Down the Memory Lane
s t a r m | s t December 18th, 2005
Yesterday morning saw me rushing down to work with red painful eyes [again! think I may be allergic to something at home] and a groggy mind. Tiredness, however, was not the main challenge to face during the two hours. Instead, it was the speed at which our guest speaker rattled on, and the countless terminologies used, which saw me fumbling awkwardly through my signs and trying desperately to catch up. Urgh. An hour and a half into it, exhaustion overpowered my brain and I was terping without using total communication, sitting slackly when I should not, and my mind was screaming silently, “MD!!! Please come take over from me!!”
Rushed down to the godforsaken place that is Hougang thereafter to celebrate Christmas with the MINDS children in my favourite way - Christmas carolling in sign language! Sadly, my cute little boy and his friends were not there, but at least that solved the mystery of their schooling place - was wondering if they are from MINDS or Chao Yang.
Ahh, I am digressing, and I am so going to deviate even more from my initial idea for this entry. Wonder if it will be a mistake because… it is such a sensitive [and private] issue - the land of volunteering. Hmmmmm, will just write about carolling.
Four Decembers ago was when it all started. Sister asked me if I would like to volunteer in a SADeaf-Starbucks Christmas Carolling project and I excitedly jumped at the offer, even though I had zero knowledge of sign language then. Needless to say, it was two [?] intensive months of practice filled with much confusion and hard work. Despite that, I enjoyed myself tremendously and acquainted myself with a handful of people who became my friends later on.
It was that split decision to join carolling that spiralled me into the world of volunteering, xtomic and the Deaf community, which is now a big part of my life.
In the second year, HWSNBN, sister and I took over the coordination of the carolling project. The logistic part was a nightmare, and coordinating some 70 volunteers was no easy feat. Thankfully, we had a great group of volunteers and an even greater bunch of conductors, and the hours and days and weeks and months spent with one another was full of fun and laughter. 2003 marks the most memorable year of carolling for me - the initial meetings with Starbucks management, the choosing of songs, working and dueting with him, conducting, generating hell lot of publicity and more. I miss that magic so so much.
Last year’s carolling was held at the Esplanade Library. It was a small scale one-day affair, with YQ and LT performing alongside with Xtomic. Still wonderful, still magical, still filled with Christmas cheer.
This year, SADeaf did not plan any carolling projects and it felt strange. Empty. Cheerless. Despite the Christmas lights in town, and Christmas songs being played everywhere, I couldn’t feel the Christmas spirit. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, cos’ YQ and LT suddenly came up with the wonderful idea of carolling for the people of MINDS. This time, we carolled not under SADeaf, nor Xtomic, nor Starbucks, but as individuals who miss Christmas carolling and want to bring cheer to others.
I was - still am - really exhausted and short on yesterday. But seeing the children easily following our signs, clapping energetically along with the rhythm, smiling and laughing joyously when Santa Claus appeared before them, I know I didn’t regret about taking the performance up, not one bit.
It finally feel like Christmas is near.
