Assignment 5a: Train Go Sorry

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.

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.)?

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?

3. What is one image you won't ever forget? Draw us a picture in words to explain this. What chapter is it in?

4. What are 5 facts about ASL or Deaf culture you think everyone should know after your reading of this book?

Located on the corner of a busy enter section lies a small, convenience store. Its streaky windows are littered with cigarette ads and signs claiming ownership of latest energy drink. As you push open the door the a little bell above you rings, announcing your arrival. The man behind the counter glances up with sleepy eyes and watches you as you make your way to the back of the store towards the snack aisle. You quickly grab a pack of gum and bring it to the man up front. As he rings up your purchase you notice there is no price screen on the cash register. Instead, the cashier has to inform you of the total. You stare intently at his lips as he tries to tell you but you cannot decipher his answer for his words are coated with a thick Indian accent. It isn’t that his broken English confuses you; it is that you are literally unable to hear him. In fact, you can’t even hear the impatient groans from the people in the line that has now formed behind you. You didn’t hear the bell from the door when you entered and you didn’t hear the noisy drawls of traffic outside. You are deaf. Afraid of losing the rest of his customers the man’s face contorts from a look of irritation to a look of anger and he hastily signals for you to leave. Embarrassed, you quickly leave the little store without your dignity and without your gum. The convenience store has not stayed true to its name. What was supposed to be a minimal task turned into a giant obstacle; yet another day in a life without sound.

In the book Train Go Sorry, the two main characters, Sofia and James are faced with similar situations. At their school, Lexington School for the Deaf, they thrive as outstanding students. Outside the school’s walls, they are forced into a world of hearing, which proves to be difficult and intimidating. Both students are deaf teenagers. They come from very different backgrounds but share their inability to hear and use of American Sign Language (ASL) as a main form of communication.

As the story looks into the life of James, we see a nineteen year-old Lexington student who has faced a number of challenges. He comes from a poor, single parent home, which eventually allows him a permanent residence at Lexington. Although he had missed many school days, James eventually becomes serious about his academic schedule and attendance and excels in all of his classes.

In chapter twelve, we see yet another glimpse of James’s childhood as well as the significance of the story’s title, Train Go Sorry. All his life James and his brother Joseph grew up in rough neighborhoods, both subject to many close encounters with the law. Although James artfully dodges arrest with each encounter, his younger brother Joseph is not so skillful: Joseph is sentenced to several years in prison after participating in a robbery. While Jeremy serves his time behind bars James serves time in the classroom, working on a better, trouble-free life. James’s work pays off and he is awarded high academic honors as well as college acceptance. One day James decides to take a break from his studies to visit his brother in prison. On the fist two visits, James is unable to see his brother because Joseph is at a court appearance. On the third visitation attempt, James is finally successful. He meets with Joseph who plagues him with stories concerning his perilous jail behavior. Despite Joseph’s hardened façade, James sees an unhappy boy who has missed his “train”. The title of this book is derived from the brothers’ reunion. “Train go sorry” is the ASL equivalent of the common phrase, “you missed the boat” or “missing the boat”. Throughout his whole life James has felt that his deafness has made him miss the boat. However, James soon comes to realize that if he were not deaf he might have been part of the group his brother was in that committed the robbery. After seeing his brother’s new surroundings, James also begins to appreciate the life his deafness has brought him: James is allowed to return to a warm bed and a future full of promises. Joseph must return to a dangerous cell of iron bars and a future full of incarceration. Because of Joseph’s prison sentence and poor choices, he has missed his boat, unlike James who feels that for once, he has finally made it on time.

Another character that Train Go Sorry focuses on is the author, Leah Cohen. All her life she has been surrounded by Deaf culture. She grew up living at Lexington with her brothers and sisters while both of her parents worked as part of Lexington’s staff. Both of her grandparents were deaf as well. From the beautiful patterns of ASL to the secret dialect and bond of Lexington students, Leah had always wanted to fit in to the silent community around her. As Leah grows older she dips her toes further into this world. She takes private ASL lessons during college and eventually forms a romantic relationship with her deaf tutor as well as finding jobs as a deaf interpreter. Leah can’t help but feel that each of these decisions will help bring her one step closer to joining the ranks of Deaf culture.

Unfortunately Leah soon realizes that the shoes of a deaf person are not made to fit her own feet. She learns that in order to actually know what it is like to live in a deaf world, one’s surroundings must be silenced. One can try all they want to learn the language and converse with the people, but unless you are truly hearing impaired it is impossible to gain a valid insight into the Deaf community. Leah is only allowed access to pieces of Deaf life, and soon realizes that according to Deaf culture it is she that contains her own handicap: hearing.

One image that I won’t forget from this story is in chapter 10 when James is taking the Regents Competency Test. This part showcases just one of many hardships that the deaf students had to go through. All my life I have been required to take all types of tests. I can never imagine taking one that held such a “language” barrier. Although the Lexington students were deaf, they were still required to finish a reading comprehension portion of the Competency Test. As the exam begins the words on the page take on a whole new meaning: frustration. James must raise his hand and wait patiently for teachers to come and sign meanings of the complex words he is unsure of. To most of the students it is like reading a foreign language for the first time and then being asked to remember and translate the story by a series of questions. For James this test holds his future in his hands. He needs to pass in order to graduate and be accepted into college as well as in the work world. Hours pass and James is still on the reading section. He is picky about which teachers he asks for help; each has their own way for explanation and he must rely on the teacher to provide their best definition of the desired vocabulary. After hours of struggling and waiting on help, James is one of the last to finish his test. All he can do now is wait while his future lies in the fate of a few filled bubbles and a foreign language.

After reading Train Go Sorry, I believe there are several things that everyone should know about ASL and deaf culture. First, that the cochlear implant creates a giant risk for deaf individuals. If it is implanted and is not successful, it will cause a permanent loss of any trace of hearing that the individual might have had before the operation. This is because one it is implanted, the device tears and crushes the tiny hairs of the inner ear that normally activate the auditory nerve. Another fact is that there is a Deaf Olympics. This is a prestigious event, gathering deaf athletes from all over the world. The third fact is that sign languages differ between countries and regions just as spoken languages do. Another important piece of information is that sign language not only consists of hand movements but also specific facial expressions, body movement, hand shape, hand position and gestures. Finally, I believe that everyone should know that deaf people are able to communicate through phone lines with a teletypewriter or TTY. This machine transmits typed messages to someone who is also operating a TTY.

Train Go Sorry is not only a story it is a reality. Deaf individuals must overcome millions of obstacles everyday, even something as simple as buying gum at a convenience store. This story has not only educated on a world I was so unaware of but has left me feeling a great sense of respect and awe for the members of the Deaf community.