My Translator Needs A Translator

Last blog I was focused on challenges and as I started teaching again at WIF's CCH, a couple of new challenges popped up. Actually they have names, and we'll call them: Rita, Konnie and Angela, and they are my favorite kind of challenge. When success is the outcome from situations like this it is absolutely the sweetest kind of success.

The first two survivors are new, teen girls starting in the program. Both sweet as can be, dedicated and focused. The challenge is getting their basic skills up and running quickly so they are two more sets of hands helping out with the Made By Survivors Fall Line. At present, they need special attention because they are learning metalsmithing fundamentals and working on different projects while I am still focused on the Fall Line training at hand.

Now, a challenge I wasn't expecting at all: Angela, a new student to the jewelry program who is deaf, does not read Bengali or Hindi, knows no sign language at all, and doesn't appear to lip read. Our fantastic translator, Soma (who is much better at communicating with this young woman) and I actually convey a great deal through made up sign language sprinkled with a little Charades.

Surprisingly, I had a productive day with her but her education will still be challenging despite the fact that this survivor is smart as a whip. She is also a "new girl" so I am starting from scratch with her, too, and I have to spend even more time with her than I do the other two new girls. I have no idea how far I will be able to bring her along with jewelry skills. What I do know is: she is always smiling, her work is improving quickly, she loves making jewelry and the other survivors like to help her out. All good things.