Today for our STS class, most of the class went on a trip to a model concentration camp... for the rest of us who had other classes to take care of we just had a normal day of class. UNTIL Bob says, "Well classs" pronounced well claaa-yus.. I found this amazing place and we are going to go today. Its going to be a little walk, and we are going to have to wait in line.
We walked out the door ... it was basically a double wide in one of the side streets with a line of people waiting to get in. It is a cafe that is run by blind people, and the money goes to support the cause... honestly it was amazing. The place is completely dark, absolutely no light. We had to walk in groups of four.. holding onto the shoulders of the person in front of you. The first room was a waiting room so that light would not shine into the cafe each time a person walked in. Instantly I felt enclosed and ready to turn around. I was very uncomfortable with the dark and not knowing anything around me, but I could not turn around because I was leading people behind me.
Finally hands grabbed mine and led me to a seat. The entire time we were saying each others names and explaining what was happening to let the others know where we were. We sat down, everyone was talking about how we were automatically hunching because we couldn't figure out how tall the ceiling was, or where the walls were, or how close we were to the people beside us. Our waiter came over and told us to place our hands on the table, he found each of our hands and asked us what we would like to drink. We ordered and he came back a little later with our drinks and knew exactly who ordered what. I was on the end of the table closest to him, he found my hand instantly and placed the mug into my palm.. all so carefully. Then even though I could not see him I could feel him reach over and do the same with the others at my table. He served us milk and sugar by tapping the items into the palms of our hands. Talking to us the entire time. How he managed to find his way through out the room is unreal to me. There were atleast 10 tables in the cafe, music playing, people talking, you could hear the coffee machines running. After about 20 minutes I became totally relaxed with the situation.
We were trying to imagine what the room looked like, what color the table was, what color the coffee mug was...everything.
Being blind has always been a HUGE fear of mine, because I feel like it would completely handicap me from being able to see graphic design. I feel so selfish saying this now. After doing this I have an overwhelming feeling that I can not even describe. I just said to myself, if it does happen... there is a way to make it.
When the coffee was done, they took us by the hand and lined us up to leave. I was holding onto someone I did not know, and guiding my group behind me. It was just amazing how sensitive we all were to the touch, even when the waiter found my hand, it was so comforting to know that he was there.
When we finally stepped outside, the sun was so bright and I just felt like I was shaking a little. It was like limbo or something, because all of the sudden I had a grip again.
One of the most memorable things I have ever done, hands down.
http://svetluska.centrum.cz/clanek.phtml?id=2
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1 comment:
wow. that is so crazy betty. what a neat experience. daddy told me today that you're staying a little longer to go to greece and italy. yeah i hate you.
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