This past Thursday I attended the Introduction to American Sign Language, which I was initially reluctant to attend. I had never formally learned an ounce of sign language, and I was worried it could be difficult to pick up and use. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the language was not only doable for beginners, but it was also incredibly fun to learn! I was particularly enthralled by the concept of certain colloquialisms existing for sign language in various locations, as it really emphasized the fact that ASL is  no different than any other language. The language suddenly felt more dynamic and lively, something that from an outside perspective, the language can seem to lack. It was really eye-opening to see what communicating via ASL is really like, and I developed a deeper respect for those who are fluent in it. And now that I have been exposed to some of the basics, I feel inspired to continue learning more in hopes of picking up a handy new skill.