(no subject)
Last night I went to a rehearsal of the Bay City Band, a community band that I was asked to join, as they don't have a mallet percussionist and I'll still be in town at the time of their next concert. They meet for two hours every Thursday in a community band room just a few blocks from my house. The youngest members are still in high school, while the oldest was a frail old gentleman trombone player who walked with the assistance of a cane. By far the most colorful person in the room was the tuba player. Oh, how I wished I had a camera (and the suitable skills) to take a portrait! He was so great. He was old and crooked, with a bushy, dirty beard, and a black gap in his smile where a tooth was missing. He could not have held an instrument more like him in every way - his old, silver tuba was dented in every possible place, I mean simply covered in dents! Together, man and tuba were so wonderful to look at, I kept sneaking peaks and giggling to myself.
I also really enjoyed playing. The music was a bit harder than the other band I'm playing for, which was good, and there was an actual xylophone for me to play on, as opposed to having to play everything on the glock, which is what I reluctantly do at the Tuesday band, so I had a grand old time.
Then I went home and collapsed into bed. Today being Good Friday, we had the day off from school. In fact, we have Monday and Tuesday off, as well - how lovely! It couldn't have come at a better time. School has completely worn me out and I need a break. Yesterday I felt like a zombie most of the day, except for when I was actively teaching or leading my vocal jazz group, and then adrenaline kept me going. After school, I had a long discussion with Alana about what's coming up next week - it took ages to talk through it all, and I kept having to fight off tears, for no good reason at all. That's how tired I was.
This morning, all I could do was sit on the couch and read, and sometimes I was too tired to read so I just stared through the open door at the sunshine-y world outside. I got up at 9:30 and I couldn't muster up the energy to take a shower until 2:30! However, I did play a few games of spider solitaire, and I beat the two-suit level, so at least I accomplished something. After my shower, I cleaned my room for an hour and a half, which was good and I was pleased to be organized once more, but afterwards I had to lie on my bed and stare out the window to recover from the exertion!
Life here is good, though, despite my complaints about exhaustion! I leave in four weeks, and I'm starting to feel a little heartbroken at the thought of it. I'll so miss the students, the weather, the beautiful country, the lovely school I'm at, my jazz group, the two bands I'm in, the choir I play for, all the fresh fruit and vegetables, the beaches, and all the friends I've made: Alana and her family, Chris, Flemming, Amanda, and so many more... On the other hand, I'm really excited to come home and see everyone and everything I've been missing for these months. I sometimes wish I could stay here forever, so I wouldn't have to part from my budding life here, but that would break my heart, too, because I can't wait to see friends and family at home again. That's the trouble with traveling: you get attached to a place and then your heart becomes divided and it's hard to be completely at home anywhere, because a little part of you always wishes you could be with the ones who are far away. Bah. Although I suppose I'd rather have the problem of finding too much wonderfulness in the world, rather than too little.
I also really enjoyed playing. The music was a bit harder than the other band I'm playing for, which was good, and there was an actual xylophone for me to play on, as opposed to having to play everything on the glock, which is what I reluctantly do at the Tuesday band, so I had a grand old time.
Then I went home and collapsed into bed. Today being Good Friday, we had the day off from school. In fact, we have Monday and Tuesday off, as well - how lovely! It couldn't have come at a better time. School has completely worn me out and I need a break. Yesterday I felt like a zombie most of the day, except for when I was actively teaching or leading my vocal jazz group, and then adrenaline kept me going. After school, I had a long discussion with Alana about what's coming up next week - it took ages to talk through it all, and I kept having to fight off tears, for no good reason at all. That's how tired I was.
This morning, all I could do was sit on the couch and read, and sometimes I was too tired to read so I just stared through the open door at the sunshine-y world outside. I got up at 9:30 and I couldn't muster up the energy to take a shower until 2:30! However, I did play a few games of spider solitaire, and I beat the two-suit level, so at least I accomplished something. After my shower, I cleaned my room for an hour and a half, which was good and I was pleased to be organized once more, but afterwards I had to lie on my bed and stare out the window to recover from the exertion!
Life here is good, though, despite my complaints about exhaustion! I leave in four weeks, and I'm starting to feel a little heartbroken at the thought of it. I'll so miss the students, the weather, the beautiful country, the lovely school I'm at, my jazz group, the two bands I'm in, the choir I play for, all the fresh fruit and vegetables, the beaches, and all the friends I've made: Alana and her family, Chris, Flemming, Amanda, and so many more... On the other hand, I'm really excited to come home and see everyone and everything I've been missing for these months. I sometimes wish I could stay here forever, so I wouldn't have to part from my budding life here, but that would break my heart, too, because I can't wait to see friends and family at home again. That's the trouble with traveling: you get attached to a place and then your heart becomes divided and it's hard to be completely at home anywhere, because a little part of you always wishes you could be with the ones who are far away. Bah. Although I suppose I'd rather have the problem of finding too much wonderfulness in the world, rather than too little.