None of us know when and how it will be born. The time simply comes and we humans have to see the light of day. You don’t choose your parents, family, time or even place. I was born, I arrived and they welcomed me. I was fine, my biggest fear was gone from my family. Time passed and the first change came. I was losing my hearing and the sounds of the world became quieter and quieter until there were none. As a child, I didn’t notice it much. I thought it was fine and nothing was happening. The first changes were very noticeable in communication with children. Their parents looked at me as a fool who didn’t have the attention of their parents or family. Of course, they acted quickly. The ear replacement arrived and the world went on. Nothing terrible, right? My next realization was… I’m somehow darker, certain older people don’t like me. Children of a different skin tone (white) are forbidden to talk to me. Why? A typical question. Yes, I’m Roma and deaf. Quite a strong coffee for today. First grade, first differences, taking away opportunities, rights, discrimination, ridicule. For such a young child, basically a strong rejection from the world and people. None of my classmates choose me for a group for a football match, for the Olympics, as a friend. Writing notes at school, God, it was a pure disaster on the part of the teachers. Their response to my not writing was: “You hear what you want!” It was very unpleasant and in the eyes of my peers it caused doubts about my personality.
Of course, I completed my advanced studies and destroyed their doubts and predictions that I would end up in the fifth grade of elementary school, without a future. I didn’t have the worst childhood or teenage years. I knew how to defend myself and integrate. Thanks to my family, I was eloquent and I didn’t lag behind in anything. Rather, they did. I finally gained friends and a girlfriend. Work?? I think the worst time in my life. So incredibly difficult, terrible. How to build a family, a solid foundation? Without a job? They will take a person with cancer or a bypass on his heart rather than a deaf Romani. You want to respond to a job offer, but the advertisement says: Roma do not call!!! You are invited to an interview, their impressions and first feelings of enthusiasm will subside because they will see a dark, deaf Romani, who can work fully, show his skill, dexterity, team player. We live in a time when people can destroy your dreams, question your faith, plans. But we have to go on, fight and try with all our might. To show other similar people that nothing is impossible, but that we need help from people who will allow us the way and leave the door open for development. The civic association SVET TICHA offers this opportunity.
Life is like that…
Author: Lukáš D.
Note: The author is a deaf Roma. He currently works as a construction worker and, in addition to his main job, he also works as a courier on the basis of a trade license.
