My love of sign languages does not stop at American Sign Language. After my most recent trip to Mexico this past Easter I decided I wanted to start learning Mexican Sign Language or Lengua de Senas Mexicana (LSM). Now I know what you may be thinking... isnt Sign Language Universal? This is actually a very common misconception. Most every country has their own sign language because just like spoken variations of languages each group of people develops their own style. Another reason is that some signs are "Initialized" for example the sign Aunt and Uncle a signed at the side of the head with an A for Aunt and U for uncle. That wouldnt make much sense to spanish speakers in Mexico because the word for aunt and uncle is tio and tia. 

The pandemic has offered another blessing in disguise , since earlier this April I have been able to take LSM classes on Zoom.The class is offered through a school run by deaf faculty and has a deaf director. The prices are super affordable because of the exchange rate.  I also was able to purchase a Mexican Sign Language text book while I was in Mexico visiting my family for easter. My biggest challenge is not only having to switch my mindset between English and Spanish but refraining to use signed American grammar and instead use Mexican sign language grammar. But the positive outweigh the difficulty. For example I am learning new classifiers which are like signs that are used to describe a person, place, verb, object or body part. Learning how Mexican deaf signers use classifiers can help open my mind to help me become a better signer in ASL. It also allows me to make friends from Mexico who have similar interest. I love my class and even though I have not been taking these lessons for a long time I feel like we are already good friends. LSM also helps me connect with my family. Believe it or not my Grandma was fluent in LSM I had 3 familiy members who are deaf while my grandma was still alive. I always say its in my blood because I started taking in an interest in sign language before I even knew this. I actually still have a deaf cousin in Mexico.  My aunts still remember some signs my grandma taught them. Learning LSM also helps me be ready and available to meet and volunteer with the deaf population in Mexico which is something I hope to do in the near future. I hope to volunteer in a sustainable and ethical way that benefits the deaf community as much as possible.