An Exciting Week

This week has been awesome. Sunday we took the choir to Georgetown to participate in the National Choir Festival. It was an adventure to say the least. Many people have seen me comment about how time is Guyana is a very different thing than it is back home. When you schedule a bus for 11:00 am they will usually be there five minutes before, and if somehow they are late they will call to tell you what has happened. We had scheduled a bus for 11:00 am, and when did the bus arrive? 11:40 am. When the bus got there Dan, Claire, and I all looked at each other wondering if we would all fit. We had about 30 people, keyboard, bass guitar, amps, a music stand, and a stool to all fit inside. We made it, but it was a tight fit. Once we got to the cultural center there was a group on stage so the people in charge asked us to go sit in the audience while they finished up, and when they were done we would do our sound check. When that group was done the people in charge had us set up our equipment, but then wait so they could finish the stage decorations. We never did get a sound check, and five minutes before the start they came over to us and told us to tear down our equipment and we would set it up again later (ugh, so many wires!) The show was supposed to start at 3:00, and the announcer finally stepped out from back stage at 3:40 (are you seeing a pattern with time here?). The first half had some great small groups. There are some very creative people here! We were supposed to be the third choir after intermission. During intermission I went backstage to set up our equipment again, and I heard the announcer talking with the head of the festival saying that GLMA would be first because the other two choirs never showed up. Great. Once we got the choir all ready to go we waited backstage for the curtain to rise for our performance. The choir did a wonderful job. We are so proud of them for all of their hard work and dedication. It was a wonderful first public performance representing GLMA. We did not place, but it was a great learning experience.

On the way home we had two more choir members riding home with us, so I ended up sitting on the stool back to back with Dan. I was facing the choir. They decided to sing all sorts of songs at the top of their lungs on the drive back. Every so often we would pass by really loud parties happening along the coast. When we did I would start awkward bus dancing as long as we could hear the music. We also made a few parodies to songs like “Party in the USA” is now “Party at GLMA.” J Needless to say the choir saw a different side of Miss Kelli than anyone else in the academy.

Monday we skyped with Eric again. The first thing he showed us when we connected was outside his band room and the snow/ice/sleet that was there. His car was covered. I certainly appreciate having 80 degree weather and not living in that white stuff this year! Anyone want to come visit me now?? We had a great conversation with Eric, and we look forward to seeing him in Guyana in about a week and a half.

On Monday I also go to skyped into Dr. Taylor’s World Music class at Waldorf. I had the opportunity to talk to the class about what I am doing in Guyana, the music and culture here, things I have learned in my few months in country, as well as what classes at Waldorf have helped me the most to prepare for this experience, and some suggestions for them to think about as they prepare to go out into the real world. It was so great to hear their voices again. I miss my Waldorf family greatly. For the first time since coming to Guyana I felt homesick after talking to them.

This weekend Rohan (the ethnomusicologist) will be coming to spend Saturday with us. We will be working on figuring out some stuff for our upcoming trip as well as talking about his thesis. I really enjoyed talking with him that last time he was here, and look forward to being able to do it again. Are current plan is to take a trip to Santa Rosa mission when Eric gets in country. We will all meet in Georgetown and head out from there. That will be a welcome break. Dan, Claire, and I have talked, and if the trip ends up not happening we decided it would be nice to spend a few days in Georgetown as a team trip and go to the museum and zoo. It would be a welcome small break and out of New Amsterdam to recharge for a few days.

Everything has been going great. Christmas decorations are starting to appear all over the place. It is an interesting site to see evergreen garlands with plastic fruit hanging from them. I don’t think I will ever be able to get used to that. Enjoy your snow up North, and know that I am enjoying my 80 degree weather down here!