WWOOFing experience!

Coming from an outside view of not knowing much about the native animals of Australia, we had an opportunity to live at a wildlife sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills. For the past week, we’ve been surrounded by kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, potoroos, wallabies, bandicoots, possums and many other exotic birds and animals. They all live safely in their natural habitat of native plants and trees. It’s a 15-acre fenced in wildlife paradise maintained by the Barnard family.

This experience was made possible through the wonderful program of WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). WWOOF hosts provide members with free meals, accommodations and education on the local environment in exchange for 4-6 hours of manual labor. We worked hard clearing tree-size weeds and building a fire prevention system for the house (since bush fires are a harsh reality here). We were spoiled with Melinda’s delicious cooking of sushi, spring rolls and pumpkin soup, to fancy-shmancy toasted sandwiches and an exotic "WOOFer's Delight" salad that you'll have to taste for yourselves some day! Meals were an opportunity for Mel and Tony to share their knowledge of the local habitat, and learn from us about international sign languages and Deaf culture.

So here’s a few fascinating facts about some of the animals we’ve helped take care of this week!
In the 1970’s, Woylies were thought to go extinct with only 200 left. But thanks to efforts from Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks their numbers are back up to 70,000 today.
Kangaroos can decide to have a male or female baby. They can also stop the development of their embryos in harsh environment conditions such as droughts or fires.
The platypus can dive 80 times an hour and stay under water up to 10 minutes.
A Potoroo is a tiny kangaroo only 20cm high.
And a Wallaby has an average lifespan of 17 years.

Thanks Mel, Tony, Alex, Max & Eli! It was honor to be a part of your lives and the work you do.

Photos:
Christy and Joey the Kangaroo
DJ workin the weeds
The Barnard Family
Tony & DJ installing the fire prevention system on the roof

Freedom, Vitality and Limitless Potential

That is the vision and logo of Deaf Children Australia (DCA), a national non-profit organization based in Melbourne, Australia for the last 143 years. There are currently over 16,000 deaf and hard of hearing children under 21 in Australia and 500 babies are born with a hearing loss each year. DCA strives to enable these children and youth to realize their full potential.

Today a large audience of children, parents, teachers, administrators, and staff gathered at DCA to watch Christy present about Survivor. Four years later and on the other side of the world from The Amazon, Christy continues to be a strong motivational speaker and role model. Instead of the typical “what bugs did you eat and where did you poop?” questions, the DCA children were more interested in questions of communication and interaction with the other hearing contestants. They were brilliant!

The presentation led to our Discovering Deaf Worlds project, as we shared our vision to connect with deaf and hard of hearing communities around the world. Communicating through interpreters from American Sign Language to Australian Sign Language to spoken English, we explained how we are constantly adapting our language in each country we visit. By the end of one year, we will have had a taste of 15-20 different signed and spoken languages. Many people at DCA recognized how together we bring a unique deaf and hearing perspective to our project.

After a tour of DCA’s campus and history, we met with a class of students. They were fascinated to learn about our traveling adventures and how we came up with the DDW project. It all started with a shared dream to travel the world. We then challenged the students to come up with 50 things they want to do in their lifetime to follow their dreams.

The overall message today from DCA and DDW was that deafness is no barrier to do what you want to do. Thanks to DCA for your support and warm welcome to visit. We had a BLAST getting to know you all!

For more information on DCA visit: www.deafchildrenaustralia.org.au

Discovering Deaf Worlds on the move

After 6 weeks of coast to coast travel, 19 days of interviews, 15 hrs of video footage, and meeting hundreds of people involved with the Deaf community, we are wrapping up our time in New Zealand. We have been blown away by the warmth, generosity, and hospitality of New Zealanders both Deaf and hearing.

We've been awed by mother nature's landscape of active volcanoes, glaciers feeding rainforests, and oceansides full of seals, whales, and penguins. We've tried possum pie (don't recommend it), pavalona sweets, and dealt with no filter coffee anywhere to be found!

This project has given us the opportunity to meet presidents of Deaf clubs, professors at universities, single parents, teachers, children, program coordinators, interpreters, advocates, and international travelers from all over the world.

We ended our time in Auckland, home to the recently established million dollar Deaf club, DANZ headquarters, Kelston Deaf Education Centre, and NZ's only interpreting program at Auckland University of Technology.

Thank you New Zealand for allowing us to document your world to share with everyone who has helped us get down under.

Tomorrow we head to the airport.
Australia....ready or not, here we come! =)

Photos:
Auckland Deaf Club
DANZ Headquarters (Sue, Natasha, Victoria)
Christy filming at Kelston Deaf Education Centre

Vigil for Emma Agnew

On Monday nite, November 26th, Emma Agnew's body was found after being missing for 11 days. She had been suffocated to death and abandoned in Spencer Park, just outside her hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Local police quickly made an arrest of Liam James Reid, age 35, formerly known as Julian Heath Edgecombe before changing his name within the last five years. There was much evidence leading to Reid's arrest during the search. However the police where unable to make the arrest until Emma's body was found.

Emma, at age 20, was a leader in the Deaf community. She comes from a strong Deaf family (both parents and three brothers are all Deaf), and was highly involved with the Deaf Society of Canterbury and the Deaf Sports Federation. Her sign name/nickname means "smile", and she was known for her laughter and warm welcoming energy. Emma, though you are not with us physically anymore, your spirit lives forever. You have impacted so many!

Over one-third of the Deaf community of the entire country of New Zealand has flown into Christchurch to show their support. A memorial service will be held on Monday afternoon at 2:30pm. Butterflies will be released to pay respects. Most species of butterflies are deaf and offer a symbolization of freedom and independence among the Deaf community.

Please keep Emma's family, friends and community in your thoughts and prayers.

For more information, visit the New Zealand Herald at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10479454

The search for Emma continues

Today is day nine in the search for Emma Agnew. Almost 70 police in the Christchurch area are now working on the case. They are searching rubbish dumps for any clues (cellphone pager, clothing, or any other belongings) and will begin dives in local waterways tomorrow. Updates are found often on the front page of all local New Zealand newspapers each day.

The community has strongly come together in support of Emma's family and friends. People are going door to door, posting signs, seeking any information. There are regular gatherings of 100 people or more at the local Deaf club. Counselors and interpreters have been provided and Deaf awareness is being spread thoughout the country. An online "donauction" fundraiser, set up by the Deaf Society of Canterbury and Deaf Association of New Zealand has raised $12,000 of the target $20,000 from people all over the world. To make a donation to help search efforts, visit:
http://www.donauction.co.nz/index.php?s=1&page=campaigns&part=55&campaignnum=abaedce83e4c0226a1c40319a615c027&cdon_brpage=14

To read an update article (Nov 24th), click here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10478094

Emma we are all still thinking positive for your safe return!




As for Discovering Deaf Worlds, we are nearing our closure of New Zealand. Currently in Auckland, we will visit the Kelston Deaf Education Centre, multi-million dollar Deaf Club building, the DANZ headquarters, and the Auckland University of Technology Interpreting Program.

Thank you all for your support.
Dave and Christy

Photo: Dave interviewing Kim Robinson in Blenheim, NZ
www.kimrobinson.org.nz

Looking for Emma

Emma is a young leader highly involved with the Christchurch Deaf community and works for the Canterbury Deaf Society. She has dreams to go to Gallaudet University. She has a wonderful supportive deaf family and circle of friends all throughout NZ. Emma was one of the first people we met in NZ with a warm welcome and has introduced us to her life.

Emma...You are so FULL of life and laughter with your energy and contagious smile. We are all thinking positive that you are alive and well. Please come home safe wherever you are.

Emma Agnew, age 20, has been missing since Thursday Nov 15th. Her car was found abandoned and on fire. Police are searching for leads. If you have any information, please phone (03) 364 7400.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4275800a6009.html

To all who read this...send your prayers, healing thoughts, positive energy or whatever it is you do that Emma will be found.

To make a donation to help with the search and for updates on Emma click on the following link!

http://www.donauction.co.nz/index.php?s=1&page=home

We love you!

Bye bye South Island, Hello North!

After three phenominal weeks in the South Island of NZ, we have crossed the sea (via the biggest ferry we've ever seen....10 stories high!) to the North Island. We have three weeks to go before heading to Sydney Australia on Dec 3rd.

Today we had the opportunity to visit the only Deaf Unit of a mainstream highschool in this area to interview a teacher of the deaf and a service coordinator for the school. Although these students are in an environment of nearly all hearing peers, they have the opportunity to have an itinerant teacher from Van Asch Deaf Education Centre provide them with Deaf culture and NZ sign language to boost self-confidence and identity.

With a serious shortage of interpreters in NZ, the mainstream school have what are called "Communicators". Communicators are not qualified interpreters because they have not gone through the interpreting program in Auckland. Many have learned sign language through friends of the Deaf community or community classes to work as teacher aides/communication facilitators. Interpreters have had formal training and are often called to medical, legal, job interviews and other major assignments. The Deaf and hearing communities of NZ are aware of the differences between a Communicator and Interpreter as they strive to encourage more people to go through formal training.

Tomorrow we will travel to NZ's capitol, Wellington to visit the Deaf club and learn about the research program at Victoria Univeristy (instrumental in developing the NZ sign language dictionary). Stay tuned...

Accessibility of backpacker tour buses

For the past week, we have had the opportunity to tour a large part of the South Island with our 30 pound backpacks strapped on. In researching how to best travel through New Zealand, we decided to join the Straytravel.com hop on/off bus. Our bus ticket is good for a year (though we are only here for 5-6 weeks) and gives us the flexibility to hop on/off wherever we want for several days at a time. We also liked the idea of meeting fellow travelers from Germany, Holland, Australia, Canada, England, Israel, Japan, etc.

Jumping from hostel to hostel and one small town to another, we have seen Mt Cook (the highest peak in NZ), Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, the NZ rainforest, Milford Sound, and a cave of the infamous glow worms. The Stray bus also leads us to tracks off the beaten path to learn about local Maori culture, greenstone (jade carving factories), hidden waterfalls, and why crazy New Zealanders jump from full speed helicopters onto the backs of deer to capture them live and maintain deer farms for venison exports! (Yes, they actually do this and we saw the video!)

Stray Travel (as well as Kiwi Experience and Magic Bus tours)...a wonderful option for seeing the country and all it's uniqueness. They keep you informed on bus schedules/announcements, and share fascinating cultural stories of the country along the way :)....it's wonderful....if you hear and speak English. Thank goodness Dave could interpret the talking. Our bus driver has never had a Deaf passenger before...is this because of lack of communication accessiblility, or lack of demand by deaf travelers? Do deaf people not grab these kinds of opportunities because of the lack of communication?

The Stray bus has been an exciting (and affordable) way to see the country. But to make this option accessible would mean gathering a group of deafies and finding an interpreter to join you! With voice-to-text on screen technology becoming more available, hopefully in the future we will start to see this system on tour buses. If there is room for a TV at the front of the bus to play DVDs, there is room to provide communication accessibility through voice-to-text technology. It is a right well worth advocating/fighting for to give the Deaf community equal access to unique and exciting opportunties such as Stray.


Photos:
Franz Josef Glacier
The Milford Sound
A swing bridge in the rainforest
The Stray Bus crew

Feeling bold to taste something new?

After a week that whizzed by in Christchurch, it was time for us to be on our way to explore the rest of New Zealand. We were surprised and touched that the friends we had made wanted to throw us a farewell BBQ party. Many people we met from The Canterbury Deaf Club, DANZ (Deaf Association of NZ), Van Asch Education Centre, and in the community came together to see the expression of two Americans eating Marmite and Vegamite! It’s made of yeast, sugar and salt and tastes like a soy sauce sandwich. Every New Zealander has Vegamite at home, and this is what kids pack for lunch instead of peanut butter and jelly. If you’re curious (and brave), you can try to find a bottle of this stuff at your local grocery store. Email and let us know what you think =)

We are now off to see the mountains, glaciers, rain forests, and pancake rocks of NZ on a “hop on/off” backpackers bus, hoping to eventually find the Deaf-owned brewery in Dunedin.

A random act of kindness - the world coming together!

We spent the day interviewing, filming and interacting with the students, teachers, and staff at the Van Asch Education Centre in Sumner, New Zealand (look forward to our next newsletter for more details on our visit...sign up at www.discoveringdeafworlds.com) After leaving the campus SO full of gratitude from our warm welcome, we stopped by the local nearby beach to see the Souther-Pacific ocean.

We kicked off our shoes, rolled up our pant legs and headed for the ocean when we were stopped by three men from Saudi Arabia. They playfully invited us to join them in a one-legged skipping race...which quickly developed into a solid friendship by the end of the day. One man, Hussain, is studying to become a surgeon and had recently met Paul Buzzard, a famous teacher and storyteller from the Van Asch school. What a small world!

We shared with them our journey around the world and the Discovering Deaf Worlds project. They were so supportive of our intentions to travel with a purpose and immediately started gathering others on the beach to spread the word. Before we knew it, 3 men from Saudi Arabia, 2 women from Japan, a mother and daughter from New Zealand, and 2 Americans were writing "Discovering Deaf Worlds" with seashells in the sand.

We shared a moment with Hussain and his friends, as natives from two countries that are often recognized/perceived as enemies (for lack of a better word). But here we were, all of us together as open minded people willing to build a friendship out of seashells on the beach. "We ALL want peace" Hussain said. We shared several words of encouragement to each other to keep following your dreams.

From the Deaf community at Van Asch to the hearing community at the beach, this day inspired us....there are people from other countries open to awareness of various worlds!

Thanks guys! You added an unexpected spice to our day =)

Canterbury Deaf Club ~ Christchurch, New Zealand

Last nite we visted the Canterbury Deaf Club, the largest Deaf Club on the South Island of New Zealand with over 70 members. The gymnasium sized room is filled with a movie screen TV, hot food, drinks, pool table, and many prized possessions of the Christchurch Deaf community, such as bowling trophies, history, Club president photos, etc.

With anticipation on how we would communicate in NZ sign language, we were greeted with a warm "kia ora" welcome! This was our first event and exposure to a community of people using NZ sign language. They were extremely patient to communicate, gesture and teach us NZ signs. They took an interest in two Americans visiting their country and willingly participated in our Discovering Deaf Worlds project.

We learned that there are approximately 500 signing Deaf people in Christchurch, and 5 qualified interpreters. Many are actively involved with the Deaf Club, DANZ (Deaf Association of New Zealand), and the Van Asch Education Centre. They recommend we try the famous Kiwi fish and chips (real fish straight from the Pacific Ocean, not plastic tasting processed fish like Long John Silvers). New Zealanders are most passionate about their unique breathtaking mountainous/glacier landscapes and the local Rugby team, the All-Blacks.

On Monday, we look forward to visiting Van Asch (one of two government funded Deaf schools in New Zealand). Stay tuned for more updates, photos....and eventually video to our website.


Photos:
The Canterbury Deaf Club crew

We leave the country tomorrow!

We are on our way! In five days we made it coast to coast from Rochester, New York to Oceanside, California, with a three day stop through Colorado. A special thanks to all who came to our farewell fundraisers in New York and Colorado! You are sending us off full of support, inspiration and excitement!! You have made this moment possible. Today is officially our last day in the USA for a long long time.

After a whirlwind of travel x-country, we are taking a day to relax before our first international flight. We are reading up on New Zealand from our "lonely planet" guide (there are 3.95 million people and 39.2 million sheep!), and practicing our NZ sign language in attempt to not be terribly awkward Americans when we visit the Christchurch Deaf Club on Friday.

We're traveling West...and will keep traveling west for the year until we get back to the USA. Thank you for believing in us! Stay tuned . . .


photos:
New York: DJ saying bye to nephew Sky; DJ & Christy planning what to pack;
Colorado: Aspen trees, farewell fundraiser
California: the Pacific Ocean

Discovering Deaf Worlds, New Zealand bound!

We did it!

Our flights to New Zealand have been booked for October 23rd!!

...and so our journey begins. We will arrive in the heartland of Christchurch, New Zealand after an 18 hour flight, an 11 hour layover, and a 16 hour time difference. Phew!

We wanted to send you a personal thanks for helping us get this far. Your individual donations and sponsorship have given us the boost to begin this amazing adventure. We are taking a leap of faith that continued support will allow us to complete this year-
long project.

Stay tuned for stories from around the world. Soon we are off!

Thank you,
Dave and Christy
www.discoveringdeafworlds.com

Discovering Deaf Worlds Press Release

Rochester, NY, September 12, 2007 – Christy Smith, a former Deaf contestant on CBS's “Survivor: The Amazon”, and Dave Justice, an ASL/English interpreter and Deaf advocate, are the co-founders of Discovering Deaf Worlds, an organization dedicated to promoting Deaf awareness globally.

On the organization’s first international adventure, Smith and Justice will meet with Deaf community leaders, government agencies, education centers, youth, and storytellers from several countries including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, India, Nepal, and Kenya. They will document this project through video blogs, photography, and journalism through their website, www.discoveringdeafworlds.com.

The goals of this Discovering Deaf Worlds project are to:

• Raise awareness of communication access, Deaf education and employment opportunities throughout Deaf communities worldwide
• Draw exposure to the beauty and diversity of sign languages from around the world
• Connect international Deaf communities to inspire international travel

Smith and Justice expect to be immersed in 20-30 different sign/spoken/written languages throughout their year-long adventure. “It is an everyday challenge for Deaf people to communicate with the hearing world in our own country,” says Smith. “To overcome multiple language barriers around the world, and still make international connections, is a whole other feat. As a role model to the Deaf community, I want to show it can be done.”

On October 23, 2007, Smith and Justice will begin their travels by visiting the Kelston and Van Asch Deaf Education Centres in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. The recent launch of Discovering Deaf Worlds has generated a strong interest from around the world. “Individuals and organizations from Kenya, New Zealand, Japan, Armenia, Russia, and Bhutan have already expressed their shared excitement for this project,” says Justice. "We are eager to develop these connections and work together to raise Deaf awareness globally."

Smith, a graduate from Gallaudet University, and Justice, a graduate from Ithaca College, both have a Sociology background and value what can be learned from cultural diversity. The two first connected in 2003 while working together for the Aspen Camp School for the Deaf in Colorado. A shared passion to bridge the gap between Deaf and hearing worlds, along with their interest in international travel, led to the establishment of Discovering Deaf Worlds.

Discovering Deaf Worlds is proud to be sponsored by SiteBrandBuilder.com, RowePhoto.com and Ralph P. DeStephano.

To learn more about Discovering Deaf Worlds, sign up for the monthly newsletter, or make a donation, visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com.

DDW Kickoff Event - Save the Date!

We will soon be having our kickoff HOO-RAH! If you live in the greater upstate NY area, come on down. Join us to learn more about our film projects with Deaf storytellers and community leaders. Give us some last minute advice, share what you want to learn about other countries, let us know what you like to see reported back through our website....

We will have several Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who were born in other parts of the world (Asia, Europe, India, Africa, etc) presenting and sharing their unique experiences from those countries. We will also provide refreshments.

When: Saturday, October 6, 2007
11:00am – 2:00pm

Where: Rowe Photo, Buckman’s Plaza (www.rowephoto.com)
2590 West Ridge Road
Rochester, NY

Hope to see you there!

(Interpreters will be available). Contact info@discoveringdeafworlds.com for any questions.

Shots Shots and more shots!

Yellow Fever, Polio, Hepatitus A & B, Japanese Encephalitis (how do you say that?), Typhoid, Malaria, Meningogcoccal Meningitis, Rabies...and don't forget the routine one's too...influenza, measles, pheumococcal, tetenus & diperthia, varicella...

The names alone are enough to make your head spin! And the list goes on and on and on . . . . .

But before you are travel bound to other countries you will need to get your immunization shots. And it might take a year just to figure out what shots are required, where to get them, and how the heck you'll afford to pay for them all! It's a hefty expense (about $800-$1,200 for the above mentioned), but not one to neglect.

Fortunately for most cities in the U.S. there is a place called Passport Health (http://www.passporthealthusa.com/) to help you out. For $50 bucks, you can sit down with a registered nurse knowledgable of all the ins and outs to staying healthy when you travel abroad: where to get reliable water filters and mosquito nets, what international hospitals will accept your insurance, how to avoid getting sick while eating all those new exotic foods.
And the nurses will offer endless travel tips too. For example, if you don't want to spend half of your trip on the toilet, don't order drinks with ice and stick with bottled water for everything....even brushing your teeth.

Passport Health is a place to learn about the health standards for any country you plan to visit, from big cities to the country side. You can receive up to date
information on any recent outbreaks, traveler's insurance, and get all of your required immunization shots right there on the spot. Some of these shots are a 2 or 3 part series spread out over as long as 6 months, so it's best to get an early start.

The costs and the hassle of getting your shots may be a burden at first, but it certainly beats the alternative! If you take the leap and travel to another country, bring with you the piece of mind to stay alive and well.

CouchSurfing.com ? ~~food for thought as we travel~~

from www.couchsurfing.com,

"CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding."

As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing isn't about the furniture- it's not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it's about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!

We'd love to hear your thoughts!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world....

...where would you go?

Discovering Deaf Worlds kickoff June 2007!

We are PUMPED!

DDW is on the way. Thank you all for your support right from the start. Let's keep the momentum alive!

Got any travel tips for our around the world adventure?

Have a connection for us to contact in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, India, Nepal, Kenya?