My school organised a session in which talented staff would share about their specialty with interested colleagues. Initially, I had signed up for a French workshop, but my French-speaking colleague had a last-minute commitment. So, I had to attend a sign language workshop at the last minute.

I had learnt sign language from the Singapore Association for the Deaf for three years. So, my prior knowledge caused me to drag my feet to the workshop because I didn’t think I would learn anything new.

The instructor began with the teaching of the letters. I intercepted her to inform everyone that the pinkie refers to having a girlfriend in Japanese Sign Language. My intrigued colleagues asked how people sign males in Japanese Sign Language, to which I gave the thumbs-up (the sign for a guy). In hindsight, I should not have said this but I went on to say how I used to be served tea by Japanese female teachers while I was working in Japan. The room fell ominously silent after all. I think they were shocked that such patriarchal relationships exist in contemporary Japan.

Subsequently, the instructor taught us how to sign various place names in Singapore. So, the sign for the town I live in, Yishun, involves the right hand making the Y sign resting on top of the left hand. This signifies how Yishun used to be a plantation teeming with trees. I thought that was a neat way to localize the sign in our context.

In all, I had a good time educating my colleagues about the intricacies of Japanese Sign Language and acquiring some local signs.