Wow. What a
crazy week it has been for us. This week we held our last normal classes, ran a
dress rehearsal, put on a final concert, held an awards ceremony, and put
together one big party. I struggled with remembering what day it was many times
throughout the week, and now all three teachers are in to the single digits of
days until we get to our homes. Where have the past ten months gone?!
Monday and
Tuesday were our last class sessions for every student. We busily did last
minute preparations for the concert and got to thank each of our classes for
spending the year with us. My Tuesday/Thursday guitar class was in the singing
mood that night. We would sing and play one of our concert songs and then they
would start singing a new song. At one point they were singing the cup song
from Pitch Perfect but they changed the words to “When you’re gone, when you’re
gone. We’re gonna miss you when you’re gone.” They made me start to tear up
that night. I think they were doing it on purpose too.
We decided that
because of how different the concert was going to be that we needed to hold a
dress rehearsal, so on Wednesday we had it. Most of our students have never
heard of a dress rehearsal, so they kept asking me why we were having a fashion
show. That was funny to me every time someone said it. The entire event took
about two hours, but a good portion of our students came, and said it helped
them a lot. We recently held a design contest for a t-shirt for the academy.
Last week I went and picked up all the t-shirts so we asked our students to
wear them to the dress rehearsal. We wanted to take a group picture. It is
quite a production to get over 100 people together and looking good for a
picture, let me tell you! I think they turned out nice though, and those
pictures will serve as a great memory for me!
Thursday night
was our final concert. We had over 300 people in attendance and our students
did wonderfully! They certainly made the teachers all very proud of what they
did this year. We started off in the academy where keyboard, percussion, and
Lovely Lass performed. It was a tight fit, and we had several people out on the
veranda watching through the windows. Our Lovely Lass students received their
completion certificates due to the fact that they come from over the river and
it would be really hard for them to travel multiple times back to back. The
concert then migrated to the church which is where all the rest of the students
performed. COFONA, violin, guitar, percussion, and brass all performed
different pieces. The percussion class did an arrangement of “All Star” for
boom whackers that Dan did. It was great! Daniel, my lone trumpet student, played
a solo. I was so proud of him. I was picking up my instrument to get ready to
play the duets with him and my heart just swelled as I listened to him. I know
I did not play a trumpet solo in front of 300 people after playing trumpet for
only 9 months. I have been able to watch him grow in his trumpet abilities, but
also his self-confidence this year. Daniel and I also played two duet pieces
and then Dan joined us playing trombone for a trio. I am so proud of all of my
students. They all played wonderful and I am super excited about them starting
their life long journeys in music.
Friday we had our
awards night and end of the year party. Our students who completed year one
received their certificates. At the end of the ceremony our students did
appreciation. It actually lasted about an hour and a half and was very
emotional for us. There were lots of pictures taken. After the whole thing was
over we headed up to the academy for the party. It was crazy! Almost everyone
who was at the awards ceremony went up to the academy. It was something else to
see that many people in the academy at once. Once again we had lots of pictures
taken as well as students giving us gifts. It was a wonderful opportunity for
us to say goodbye to our students and congratulate them on all the work they
have done this year.
Dan’s parents
were with us the week of the concert and were a great assistance to us as we
moved everything. They also helped during the party so that our students could
talk and take pictures with us. Eric arrived on Sunday to start the end of the
year wrap up stuff. It has been a crazy week for sure. Today I say goodbye to
Claire and Dan who fly out early tomorrow morning. I really don’t know what I
am feeling right now, but I know it is going to be a weird experience to walk
into an empty house tonight when Eric and I return from Georgetown. Actually,
waking up tomorrow morning will be super weird. That is more the part that I am
dreading. It will probably hit me hard tomorrow morning. Also, tomorrow morning
Eric and I will take off bright and early for Suriname. We are going to be
getting a bunch of instruments repaired over there before we make one last trip
into Guyana before I fly out early Tuesday morning. I can’t believe this year
is coming to an end already. It feels like just a month or two ago I was
walking into South High School in Minneapolis, MN meeting Claire, Dan, and Erv
for the first time at orientation, and now Claire and Dan are packed and ready
to move home.
My world is
about to change drastically. Here goes nothing!
