. In the end, James finally starts to appreciate this different culture that he is “doomed” to. For once, James finally feels as if he has made the train in time.

Brought up in a world of the deaf community, Leah has always had a very different outtake on life. From living on-campus at Lexington, a New York school for the deaf, she has seen and experienced firsthand the life of ASL, the American Sign Language. Being constantly surrounded by people who cannot speak words, Leah has become accustomed to a whole new way of life. She is walking in the shoes of a deaf person, even though she is not herself. This experience is very weird and touching in a way that even though she is not deaf, she is being brought up in such a way that she almost might as well be, and almost wants to be. In the end she realizes that in order to fully understand the deaf community; everything around you must be silenced as well.

One part that vividly stood out to me was in chapter three. “While hearing students were learning how to pronounce the words Rapunzel and Rumplstiltskin, Lexington students were sitting in speech rooms learning how to pronounce their own names, with plastic sticks pressing their tongues into shape”. This image jumped out at me. It paints the picture of the vast differences that young deaf children have to go through. While simple five year olds think that learning to read a book is a big task, think about those who are five and just now learning how to read their parents lips. Along with every step that a “normal” child takes, there are a million little steps for a hearing-impaired child to take in order to get to the big step itself. People don’t sometimes realize how hard a normal, simple task can be for someone who isn’t given the same opportunities as we are.

Before reading this book, I had heard of ASL and American Sign Language separately, but never had put the two together. I now know that ASL is used all across the country and even in other countries as well. Another fact I learned about were cochlear implants. I learned that these can be helpful but can also be very dangerous as well. If the procedure is done wrong or incorrectly it can result in nerve damage to cells inside the ear, and therefore can result in a permanent loss of all natural hearing. Another fact I would like to get across is that deaf people in no way consider themselves mentally OR physically disabled. They are just as, if not brighter than the average individual and have learned to accomplish many things most of us will never have to deal with. They are people too, and have a culture of their own, which is very enjoyable to all. Many also think that deaf people would take their hearing back in a second if they could. But studies prove this common belief wrong – a lot of people questioned said that being deaf is a part of who they are – and they would not want their hearing back even if they could. I feel it’s very inspirational for someone to have such a sense of trust in who they are in order to say something like that. Lastly, the deaf community thinks of themselves as a minority, and often relates to other members of minorities as well.