THE FILM-PROJECT 19.-20.10

Yesterday we got a task from Vivien; to make a film! The project is called ”Deaftopia”. We were split in 2 groups: We had a 26 hours task - starting from Wednesday at 10:00 and deadline was on Thrusday at 12:00. Project Deaftopia: to make a script and a short film, length: a minimum of 3 minutes. Theme: A commercial or a ”positive” documentary about being Deaf, The short film must only give a positive image of being Deaf, and eventually show that it`s wonderful to be Deaf (or how wonderful it could be if everyone were Deaf) and hearing were the minority.” Yippee!
So we had two groups Team 1 and Team 2. I belong in Team 1 with Sarah, Katrina, Christophe, Jerry and Filip. We thought first about what we would want to do etc. We came up with so many ideas and laughs!. When we were ready and started producing; we prepared a list of clothes, make-up and things for the studio. Then in the description, we were to start 10:00, but we started at 8:30 until 1:30 in the NEXT morning!! Hey, it meant that we did it in 16 hours! But after 6pm we started to edit the movie by Window Movie Maker etc. Today we all saw our film and Team 2’s also. Our movie made others laugh! =D We laughed too much yesterday all time! Here, I am showing a few pictures of the day project. =)

PETER NIEMELÄ

Tuesday 18.10
Peter came here to teach us. He talked about Deaf History in sports etc. It was very interested to hear because I didn`t know too much about history of Deaf`s sport before. =) He wrote a book ” History of Dovania”, Dovania is one of the Danish Deaf Sport Club, based in Copenhagen. And since he told about his hobbies. One of his hobbies is to collect stamps! On stamps must have Deaf involved, either by person, organisations, events and stamp artist. He showed us different stamps. It was exciting to see! And the last part, he told us about how to find something Deaf history in the internet, mainly on films which has Deaf actors or characters. Thank you, Peter!

F R O N T R U N N E R S - T E A M

Ouiee Weekend!

Now it is Monday evening.
I just had a lovely and special weekend here in Castberggaard.
On Friday, Dr. Yerker Andersson taught us. After we were so relief that the weekend is coming because we waited so severely for long time as we were so burn out after our trip in Finland. Some of us were shopping for foods for our weekend. We bought Thai-foods, ice-creams, bacon & eggs for morning breakfast, yay yay! =P On Friday evening we relaxed, talked and talked with wines and some beers. I enjoyed sleeping long time on Saturday morning =). On Saturday... At noon I was homesick, it knocked me badly which hurted me a bit. I miss my family, friends and my life there in Finland very much. But it was lucky that my friends supported me and I got over it. I have never lived in overseas longer than one month. But I cannot compare holiday and school in overseas. So... But it`s so really good and a new experience for me. I have been thinking about volunteering in Asia for one year, but now I think it is important that people cannot go overseas for a long period of time without their dear friend or boyfriend etc. so. I always need to have someone who is ready to support and understand if I want go to the world. Anyway, before I got here in Denmark, I thought about my homeland I felt it was not too special and normal. Now I think otherwise! I love my homeland, Finland is in my heart and blood. Family, Friends and my Live = ALL`s there! I respect my homeland very much now and my life is in there.


Then Jerry made Thai-foods for us. It was so delicious!! YAY! Thank you Jerry for Thai-foods!
We enjoyed together with dinner and talking. Talking and relaxing. On Saturday evening = Ice-creams and DVD =), on Sunday morning bacons and eggs invitated us ;) And then we cleaned the kitchen etc. After I went outside biking with Ronan. This time, the weather was sunny. That`s my weekend! =)

Yerker Andersson

Yerker Andersson
Sociology, teacher at Gally.

6.-7.10 Yerker Andersson came here and talked to us Frontrunners.
Who is he? He was born in Vallentuna, Sweden in the year 1929. He was a student at the Manilla school from 1937 to 1945 and then later left to Gallaudet University and he got a degree in Sociology. He was Vice President of the WFD board from 1975 to1983. He was then WFD`s President from 1983 to 1995. Yerker told us about WFD and Leadership. It was really interesting to hear about his experiences and we learnt a lot from him. He shared some of his knowledge and shared some ideas of what we could do in the future. There will be more about Yerker Andersson soon on our frontblog. You can see our website, there is a video interview with Yerker.

I want to write something short about WFD.
WFD is now 54 years old and next year will be 55 years old!

Some facts about the WFD:

WFD BOARD
Presidents

1. V. Ieralla 1951-1955 from Italy
2. D. Vukotic 1955-1983 from Yogoslavia
3. Y. Andersson 1983-1995 from Sweden/USA
4. L. Kauppinen 1995-2003 from proud Finland
5. M. Jokinen 2003- from proud Finland

Some ”stages” of the Deaf World

1951-1979
Medical Model

1983-1987
Breaking Point

1987- Nowadays
Social Model

Q U E S T I O N:
Medical Model-->Breaking Point-->Social Model-->FUTURE?
What do you think will be our next model? Tell us via our FORUM, thank you!

Yerker, Thank you very much for coming here and sharing your knowledge and experiences. Thank you! It was very fascinating and I enjoyed it thoroughly. :)

http://www.wfdeaf.org

AN UNIQUE WEEK IN FINLAND

Ohh, now it is Monday evening and I am back in Denmark.
We got back here last night from Finland. Yesterday was a bit hard day for me.
I cried a bit when I was packing for my return to Denmark. I wish to stay in Finland longer, as my is in there. Anyway I`m ok now and happy to study still with some more new and exciting with Frontrunners :)

We arrived Finland last week on Monday.
On Tuesday I visited the WFD`s meeting with Jerry and Vivien. Vivien is the WDFYS President so she is needed in the WFD`s meeting. Jerry and I watched all day and were very very interested! I felt like a scuba in a book and learned a lot about Deaf organisation.
Thanks must go to Vivien because she arranged the visit and gave us an opportunity to know the WFD`s board, burgers and Presidents!!
Now I know how they ”tend to” on our world... Very interesting, it is hard to explain with words.
The meeting gave me a lot to think about. The meting had showed me how the management in the board works. For me, they managed perfectly and in order which is very clear. But, of course the WFD has many, many things to do to make Deaf world better!! We all know that too.

On Wednesday the WFD held an educational workshop, but we were in there for only half day.
It was also interested to see. In the afternoon we watched Finnish Deaf`s Theatre ”Tähän asti tuntematon”, was good theatre :) But it was a big bother for international Deaf people because the performers signed in Finnish, not International Sign. Anyway, they did say that it was nice to watch.

About the International Conference of the WFD "Our Rights- Our Future" 30.9-1.10
Information is in www.frontblog.com so, visit there then :)
My thoughts on the WFD`s conference 2 days was very interested and I liked it very much!! Many good topics. In the evening, the WFD had a Centenary Cultural Party and Buffet in association with the Finnish Association of the Deaf, there were about 1000 people. There were different performances etc. The people drank wines with buffet and of course talking and talking! Great time! :)

THANK YOU ALL, FAD!
And to my family and friends :)