Social Hibernation

I've spent to weeks in vocal and social semi-silence.  Speaking for my job all day caused me to strain my voice, and never getting a chance to heal caused a blood vessel to rupture on my vocal chords.  For those of you who've known me in my hospital days, you'll understand that the pain was almost lost on me, evolution has demanded I have a high tolerance. Still though, sharp pain is never a good sign and $50 in copay and $20 in medicine later, I had my injury discovered.

I spent the two weeks mostly on my own; being around others provided too infuriating of a difficulty to communicate.  It's without a doubt made me appreciate my ASL-speaking friends tenfold, for their ability to adapt and their patience to be understood by those who don't sign.

It's been a bit of a mental vacation, just before I go on a geographical one.  I return to work for four days and then fly out of the country for a vacation of two weeks.  It's been years since I've had a vacation, and half a decade since I've left the country.

I am thrilled to be taking a break from the racist insanity that consumes our headlines, though I anticipate many questions from those who live elsewhere.    I was studying abroad during the election for Barack Obama's second term, and was amazed by how thoroughly other countries watch our politics.  People who barely spoke English were finding the words to ask who I was supporting and insisting on it being Obama, someone more understanding of our influence on the rest of the world.  So while I'm excited to take a break from our national shame, I anticipate having to defend those feel it, not cause it.

We'll see.  Spending time in a country whose primary language is not English is always humbling.  We take for granted how easy it is for us to be understood, a theme not lost on me in these two weeks of silence.  Needing to adapt, to change something so fundamental in my day to day, it makes me marvel at others.  Polyglots, those with patience, those who are willing to help.

Language many not be universal, but compassion is.  I look forward to finding those who will help me along this upcoming journey, as well as those who  provide more obstacle than safety net; I'll likely learn the most from them.

And thus I return from my summer hibernation, slightly sleepy, somewhat sore, and extremely ready for change.