Over There!

I, like many people who are blind and partially sighted, go through this experience on almost a regular basis. I ask a sighted individual where something is or how to get somewhere, only to be told to “turn that way” or even more commonly, “it’s over there”. Most of the time people are willing and able to help me by giving me verbal directions or guiding me if necessary. But sometimes I get the odd person here and there who, for whatever reason, can’t give clear verbal directions or is simply unwilling to help. The times when this does happen, it can get very frustrating and irritating, especially when I need to get to a certain place at a certain time. This happened to me a lot in my first few months of highschool, as I was the only visually impaired student in my school, and it took me a bit of time to fimiliarize myself with the building. The fact that the school was over crowded didn’t really help much either, as I was constantly going through trafic jam after trafic jam. I remember one afternoon, as I was leaving one of my classes, I asked a sighted student to tell me how to get to the library. The guy pointed (I couldn’t see where he was pointing anyway) and said, “Keep going this way, then once you get to the door turn that way, then you’ll see the library right over there.”. Over there indeed, I kind of figured it would be over there, that’s where everything is located isn’t it?! Wow! Over there is such a vast place, isn’t it! There’s always something new and interesting to discover over there!I asked him to give me the exact verbal directions, and he hastily insisted that it was “over there”. Being the complete smart-allick that I am, on top of the fact that I had to be “over there” as soon as possible, I asked him: “So where is “over there”? How do I get over there? Do I go left, right, straight, diagonally around in circles?” The guy stopped in his tracks and realized his mistake, and then finally decided to guide me there. So I was able to get there by following his voice as he led the way. But the worst thing is when people give me the wrong direction all together. They tell me to go left when they meen right or right when they mean left. So I end up getting more lost and confused then I was to begin with! Personally, I think that, if you want to go “over there the right way” (play on words), you have to get your lefts and rights right first!

 

I would like to share with you an article by Cathy Anne Murtha. When I first read this article, it just amazed me how much our experiences relate! So let us now begin this virtual tour of…well…over there!

 

 Over There — By, Cathy Anne Murtha

 

As my guide dog and I stood in line at the checkout of the River City Market, I asked the cashier what I considered a simple question. “Where are the napkins, please?” Her response was hurried, but sincere, “over there”.

 

Emerging from the light rail for the first time, I managed to catch the attention of a passer-by, “Please sir, can you tell me where I might catch bus 63?” A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing into the cacophony of the early afternoon, “You can catch it -­over there.”

 

So many things reside over there — napkins, bus stops, pencils, pens, clothing racks, department stores, and even my shoes! A never-ending supply of important and indispensable items and locales all reside in this place, which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

 

I stand in perplexed silence after learn­ing that something is over there. It is a place I have never been and have no hope of finding on my own.

 

My guide dog is quite skilled in finding chairs, stairs, elevators, escalators, helping me cross streets, and can even find me the Diet Pepsi display at Food Town; however, when I tell her to find “over there” her little bottom hits the floor and a small whimper tells me that she is as confused as I.

 

We will not be going “over there” today. Over there has caused me a bit of vexation, a lot of confusion, and, on occasion, made my heart race.

 

I have discovered that “over there” can be a dangerous place. One day, while crossing a street, I heard a driver’s irritated voice shout out a warning of a truck bearing down on me from over there. Shadow artfully dodged the oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety of the curb.

 

Our hearts were both racing as we took a few moments to compose ourselves. Close encounters with over there can be frightening experiences.

 

Although many people who are blind have wondered as to the exact location of “over there,” few have dared to venture forth in an actual exploration of the mysterious place.

 

One day, while standing in line at the supermarket, I asked the clerk where I might find the aspirin. With a cheery smile in her voice, she informed me that the aspirin was located “over there”. With a weary sigh, I decided that I would take the extra step that would unravel the mystery, which had vexed my compatriots since the beginning of time.

 

Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I smiled at the clerk, “Where,” I asked, “is over there?” I imagined the girl’s shocked expression. I felt her sharing condescending and concerned looks with her fellows in the store. The silence grew palpable as they mulled the possibility of allowing a person who is blind access to the forbidden land.

 

She had no choice; she would have to tell me how to find “over there!” I had won! Exhilaration swept through me as I waited in breathless anticipation. A victorious smile crept to my lips, my hand tightened on the handle of Shadow’s harness; we would soon be going over there! The clerk’s voice reeked with resignation as the decision was made. “That way,” she said.