As
any of you who have followed this blog or really know me at all would know I
have been student teaching this semester at North Iowa Community School in the
band and choir programs. Fun fact about this school, it is the first
consolidated school west of the Mississippi. I have just finished my first
placement on the choral side of things and I am now back in my comfort zone of
the band world. We have our high school choir breakfast concert this Thursday
and the middle school musical next Thursday, but other than that I am band.
It’s amazing to me how much I have learned
about myself in this short period of time. While in Guyana I was super uncomfortable with
the general music portion (academy class), but now that I have spent eight
weeks with a k-4 elementary general music program I feel better about it. I
would even consider taking a job that required some general music. I’m not
saying I will be applying for general music positions left and right, but if I
found a band job that also had maybe a few hours of elementary general music I
would consider that. However, I have learned that I really don’t want to teach
choir. I can do it if I have to, but I won’t be applying for any full time
choir jobs at schools any time soon.
I
am counting down the days until I leave for Guyana. As of October 20, 2015 at
8:10 am I have 74 days, 9 hours, 20 minutes, and 45 seconds until my scheduled
departure from MSP airport to New York. In New York I will meet up with Claire
to fly to Georgetown. That will be a good thing. I have been having nightmares
about getting stranded in New York for a few days because of a massive snowstorm.
Let’s be real. I fly out on January 2. That is a real possibility. At least I’m
not having nightmares about basketball playing elephants, or giant guest eating
anacondas in our lower apartment (right Claire). J If you want to know
those stories you will have to ask Claire.
It’s amazing the memories that come to mind throughout my
student teaching. Students will say or do something and it reminds me of
something one of my Guyanese students has done, or some inside joke that
Claire, Dan, or all three of us have. My current students get really confused
sometimes when I laugh to myself. I have really enjoyed being able to catch up
on what is happening with the academy through Claire and Twyla’s blogs as well
as Skyping with them every once in a while. Twyla and I are able to text since
we both have iPhones and Claire and I message through WhatsApp. I am excited to
hear about our second year students’ progress and hearing stories about new
first year students. I am looking forward to returning to Guyana. I left a part
of my heart there, and I bet it will be there for the rest of my life. The
story says if you eat Labba and drink the coffee water you will always return
to Guyana. I did both of those things, so I guess I will always return. Yay!
Fundraising is in the works for my next trip. I am working on
getting a concert/recital set up in Mid-November. This concert will be a little
different than the one I put together in 2014. This time there will be more
Guyanese music and some stories about the first year at GLMA. I hope to have a
large turnout for the occasion. Maybe I will be able to put together a
reception at the end again. I will give you all more information as the time
gets closer. I hope many of you will be able to come, and I hope to get some of
it videotaped and put on YouTube for those of you who are unable to make it.
