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.