going to italy this fall with some other college friends, sort of a reunion. a friend of a friend who heard about this says she knows someone that might be interested, but that person is deaf. I know next to nothing about the deaf person. the e-mail i received was from the friend of my friend, not from the deaf person. it says she thinks she, the deaf person, has been to europe before. doesn't specifically mention italy. not sure that this would be a relevant question. <BR> <BR>I am going to be writing back with more questions, and I guess i will correspond with the deaf person by e-mail, but i am not sure what questions to ask. and do i want to get into this pandora's box or not? <BR> <BR>anyone here, who is hearing or deaf have any pertinent experiences to share? <BR>

A good friend of mine at school was deaf but could read lips, which is something you will want to find out about. A number of deaf people are also able to speak, although with some difficulty (i.e. with an "accent"). I rarely had a problem understanding her. If you go/met this woman always face her when speaking, try to speak at a moderate pace (not too fast or too slow) and no mubbling (this is all assuming she can lip read). <BR> <BR>This woman is obviously a very competent person in her own city - working, going to school, making friends and thus should have no difficulties traveling. If you do decide to go with her make sure you guys would travel well together - you know the usual: do you like to see the same things, sightsee at the same pace, etc. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps!

to the top <BR>

I went on a Trafalgar tour to England a few years ago and on this trip were 2 deaf couples. All four could not speak either. The tour guide gave them books when he was giving us the spoken words about what we were seeing and they got along just fine. They really were an inspiration to me. One night in a restaurant with a piano bar one of the gentlemen stood by the piano with his hand on it to feel the vibration. Made me wish I had that sense of touch. And I think it would then not even matter if you did not speak the language. Hope things work out for you.

Anonymous, <BR> <BR>My eight year-old son is deaf and we're taking him to Italy this summer so I thought maybe I could add something here. Deaf people are very used to putting hearing people at ease with communicating and they are also very good at communicating without speaking. I think it would be a wonderful experience for you and your friends. Treat this person as your equal, not as someone who is in need of your help or charity. As a matter of fact, getting by in a foriegn country where you don't know much/any of the native language sounds like a situation where a deaf person would have the advantage! Deaf people can travel independently, order food in a restaurant, buy train tickets, navigate a foreign city, dispute an inaccurate hotel bill, and everything else that hearing people do. Don't feel you need to help unless asked. <BR> <BR>Incidentally, the Deaf World Games are in Rome this July.

My 17 yr old daughter is deaf, will be traveling to Rome/Greece/Turkey in July. Also am a travel agent & have a # of deaf clients traveling all over Europe this summer without interpreters. <BR>Don't worry.

Terry & Susan, something I've always wondered -- the sign language we in the U.S. see around us is of course called American Sign Language. Is it used internationally? If anonymous's possible travel companion uses ASL, will she be able to converse at all with deaf people she might run into in Europe? Wouldn't that be neat . . . people with different native written languages but a (partly? wholly?) common "spoken" language.

Diane, American Sign Language is also used in Canada and is derived from French Sign Language, so therefore very similar. But English Sign Language is different, which is also different from Italian SL and Czech SL (these are the only ones I know a little about). However, deaf people are experts at communicating with people of different native languages and when they meet other deaf people while travelling have no trouble finding a common language with which to communicate. It would be great is there was some global language we could all learn to get by!

<BR>I lost most of my hearing a couple years ago & traveled to Europe both before & after that time.....since I only speak English, I was used to pointing & using body language anyway, so haven't had much of a problem now. The only place that gives me a problem is at airports: the airline people get mad when I can't answer their luggage security questions, and customs people who think I'm not taking them seriously.

What does it mean by "to the top" like "topper" here? Does it mean stop the thread? If so, why would anyone say that when he/she is not force to read?

to top means to add a message - - no matter how brief or insignificant - - to bring a message "thread" back up "to the top" (in the left hand column) - - just as this message does - - even if it doesn't last long for you to see it (because newer messages on other threads take THEM to the top - - thus pushing this one and all others towards the bottom). <BR> <BR>It's so simple, you will smack your forehead "Doh!" when you get it. <BR> <BR>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/2001...simpson_1.html <BR> <BR>Best wishes... <BR> <BR>one of the many "toppers"... <BR>

thanks, now i understand... to the top!