At a coffee shop in Mission Valley, Har Sin, a 25-year-old refugee from Burma, practices his sign language with friends. Har Sin, who is deaf, had no way to formally communicate before coming to the United States in 2008. | Photo Credit: Sam Hodgson
By Adrian Florido
The young man from Burma stepped onto the crowded coffee shop patio. His high-tops complemented his playful swagger. He worked through the crowd, speaking with friends he knew from school and strangers he’d never met, offering high-fives and hugs.
The young man, named Har Sin, was deaf. So were many of the people on the patio. The diverse group of students and professionals gathers at the cafe every Friday night to mingle and socialize in sign language. If there’s one thing the coffee shop’s Friday regulars have learned about the young man named Har Sin, it’s that he loves to talk.
On a recent Friday, the patio buzzed with lively conversations. Har Sin’s hand gestures were excited and dramatic. He was frenetic at times, a firecracker in a sea of sparklers. But those who know Har Sin for his outsized personality also know this: his hands still limit him.
Har Sin is 25 and has been deaf his whole life. He’s only been learning to sign since last year. Before then, he’d never even heard of sign language. He didn’t know deaf people like him could formally communicate.
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Photo Credit: Sam Hodgson