Bilingual in Kansas

Auckland exchange student Fallon Simchowitz, 17, is spending a year abroad in Olathe, Kansas with a local deaf family. Simchowitz is deaf as are host family Ron and Kim Symansky and their three children. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem because they all communicate through sign language. But sign language, like spoken language, differs from country to country and even though New Zealanders and Americans speak English, many words have different meanings and spellings. Because of the differences in the languages, Simchowitz who is a senior at Kansas State School for the Deaf has become bilingual — in sign language. Though Simchowitz misses her homeland and family, she loves being in the United States. “It’s wonderful here,” she said. “Deaf people are more socialized into the general culture. And the shopping is great.” After tertiary study back in Auckland, Simchowitz would like to attend Gaulladet University in Washington, D.C., which is one of the leading universities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.