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On Sunday evening, I saw my boyfriend off at the airport. I took the train back, from Changi Airport station all the way to Clementi MRT. I was lucky enough to get a seat, and was quite determined to hang on to it for at least half the ride. At Tiong Bahru MRT, the train started to fill up, and there was a lady whom I felt needed the seat more. So I got up and tapped her on the shoulder, to offer her the seat. She declined quite loudly but unintelligibly. I shrugged and sat back down. The auntie next to me gave me a “some people” smile. Then the lady came back, muttering quite loudly, and I gave her the seat. Usually, this is where it ends. But life for me always has to be extraordinary. This is just the beginning.

When the lady started gesturing to me, I realised she wasn’t mentally ill or rude, just hearing-impaired. And despite my having shown no signs of knowing any sign language, she decided to “chat” to me all through the train ride. First she told me how long her ride would be – all the way to Pioneer MRT. She took out a pocket map of the MRT and pointed to Dhoby Ghaut interchange, and appeared to be telling me that she had to switch trains there. Then she showed me a swelling on her finger.

At this point I think most people would have started to slowly move away or ignore her. I decided to continue listening. After all, she was entertaining me for the duration of the ride. She continued to show me a sweater inside her bag, and was either telling me how cheap it was, or how good it was at keeping her warm. Like I said, I don’t know sign language so I was only able to make out some vague ideas of what she was saying. Later she told me about the roller-coaster at Resorts World Sentosa, and I gestured back that I wouldn’t dare to go on it. She seemed to think I was pretty silly.

As our conversation went on, I could feel that the people around me were probably discomfited by her unusual utterances and gestures. And they were probably wondering why I was humouring her, considering that she was a stranger to me and I can’t really understand what she is telling me anyway. The answer is that I chose to read her facial and bodily expressions instead of relying on words. Furthermore, the other people on the train might have thought there was something wrong with her. But I just saw her as someone who is using a different language to communicate.

There are no differences between people except the differences we choose to see.

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