On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, (city of New Orleans)
In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool,
(S)he was splashing…enjoying the jungle’s (The Big Easy’s) great joys…
When Horton (Miss Deaf America) the elephant (the farmer’s daughter) heard a small noise.
-Horton Hears A Who!
What did Miss Deaf America hear, the small noise? Ah, it’s the blues jazz from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz!
A year ago when I was crowned Miss Deaf America, I was also given a free membership to Deaf Women United (DWU) and registration to attend the DWU conference in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 20-24.
Just like my other trips, this was quite the adventure, but it was also a pleasant change because I was able to attend workshops and network with other women across the nation. The experience was very rewarding.
I traveled for the most of the day on Wednesday, June 20 from Omaha, Nebraska to New Orleans. On the way there, I saw things that prepared me and my traveling friend, Christine Kraft, for New Orleans- the blues jazz statutes. After the banquet, a group of ladies and I decided at the last minute take a taxi from the hotel to the French Quarter to take a walk down Bourbon Street to see the famous street people talk about. Needless to say, it was quite the place! During the taxi ride with seven other women, we got to know each other, and had conversations ranging from ASL linguistics to what to expect from our week at DWU.
down the Bourbon street in French Quarters
Girls’ night out on the Bourbon street!
On Thursday, we were welcomed with an opening keynote presentation by Phyllis Frelich, who I learned is a native of North Dakota, (Midwestern girl!). The theme of her presentation was attitude; it is our choice to have a positive attitude or to have a negative attitude. Only you can make yourself happy. It was a well delivered presentation. Workshops followed and I went to a workshop, “Catfight†by Alana Beal.
Lunch followed the workshop, and again, being from the Midwest, I experienced radically different meals than back home. A typical Midwestern meal would consist of some form of beef, starch vegetable (baked or mashed potatoes) and occasionally fruit. In New Orleans, it was porridge, bacon (at least that’s what I often see during breakfast), seafood here and seafood there! Needless to say, after a week in New Orleans, I was very grateful for a good Midwestern meal. Beef.
After lunch I chose to attend, “An Open Dialogue: Children and Sexuality.†Basically, it covered the topic of sexuality, as a taboo subject between adults and children, which discourages healthy sexual expression. Well, needless to say, it was very interesting.
Dinner followed after a prolonged break. I decided to grab the opportunity to nap while most women flocked to the pool to have a poolside conversation.
While we were feasting on New Orleans-styled meal (another round of seafood…), Evon Black, native of Bytheville, Arkansas, entertained us with her perspectives of being a woman. It was an hour of laughter and relating to her stories of being a Deaf woman. I could relate to her because she was from a small town, where everybody knows everybody’s businesses. It sure doesn’t help being the only Deaf person in a small community!
On Friday, after the workshop, we prepped for the group picture. Gathering 100+ women together, chatting and getting them to smile and focus on the camera was a daunting task for the poor photographer! Then we boarded a bus to go down to New Orleans and pulled up at Mardi Gras World, the site of different floats and history of Mardi Gras. It is definitely something to check out while in New Orleans! (During next year’s NAD conference? Hint, hint.)
One of the largest Mardi Gras float used in 2007
After Mardi Gras World, we were dropped off in the French Quarter to explore on our own. I went with a small group of friends and stopped for a chat at the coffee shop, Café Du Monde, the original French market coffee stand. Café Du Monde is well known in New Orleans for its delicious French dessert, beignets, covered with powered sugar (so good, that it’s worth getting messy with powered sugar!) and chicory coffee blended with steamed milk- New Orleans style. I ordered iced coffee from there while my companions ordered hot because they wanted to experience the true New Orleans-styled coffee.
On the last day I chose to attend a workshop presented by Stephanie Summer called “Making Your Own Financial Decisions,†for women who are uncertain about their financial decisions. For me, it’s simple… I’m a poor college student. That’s why I decided to check it out.
A box lunch was served during the general meeting where the election of new board members was held. It was gratifying to be able to witness DWU board meeting, to see the action behind the scenes. The highlights from the meeting were that DWU found a home office, welcomed new board members, and decided on the next location for conference. In 2009, it will be in Portland, Oregon! Go to http://www.dwu.org for more information about DWU. It was a very rewarding experience for me, coming as Miss Deaf America.
Former DWU Board 2005-2007
Thank you to DWU for allowing me to come and experience the birth place of Blues’ jazz, witnessing the history of the Mardi Gras parade, and being able to meet other women that welcomed me as their own during the conference! Thank you, NAD, for sponsoring my trip to DWU conference.
