Inspired by the Isle of Iona

Indeed, last year I traveled to a remote Isle off the coast of the Highlands of Scotland.  It is called Iona.  Back when Betsy asked me to participate in this Kindness adventure with her I sat down, pulled out my pen and paper and went through the alphabet just to see what came to mind for each letter.  For the record I've veered away from initial ideas at least a couple times thus far.  But for the letter "I" I've been unable to move away from Iona though I was not clear how my experiences there would lead to an Act of Kindness towards a stranger here until today.

Today I've identified an organization which provides scholarships for the thorough and professional training of sign language interpreters for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.  How does this connect to Iona?  Well, I traveled abroad with my very good friend from the Midwest whom I've known since we shared our graduate school experience.  She is deaf.  We were traveling with a group of hearing people.  She and I knew only three people in our group.  I know some sign language and no one else knew sign.  We lived on the Isle of Iona in the Abby and experienced the amazing hospitality of the Iona Community.  The experience was enhanced for my friend and me because of the intensity associated with me attempting to sign or write for her all that was being experienced through my ears -- the airport announcements for our flights, the information given on our Scottish ferry rides including when they changed the spoken word from English to Gaelic, the sounds of bleating sheep and lambs, and warbling puffins, historical information about Glasgow on our coach tour, translating lyrics to music sung ("You take the High Road and I'll take the Low Road...") and so much more.

The magical inspiration for this blog was how a Scottish woman, a leader in the Iona Community, extended herself throughout the week in countless ways to incorporate my dear friend into all that was happening, into all communications, formal or informal, planned or impromptu.  This woman knew no sign language.  She had a rich Scottish accent which prevented my friend from lip reading, yet through the week, the relationship which evolved between my friend and her served to shrink the gap between the hearing world which dominated and my friend's world.  It served to demonstrate the importance of being aware of those around us and what each of us can do to shrink differences enough to allow for learning and growth through exchange with one another, no matter how challenging.

Before, during and after being on Iona I wondered what my friend's experience would have been if I was actually an interpreter or if there were interpreter services available to us for the trip.  This morning it came to me -- my idea to contribute to a national organization dedicated to promoting the professional standards and to educating sign language interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.  I figure if I can contribute to a scholarship fund then I am supporting, in a small way, the notion that all people deserve an equal opportunity to participate in "listening" and communicating whether hearing or not.

Imagine being on a remote island in another country and having no one with whom you could communicate with ease.  Just imagine.


ADDENDUM:
Incidentally, on my morning stroll (6/3/11) I met up with my neighbor and learned that a serious act of kindness was committed last week by lawn mowers!  See  Helpin' and Hollerin' from last week's H entries.  Unbeknownst to my neighbors some other kind soul decided that it would be kind to shorten their grass.  By the way, the other kind folk did a better job than I would have as they took a rake to the mowed grass.  Nice work!