reflection

Yay it’s Ellen’s Birthday today!! Jenica and I are taking her out for dinner tonight and we’ll possibly go out too if Ellen’s up for it!

Yesterday was fun! I had to go back out to Walvis Bay to work with the marimba group again, only this time Fonie wasn’t there (he plays in the group but he is usually the teacher as well...) So I was all on my own to work with these kids again – and it was SO exciting!! We just reviewed the four songs that I taught them on Saturday. The first few times through them were pretty rough. Especially this one song that’s in 5/4. They were having a hell of time counting that one. But the coolest thing happened – the very last time we ran it for the day it just “clicked”. It was so groovy.... You could see every single one of them felt it when it happened – something in their faces changed!! It was so awesome! That made me so excited to keep working with them. I go back on Sunday to teach them the rest of the songs...

Last night I went over to Lex’s house. Now that I officially have less than a month left she got me to start really thinking about my time here. She was asking me to reflect on my experience here so far and how I felt about it. We had a nice little chat about it... her exchange time here was COMPLETELY different than mine. I was kind of comparing them and I felt like I haven’t really connected with Mascato as much as she did – probably mostly because she rehearsed with them three times a week and I only get once a week. But really there’s not too many chances to hang out with people either – they all work or go to school, and none of them live right in town. I’ve mostly just hung out with Marcelino and Linus because they both work at Mrs.Venter’s house so I get to see them almost everyday.
But between talking to Lex and John I have definitely tried to open my eyes more and reflect on my time. Even though I may not have necessarily connected with Mascato as much as I wanted to on a personal level I still feel that I have accomplished a lot with them. And really, Lex thinks that I have not only worked on music with Mascato but I have worked on stuff for Namibia’s entire music scene. Between Mascato, the musical, the marimba group, and Vera’s piano students I really have done a lot. It’s just gone by so fast that I feel like I haven’t done much at all.

In terms of myself, Lex was asking if I personally have felt a change in myself. I didn’t really think so but I was talking to John this morning and he feels like I have more confidence. I don’t really see it but I guess I normally wouldn’t want to put myself in a position where I don’t really know what I’m doing (for example – teaching people to play percussion) but I just went ahead and tried it anyways. And, it turns out I even enjoyed doing it in the end so it’s kind of nice to put your neck out on the line sometimes. If it doesn’t work out you just have to suck it up and move on.
It’s definitely making me more excited to start my job at Giovanni Yamaha! I’ve never taught piano before but after being here – and just trial and error – I think I’ll be able to do it!

I'm pretty pumped about the last month that I have left.
It's really funny how fast time flies when you're having fun. But at the same time, when I think about how I came in May - that feels FOREVER ago already! So weird! I totally imagine this month will fly by though... I only have like 4 more rehearsals left with Mascato! crazy!

I'm so pumped about coming back though too. I was talking to Mrs.Venter about the musical yesterday and she said that Aldo Behrens talked with the bank and they are definitely going to fly me back!! I can't believe it! We were trying to figure out when a good time would be for me (we're still waiting for the choreographer to get better as well) We think we might do it in March. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee that's so cool!!

Well, I guess I'll see you guys all in exactly a month from today! (at the Koko retreat no less! hahaha! way to get thrown right back into the swing of things!)
*mwah*