Danny boy and schizophrenia by mime.

St Patrick's day, 2004.

Returning from university (had abstained from joining in the revelries). Got on the tram and sat down opposite a profoundly deaf older Italian couple. I have spent time with a couple of deaf people in a previous job working with adults with intellectual disabilities and know enough to get the gist of some conversations, so was most amused to see that the woman was happily making bitchy comments to her husband about every female that got on (skirt's too short etc). As I sat down, she commented that I looked like a man (the short hair does it every time!). I found it more amusing to carry on watching them than to be indignant (learnt long ago never to assume that someone can't speak your language - maybe they should do the same?).

We were sitting opposite the door and halfway through the trip a carload of drunk irish boys pulled up, with them hanging out the window singing 'Danny Boy' at the top of their lungs - serenading the tram travellers. The deaf couple were confused as they could not understand why people would be laughing at what appeared to be boys yelling obscenities from their car - i mimed to them that they were singing which cleared up any confusion.

A few stops later a man in the throes of uncontrolled schizophrenia got on board, clearly agitated and having an intense argument with himself (the rational voice could be heard saying 'no that's not a good idea', which didn't bode well). He sat behind me and again, all the couple could see was an agitated man. They looked to me for explanation again and I found myself, near the end of a long day and intriguing trip, miming the condition of schizophrenia (talking heads with hand puppets etc) and probably reaffirming every stereotype and misconception in the book while i was at it. Luckily it was time to get off shortly after that!