A Little Bed Time Story

‘Twas a week before classes and all through the compound, not a creature was stirring….wait, that’s a lie. This week has been a big week for us at the Guyana Lutheran Music Academy.  We started off the week with a little under 90 students registered and as of today we are just shy of 200 students! It has been a crazy week to say the least.  The amount that we got done this week really impresses me.  No wonder we are all so tired.  This week Eric and Michael went to Georgetown for a few days leaving us teachers alone for an extended time for the first time since we got in country.  It was good for us to really get a chance to work like we will most of the school year.  There were certainly times of frustration, but I think we have all helped each other to take a break or calm down.

It is great to finally look like our building is a school.  We have been putting up posters and putting things in order so we are prepared for school to start on Monday.  The excitement is building to start teaching and playing music on a regular basis.  Sadly enough, we have not played our instruments much since we first met in Minneapolis.  We have played a handful of times just relaxing or to spread excitement about the school.

This past week we went to two different schools to tell them about GLMA and to play for them.  We decided to play Happy from Despicable Me 2.  It was an interesting arrangement to say the least, but it seemed to be effective.  I never thought I would see the day I was a rock star playing horn with a harmon muted cornet, viola, guitar, and Cajon.  Very fun to say the least.  I guess I will becoming more comfortable with performing on the fly.  We have played at schools, jammed, and will be playing this Sunday at a national youth church service. 

I have really enjoyed getting to know my team on a better level.  Living and working with the same people you really get to know them quickly.  We may have known each other less than a month, but I feel like I have known them forever.  Our personalities really work well together to balance each other out.  I mean, I don’t know of many people who can use a hammer to make ice and then proceed to make smoothies at midnight after having very serious education discussions, but we just made that work.  

We have a lot to do still between now and the opening of school, but I finally am in a place where I feel like we have enough time and hands to get everything up and running.  Excitement is in the air for sure and I can’t wait to see all of my students and to plan the year out together!