I am a hearing student assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my Introduction to Humanities Class. Other readings assigned in this class include several essays from the book My California. In both books, we examined the cultures of California that form a microcosm of the U.S. In this essay, I will incorporate 4 required questions."
Questions:
1. What does Train Go Sorry mean (who in the book is this referring to; there is a specific person, include his name and his outcome. Remember that good college writing assumes no one has read the information and you must present it or 'teach' it by giving us details.)?
"Train Go Sorry" means "missing the boat". This term refers to James Taylor and his continuous journey of attempts to see his older brother Joseph in Prison. James has a best friend, Paul Escobar. James's story begins as "becoming deaf from a an animal who licked him. After three months of being ill, James interprets it as "a fall when he was five". But for James the history of how he became deaf was not important. James's journey to see his brother Joseph in prison is what "missing the boat" is all about about. However, there are many other parts to Train Go Sorry that consume you and teach you about the deaf culture.
2. What pair of 'shoes' do you think the main person in the book is walking in and what did she learn? In other words, who or what culture does she want to belong to and why?
Leah Hager Cohan was the main person telling the story. Leah was not deaf but her mother and father were deaf. Leah goes on in the story to tell about her journey growing in up in Lexington and how she wanted to deaf herself. Leah writes about the civil movement that happened among deaf people. Her father Oscar was the superintendent and the principle of Lexington. Leah always felt like she belonged to the deaf world and it belonged to her. This is evident by her comment, "those were the halls of my childhood. I am Sam's granddaughter and Oscar's daughter. I once put pebbles in my ears, once wished I were deaf. These are bits of evidence, facts I can tick off my fingers. count and possess like objects. Even today when people ask me where I am from, the answer that comes to mind is always Lexington".
3. What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in?
The one picture that sticks out in my head is James at his graduation, chapter 18. In one paragraph "James watches from the back of the room, focusing on the speakers intently. Amid the giddy anxiety of his classmates. he seems well of stillness, soberly awaiting instructions about his last days at Lex. In the tilt of his chin, which he lifts now so he can see over heads, there resides a certain delicacy that makes him seem at once childlike and suddenly adult". This sticks out for me because of the description from the author and the sense of accomplishment for James. Jame has finally moved through the process.
4. What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book?
What I think everybody should know is that the deaf culture is amazing. I think to really absorb what the deaf culture goes through, hearing people should live in silence for a day and try to communicate. I have taken a ASL class at SRJC so that I can communicate with the deaf culture. Also deaf culture like to be referred to as "hearing impaired" as I was informed in class. Coculear implants has controversy and can be very dangerous. Third, the hearing impaired like their culture and even though it is difficult at first, the overall communication is better than hearing people. Reading lips takes skill. I love the eye contact that the hearing impaired share. It shows that are giving their full attention to you. This was a good book , very insightful. I would recommend this read to anyone.
