Maybe Joe was right...
So last night was the going away party that the VCA kids were having for me. To tell you the truth, I didn't expect that many people from our class to be there (recap: the VCA school of music, improvisation stream has 1, 2, and 3rd year students. I'm in 2nd year, and there are about 30 of us in the class). I mean, I was friendly with everyone, and actually got to know most people really really well, but I just figured people would be busy or didn't care so much.
Boy, was I wrong! There were about 25 out of the 30 kids from our class at the pub! Wow! I had spoken to Joe earlier in the day and he was going on and on about me being a celebrity (Joe calls me his personal celebrity becuase he thinks I'm world famous or something) because they were having a party for me... etc etc. I seriously thought my 6 closest friends would come and that was it. I was just so happy to see everyone altogether, laughing and chatting about the school year and the upcoming summer.
To top it all off, I was recieving thankyou's left and right all night. Heaps of people kept thanking me for coming over and "changing the dynamic of the class for the better" (that was a direct quote!). Apparently they loved my "bubbly energy," my "overwhelming enthusiasm," my "heaps of creativity," and "american spin on everything." I was utterly shocked and surprised. I know that I made them laugh, with all the conversations about cultural differences, and my attempts to be friends with everyone, but I didn''t really think I changed or impacted them at all. Apparently... I did.
What a freaking good feeling, hey?
My favorite annecdote from the night was when my singer friend Kathy spoke about a particular solo that I had taken one week in workshop on a song called "fables of fabus." I'm pretty sure I wrote about this in an earlier entry, but instead of singing, I just talked (actually ranted haha) about things that made me upset. I was still improvising, because I chose the topic right on the spot (stereotyping/racism/ignorance), and I actually felt very comfortable doing it... but apparently everyone thought it took such guts, and Kathy said that I changed the dynamic by showing people that it was ok to take risks in music and be "f***ing"" personal" with your audience. I mean, I think I always perform that way, with my emotions on my sleeve and nothing to hide, but apparently some of that rubbed off on my classmates. Classmates who are some of the best musicians I have ever seen of my age. Classmates who I have learned heaps from, and thought they just tolerated the weird exchange student for a semester.
Classmates who learned something from me!
Again, just an amazing feeling....
Ok, so I usually don't talk about myself like this, but it's nice to feel accomplished and appreciated and loved sometimes. And last night was just the best...I didn't get home till 4am, because we just kept having fun...
I'm going to miss those people... that school.... this wonderful place.