Finally. My virgin experience, here in a land far away from home (ironically).
Life's ironies. haha.
I was always interested to know how this programme was like, since there were so many heresay from people who have went for it etc. The idea behind this programme got me really intrigued. But sadly I didn't get to have a chance to experience it at my workplace. So, I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO TRY IT when it was available here.
I was so glad I went for it! :))))))
Fear of the unknown
It could be in two ways for them -- either they were already born into the unknown, or they slowly lose their known for the unknown, which could be equally scary. Or a more extreme case I've heard, a person physically well without any ailments of sorts, went to bed at night and woke up TOTALLY BLIND the next day. omg..
It's not the "deafening silence" of the pitch black darkness, but the
not knowing what lies ahead every milliseconds of your life that is
daunting. How would you situate yourself out in the big big world out there? I couldn't even situate myself in that room!
In pitch darkness, you have totally no idea where you are heading to. Every next step could be a battle. Even in the safe environment in the course of the programme where it's flat surface with no elevation or uneven surfaces, you feel safe technically, but you just really don't know what you are touching or moving towards. You hear sounds, you feel things, your walking stick knock into things.. but it's just stumbling in the dark, figuratively. You don't even know if someone is right in front of you without reaching out with your hands / walking stick.
For the visually impaired, wow would you know how to venture in a new surroundings? How would you know how to venture in a familiar surroundings if there were minor changes to it??
We experienced it for an hour, but they are living it every second!
Taking things for granted
This sounds like a cliche reflection -- but really -- how many of us really do appreciate our eyesight for what it really is? Or again, our sense of touch or hearing?
These heightened senses helped us navigate the course, and also to 'identify' what we have touched.
Then you realized, your usual sense of sight in recognizing things ain't fully ranslated to your sense of touch to recognize the item! Even sounds we hear usually, we might not be attentive to some things in our environment as we attend to different things selectively in the environment. We could be losing out some little sounds in the background every second.
Oh and one more thing, I thought that verbal response to them would be really important as they can't see our nods when we are acknowledging someone else's speech. Got to be in their shoes~ Which could be something we didn't realize.
Overall, it was a really great experience. :)
To "see" the world in another
light. (haha so many puns)
Even though there were things I thought could be improved in the experience.. but I guess that's minor hiccups. Like, better instructions, knowing which direction I should go. Or that people who had felt the things just leave and let me have a go at it?? It's frustrating that you keep touching bodies in front of you cos they were blocking the 'item' you were supposed to have a feel of. Yeah, and I was distracted by the ongoing construction at the building and previous team while they were moving out of the location. A little bummer though.
I am so glad and humbled to have this experience. :)
Labels: 三十而立之行, 清溪幾度到雲林, 醉翁之意不在酒
~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)
