Melanie Page

On Sunday, April 13th, I thought I was taking a local St. Louis, Missouri, interpreter out to lunch as a thank you to her for all the time she’s invested in me. When I arrived, she was there holding a big rainbow balloon. For me. And said not everyone was there yet. And people kept coming! I was tippy-tappying like a Labrador retriever! I can’t believe they threw me a surprise party to say congrats, best wishes, and to say goodbye.

After the surprise party, I went to a Deaf event at a rollerskating rink. I didn’t skate, because can you imagine me breaking my arm right before graduation? I hung out with folks, and then one young man was adamant that we get dinner at a place called Golden Chicken. I quickly learned his family is Palestinian, and Golden Chicken is the only Palestinian restaurant in the St. Louis, Missouri area. I had chicken shawarma, and that Salaam soda is unique because I learned that the Coke and Pepsi companies support Israel, so the restaurant doesn’t buy from them.

I arrived home in South Bend, Indiana, on April 26th after fifteen weeks away. Nick (my spouse) is still staring at me like I might vanish, or perhaps I’m not real. I struggled to remember where things are in the kitchen and which light switch in the bathroom turns on the light versus the fan.

I didn’t want to lose momentum, so I started setting up the business side of me becoming a freelance interpreter: an LLC, an EIN, a P.O. box, making an appointment to open a business account at my bank — those sorts of things.

Saturday was graduation day, so mom and dad came to stay with us.

Sunday we drove down to Indianapolis to volunteer at Parent Teacher Counselor Organization (PTCO) Day at the Indiana School for the Deaf. We were there to support the Michiana Deaf Alliance, of which I am a member and my dad is a sponsor. Maybe you can tell from the gloominess of the photo, but it was rainy and freezing!

Things don’t stop there. On Monday it was Cinco de Mayo — my 40th birthday. We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant, where my dad was persuaded to indulge in margaritas and we ate churros for dessert.

On Tuesday I had my first job as an interpreter after graduation. Then, Tuesday evening was the night of my Thank You party to the Deaf community:

I didn’t invite any interpreters or classmates; I just wanted to do a big, heartfelt thank you. It was a lovely evening, and most people failed to let me just celebrate them! They showed up with graduation presents and hugs and praise. After dinner, the president of the Michiana Deaf Alliance got everyone’s attention and made an announcement, which I interpreted for Dad, Mom, and Nick. It was about how wonderful I am, how great my heart is for the Deaf community, and then they gifted me a name sign.

On May 13th, I went to Madison, Wisconsin, to take the BEI basic test so I can get certified and licensed and then work in Michigan, too. While Michigan has strict certification/licensing laws, Indiana has none, so that’s why there is a difference.