It’s April!
Yesterday was the last day of the first term. Everyone was excited to go home because, as David says, “April is like Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter all rolled into one.” Last Monday was a poya holiday; Friday is Good Friday, and 13-14 April is the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. And I’m pretty sure that there is another holiday or two in there somewhere, but I can’t remember.
The last day of school was supposed to be Friday, 30 March, but just a few days before that, Mr. A announced it was now Wednesday, 4 April. Changing dates at the last minute appears to be the norm here (see a blog from last December or so), but the principal had a good rationale this time.
He wanted to have a parents’ meeting where the parents actually showed up–but if it was on Friday 30 March, the parents would be going to their other children’s schools’ parents’ meetings (as almost all goverment schools in Sri Lanka begin and end on the same dates). Not the deaf school’s meeting because, well, that can’t be just as important as a normal school’s meeting, right?
So Mr. A moved it to Wednesday so the parents wouldn’t have an excuse not to show up (although if they didn’t come, they probably wouldn’t have to explain themselves anyway). He told Ginette and me that he wasn’t expecting more than 20 or 30 to come. Imagine our surprise when about 80 showed up for the meeting which lasted nearly two hours. At the end of the meeting, a near-riot broke out when it was time to collect the 50 beautifully-laminated calendars that Ginette and I had produced–also incorporating 18 basic signs and the Sinhala fingerspelling alphabet. The Sinhalese love their calendars–many homes will have two, three, or four calendars hanging on the walls in every room.
So now we have to print out about 30 more to give to the parents who didn’t get one when they drop their kids off back at school on 23 April. Another success! We both can’t wait to see if the kids report whether their families have learned a few signs from the calendar during the April break.
And now for your viewing pleasure (and also in homage to the Sri Lanka cricket team’s current bid for the 2007 ICC World Cup trophy in the West Indies), a video I made of the boys’ cricket tournament last January.
Incidentally, I think the calendar and the video below both represent the first time ever that Sinhala Sign Language has been shown on the internet. Enjoy!
Wow! This is sooo cool! Definitely great to see a video instead of always reading about it or seeing pictures on your blog. Do some videos more often!
Looking forward to seeing you this summer.
-P
Hi Adam, so pleased there is finally more recognition from the parents with signing, the calenders sound really positive, excuse the wording, they look very positive.
Do wish Ginette a happy Easter and let her know we miss her and are very proud of the work she is doing there, she makes me envious of the input she is having. Thank you for making a difference to so many lives over in Sri Lanka.
I have been trying to work out the smaal signs in black to the left of the calender, all without success. The signing with the white background may be the same as some I know from NZ sign/Australasian or a few American, are they:
animal
Beautiful. Would love to see more. I’m an educator myself, and this is inspiring!!! Keep up the good work!
SkyBlue
The video is sooooooo good! I’m such an idiot though, at first when i read your blog as i was like ah man! Can’t watch the video as don’t have sound on my computer….(!!)
Was cool to understand it, but a bit scared i’ve forgotten some signs! And the kids sign names!! I know they’ll all test me upon arrival!
Would love love love to see more videos!
Hope you are well
Soph x
*squeals* Finally get to see Sinhala Sign Language!! I only understood three signs out of all the conversations going on (the countries :-p).
And seeing Adam himself is a huge cherry on top.
It is very educated to watch video of deaf’s culture from other country.
So great to see the calendar and the video. It looks like you worked pretty hard on both. What did you give for the awards for cricket? The kids didn’t open them.
Were you signing in Sinhal? It’s so exciting that so many parents came to the conference. You must be very happy about that. Did they know they were getting a new calendar? You made the boys feel very special by videoing their game.
Did you edit and do the titles all yourself? Who filmed you? It was nice to see your face!!! Thanks for showing a little more about the life there.
I’m also intrigued that Sri Lankans celebrate Good Friday, but then the next holiday is the New Year. Is there a buddhist or hindu holiday that is celebrated on Easter Sunday?
What are your plans for the next couple weeks?
Take good care of yourself.
XOMom
ok this was absolutely awesome. among my favorite blogs ever! for a number of reasons…
1.) kids are always adorable, especially playing together.
2.) i loved the kid dancing. he has rhythm!
3.) i absolutely loved seeing you!
and hey.. watching you an the boys sign was an interesting way of imagining how hearing friends of mine feel when theyaw tch me sign.. one big “WOW what are you saying????????????”
Great Adam! The calendars are a stroke of genius… one of many that you’ve had. Can’t wait to see you soon, and see at first hand all that has been achieved in the past six months.
Yes we’ve been following Sri Lanka’s progress in the cricket. In this household when England play Sri Lanka we know we will be on the winning side cos we support both teams!
A x
Luvvvved the video. What a great event! Thanks for steering me eyeballs to You Tube because I’ve been spending most of my hours there now all day and night,it is amazing window on the world of fine young videomakers like yerself!