Picking up from yesterday –
I ended up taking the long way down. We kept going and going through more and more nature.
And then I’m getting a little stressed, because Mohammed only wanted me to spend an hour there. At first, I’m like, “how long can it possible take to see a waterfall?” But then I get there, and it’s like… oh. It could actually take a long time.”
So, we take the long way down. And then there’s this little place snack place where I grab a sprite from the NICEST man.
And then I feel even worse that I’m pretending to be deaf, because I don’t want to be lying to these nice strangers.
So, we keep on going forward and forward toward the waterfall.
And by this point, I’m starting to get WhatsApp messages from Mohammed. And I’m trying to tell him on my way. He’s surprised I’m still down there. And it’s like “aaaaaaaaagh, sorry. I’m gonna get back. Don’t worry about it!”
So, then, we keep going and we get to these very cute boats with little chairs.
And I get on one of the little boats that’ll take you around the waterfall.
The guy on the boat speaks very basic ASL!
And while I do speak basic ASL, I was kinda rusty. And I didn’t know the sign he was doing. And at this point, I can’t be like “uh, what does that mean?”
So, I look confused, but if I’m deaf, you’d think I’d know it! Aye, aye, aye.
Then he says out loud “shower.” Like he’s asking if I’m ready to get soaked by the waterfall. And I have to somehow try to play it off like I’m answering him without his spoken English tipping me off.
So, then we get close to the waterfall. It is cool. There’s picture-taking (of the other couple first, and then a few of me).
It was so hard to communicate when I don’t have speaking at my disposal. What a mess I’d gotten myself into deep far down into a (canyon?) literally and figuratively.
So, then we get off the boat, and there is a man who speaks sign language there to greet me!
And this is where we’ll pick up tomorrow.