WASHINGTON DC -- The Whig: A Deaf Kingston man studying in Washington, D.C., signed “I love you” to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau during their visit to The White House Thursday morning.
Wyatt Scott, who is in his fourth year at Gallaudet University in Washington, was invited to see the prime minister’s arrival, along with several other Canadian students from the school that specializes in educating Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
“The experience at the White House was great!” Scott wrote in an email.
He said there were more than 3,000 people there to see the Trudeaus, including the 17 Deaf Canadian students from Gallaudet who were given VIP seats right next to the stage from which the two leaders addressed the crowd.
Scott got to see President Barack Obama and the first lady walk out of the White House to wait for the Trudeaus’ motorcade to arrive. Seeing the Trudeaus together with the Obamas was an exciting moment, he added.
“It was very cool to see them right there in front of us. We cheered, signed ‘I love you,’ waved the Canadian flags, and hoped to catch their attention. I think they did notice us. I’ve never dreamed to be that very close to the two most important leaders in the same location.”
Scott watched the military guard perform a salute to the two leaders and, with the help of an interpreter, laughed at Obama’s jokes about hockey.
“We took a lot of pictures everywhere to remember the unforgettable event. After the speeches, we did hope for both leaders to walk by us, shake hands, and take selfies with them, but that didn’t happen. I’m fine with it because I’m more than satisfied to see them up close instead of watching on the TV.”
After the Trudeaus’ departure, Scott and his friends left for lunch and a chance to discuss what they had seen.
“It was definitely a once-in-a-life opportunity, and that will probably not happen again in my lifetime. The overall experience at the White House was fantastic and unforgettable because that was my first and (likely) last time to visit the White House before graduating this May.”
SOURCE - THEWHIG