ACME Fundraiser Recap

That truly was a wonderful experience-having a nametag strung around my neck that says founder and development director, and for the first time having people come up to me, rather than me approaching them. The event definitely had things that went wrong. First off, I forgot one of the gift cards, one of the silent auction items (the autographed Tricia Tunstall book to be exact) hadn't arrived yet, traffic was really bad pushing our event later and later, and we had MAJOR technical problems, which I'm still not sure what happened. But the food was delicious, we had wonderful volunteers, probably 40ish in attendance, the speakers eventually worked, the students played beautifully, and we met our goal of 20 silent auction items! We learned for next time to set bids higher (25 dollar GC were going for 5), but we still raised $2000! And more importantly created a lot of new advocates, volunteers, and hopefully fundraising committee members. The speakers were excellent. We had Eric Booth begin, who was at a silent monastery, but spoke about how perfect Mpls is for a project like El Sistema and how he was incredibly skeptical until he saw it firsthand in Venezuela. I am SO excited that a year from today I will have also experienced it!! Then we had Levi Comstock who spoke about individual students' transformations through the program, the academic improvement, and the community impact the program has had on the Conservatory Lab CHarter School. Finally, we closed it off with Jonathan Govias, who spoke about where all the different programs are, the synergy of the movement, and how wonderful El Sistema was. We had lots of questions, gave our pitch, and the last to leave were the high school students asking how they could volunteer more and the asst principals. It is so wonderful to have such a huge support from the school!!! After thank you notes I will be done working for a little while anyway and off to explore Europe!
 If you would like to contribute to the wonderful cause go to www.acme-music.com!
A week from today I will be having my last day in Mpls. How scary! I bought an SLR for the trip and am incredibly excited per practicare l'italiano and meet up with dear old friends and my brother!!! Not sure when the next time I will post will be (probably June) so take care! Peace Sara

30 days..here we go

So I have 30 days to live in this beautiful city. I started the first one by learning Irish music and can now play a jig and a reel. I was sad I didn't discover this earlier, but then realized I'm moving to Boston where these things MUST exist with all the Irishmen there. I also realized how much I am going to miss my buds at salsa. Ditto zumba/kickboxing! I have no doubt there is salsa there, but I am seriously part of the Bar Abilene salsa community now. I was debating going salsa dancing in Austin when I'm there this week but won't know anyone and realized that's why I enjoy it so much, but we'll see...I keep almost adjusting to life in one place only to move on to another so it's my own fault.

I did have a wonderful birthday here in the TC though. Celebrated with friends, won a Zumba shirt, and ate some good Irish food and did a tiny bit of Ceili dancing. Excited to travel in May don't get me wrong, but really enjoying Mpls!

So now I'll make a list of things I'm excited for:

1) Public transportation every ten mins and 24/7
2) Living by the ocean!
3) Involvement with Irish music/dance (yes I can do this here)
4) Speaking Italian/joining an Italian community
5) Haymarket
6) Quincy Market

I have a feeling this will grow!

Times A Changin'

OH MY GOSH OHMYGOSH OMG OMG OMG OMG! That was my response when I opened up my email that was titled Congrats from NEC! I am proud to publicly (well as public as this blog gets anyway) say that I am a 2012-2013 Abreu Fellow at New England Conservatory!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am more than excited, but it has made me rethink my time until then and I've decided life in Mpls is going to end at the end of April. As sad as this is, logistically it makes the most sense. One of my best girl friends Lauren and I are going to Eurohop and then I won't be rushed with the time commitment of a week for spring break and I've even seriously contemplated visiting my other family in Tanzania and seeing their first large scale production mid-June. I'm realizing this is my last chance to "spread my wings" and "do what I want" and while I will miss all my dearest friends and seeing my family so often, I can't feel more good about this decision. I also watched an amazing movie last night called The Way which definitely made me want to go to Europe MORE!!!! You should definitely see that movie if you haven't.

I have certainly enjoyed my time in Mpls and know it will always be here. Part of me is sad that the life I have built the past six months will be wiped clean, but the price is FAR worth it!!! It really does take close to a full year to feel like a place is home though.

Without trying, an amazing internship opportunity has landed itself in my lap as well in Boston which would give me a chance to get out there early and get familiar with my new home. I'm still waiting for the logistical letter from NEC before I know when this will begin. Part of me would LOVE to be in Uptown for the summer, but I know I wouldn't do well living in Afton and cannot afford to lose $1500 essentially twiddling my thumbs. I also reminded myself this is why I didn't sign a full year lease.

I just let go of my baby ACME. Not to say I won't still be involved but I've decided it is the best decision mentally to let go as I make this new transition. This has probably been the hardest decision of all. Life has SERIOUSLY changed like THAT in a blink of an eye! But for the better!!!

And I think I'm most excited (aside from living in Venezuela, meeting Dr. Abreu and free tuition) for the fact that I will be experiencing this with nine other people so I will not be alone in this new adventure unlike the others.

Going to go play guitar!
Sara

2012, a big question of uncertainty

I know it's been awhile since I've written. There aren't any exciting adventures to write about as there were last year when I had spontaneous adventures monthly if not weekly. I've learned from being on that side of the equation that it is just as important to hear the more routine, mundane routine. I miss that, a lot. Exhibit A: I have a four day weekend this week and I"m sitting here doing this. I could go up north, but I don't want to by myself and the snow isn't worth the trip in all honesty. I've been so blessed to travel that it's really hard for me to stay in one place. It is confirming my desire to go into intl development where things are always new, even if that means lots of culture shock and frustration at times. I grow so much and overall, I think the pros outweigh the cons. Sure the nomadic life is not my ideal, but it's more an ideal than doing nothing for going on eight months now! (by nothing I Mean no FT job. I am working 4 jobs for a grand total of..25 hours. Pathetic?)

Teaching hasn't gotten easier, but I am certainly doing more of it than when I last wrote in November. I really enjoy teaching adults though. I'm teaching an Italian class at Comm Ed and it's so wonderful when they are engaged and asking questions. I miss that! That's why I love teaching so much. With these kids, I spend more than 50% of the time telling them or getting them to be quiet and use my energy for that rather than teaching them about music or Spanish or whatever the case may be. No FT job has presented itself but ACME is going incredibly well-we may have even found a home for next year-and the fellowship application that seemed like it would never end has been completed and submitted and then resubmitted after they extended the deadline 6 weeks later. You can imagine how pleased I was at that when I had used a good majority of my Christmas break to get it done before New Year's. Ah well what can you do?

I had a wonderful time in SLC skiing, seeing friends from Holden, and learning about Mormons. It was my first time skiing in two years! I certainly have a new take on them and am incredibly antsy to get back out there again and ski more. Now if flights would cooperate...The few times I have skiied here (twice) were fantastic (xc that is) but currently it is about 40˚ everyday so snow is quite rare. I want snow!! Beautiful days are great, but when it's not summer, what do you do? Run or bike okay but the list is far more broad when the element of snow is added. Hopefully I'll be in Italy over spring break visiting my brother and taking a run in the Alps. Depending on the status of life, I may just stay over there and travel. Honestly it's just as expensive as living in one place doing a job I am not passionate about and I'm not really saving money..

I hate to sound so whiney and complainy but journals are meant to convey real emotions. Sure, I'm happy. It's great to see my friends and mom on a weekly basis (Dad traveling, sis in LA, bro in Italy) and I've learned a lot through ACME, but I don't think my spirit is content. I need a purpose and am lacking that right now. ACME is certainly a purpose, but right now it's only a side project. I know that can change, but I'm just not ready to settle down..at all!

Last year, I felt like i was making such an impact and this year I waste full days doing absolutely nothing. I never pictured myself as a substitute nor as someone who two years out of college was working for ten dollars an hour with high school and college students. It's certainly humbling, and it makes you realize you really can't stand out regardless of your qualifications. Yes I'm judging myself.

Well I'll go for a run and at least enjoy the weather. 2012, to success, productivity, and adventure. SOrry if this post seemed depressing. It was just honest.

City of Lakes

Well...Thailand didn't happen. In short, all of these people trying to tell me to go and me still not feeling quite right about it and me making a list of things I wanted this year that did not match up with THailand. Basically, I think I was infatuated with living abroad, being close to my sister and a dear friend from college, and being able to continue my wanderlust. But then I asked do I really want to be preparing lesson plans, not have holidays off, and teach 50-60 kids? Instead, I took a financial leap of faith and am living in Mpls. paying rent and living "normal" life. I have my tea on the coffee table ahead of me and am now an all-year cyclist. I'm teaching Spanish at the elementary schools, but only 4 teaching hours (10 paid hours regardless) and hoping to soon start teaching in my studio. I love saying that! It's such a great space. I'm also volunteering as the Program Director (my working title) and future board member of the El Sistema Twin Cities Music School Advocates for Community through Musical Excellence (www.acme-music.com). I'd love if you liked us on Facebook or signed up for our newsletter :)

The other day I heard the loudest geese flock ever. I know it's a random thought, but it truly was a sign of autumn and to me felt significant. It led to me writing a song tonight all about how animals hibernate, leaves fall, flowers wither, and yet humans continue to live life the same regardless of the season. The fact that I probably will never get over the wanderlust phase of life and I'm not so sure I need to. What does security mean in this economy and what is living "the life" if you don't have adventure? For me that's not "the life." I've found someone who will record for free so hopefully once I develop it further I can do so! I don't know what has changed this year, but I feel so inspired to write music and actually have content to write about. Not to say songs can't be happy, but I feel like some just require misery, at least on some level (this is not meant to be a pity party). Sarah McLachlan wrote a whole break-up album for instance and I will not be surprised if she wins yet another Grammy in Feb.

Spiritually, I'm also realizing traveling has changed me A LOT! It is very rare I can participate in a Bible Study, not because I won't learn something, but because I have a very difficult time expressing myself when no one can relate or people are on such different levels of faith and/or paths of life I feel like there is no common denominator even though there is (though some definitely define it differently). For me, love is first, the specifics of what that means are second. I understand God from a Christian perspective, but I truly am a pluralist encompassing ideas from all faiths. It's amazing how we fight and compete when most of the time we're talking about the same thing using different words. There's an interfaith church in Mpls I am dying to check out, but may have to wait til it's nice enough to bike outside again since public transit anywhere takes 40 mins to an hr 40 mins even when you go 5 miles! For now, I have found refuge in the most AMAZING yoga class ever and am currently reading Paolo Coelho's The Zahir. While I know this is no substitute, honestly I haven't gone to "church" in so long since Sun was my one day off last year, that I don't feel I'm missing anything. I still have plenty of philosophical/spiritual discussions and there's always YouTube and online devotions if I do feel a void. Meditation and prayer are enough for me right now. Moving here was based on faith alone, knowing se van a salir (things will result). And so far I'm breaking even and have a connection with one of the full time jobs I've applied for..Trust!

So as this holiday season approaches, I can't believe I've already been to an egg nog party and of course choirs are practicing Christmas music, I'm not just thankful for all my blessings, but also my experiences and the people who have made me who I am today. Part of me will forever remain in Tanzania regardless of my dislike for the city of Arusha itself. Maybe part of me will remain in Minneapolis. The diversity, the lakes, the zumba classes 8 blocks from my house with all Latin Americans, my now regular trivia and salsa nights and hopefully soon a female barbershop choir rehearsal, and the future farmers' market and music everywhere. Along with the bitter cold, the snow, the horrible Metro Transit system, and the kindergartners who will NOT stop talking. I'm trying it and while not thriving, immensely happier and hopefully setting up shop for the next step, whenever or whatever that may entail. At this point, I've put my hands up and surrendered. Life sometimes is out of one's hands. Though I would be thrilled if the article that said Minneapolis has the lowest unemployment of any big city in the US and it's the best place for the unemployed due to the relatively low cost of living were to prove itself. Right in my face. Tangible, bold, and daring. If it wants to be bashful, secretive and what most of you would consider more realistic, so be it.

Hilarity at Holden

SO I guess this blog is continuing outside of Africa..First I'll tell about the past month at Holden Village in Chelan, WA. To get there one must take a 2.5 hr boat ride and then an 11 mile bus ride. Aside from wonderful people, local organic homemade food, and a BEAUTIFUL place being on the border of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, oh and I can't forget the insane double triple word bingoed word scrabble games (Thank you @Hunter), I had some pretty insane hiking experiences and my first experience with splitting and stacking wood even in the pouring rain along with being thrown into Hike Haus from day one while my supervisor was on his "out" (when they leave the village and go into the real world) so from day one people were asking me, "Which trail should we go on?" and me of course referring them to a map having never been there before. This also involved waking up at 5:30 AM daily to set up what they call the hiker bar (sandwich bar for hikers) which was a grand change from sleeping til at least midmorning with no plan back in Afton. In the month, a toenail fell off and I lost my glasses and then got conjunctivitis which of course resulted in me walking around semi-blind for several days and a realization I could hike a mountain, and cut vegetables, everything except read from a distance. And by week two, I was willingly waking up early on my breaks to go fishing and climb Mt. Fernow, which is the adventure I will share with you below!

It all started out at 4;30 AM when I had been warned we should leave at the ABSOLUTE latest at 5. I went to the dining hall to eat breakfast and was promptly ready to go at 5. Our leader decided 5:30 would be plenty fine and took his time with eating breakfast. Figuring he had done this three times before, I waited patiently and so we began our hike in the dark, the two boys debating if the bright star we saw was Venus or Jupiter and then guy gossip about relationships of people I didn't meet, quite amusing. We reached the top of copper basin around 7 and began the beginning of the trek up to the saddle, which is the hardest part. After many a rock field and scree, we came to a snow field and I used my ski instructing skills to walk up wide footed like a duck. M thought it would be easier (having led the way) since the snow was slick if we made it to the edge and went up the rocks. BAD idea! I tried to do this and ended up slipping clinging with my hiking pole to the snow not wanting to have to climb up again. I managed to get up and my friend John used an ice axe to carve stepholds. Thank goodness he had brought that cuz M said we didn't need one (correction: he didn't need one!). Upon reaching the summit, we saw the Entiat Valley and Mt. Maude which truly looked like a mountain out of a fairytale with its silver color and snowcapped peak.
Then it was just up, up, and more up of boulders, rocks, and snow. At 8000 ft J decides to tell me he's afraid of heights and I'm asking in my mind why in the world he decided to do a 9200 ft mountain if he is afraid of heights. But he overcame his fear and we made it to the fake summit of 9100 ft. M didn't feel comfortable with bringing us up the last 100 ft because of how slippery the snow was and we could see everything but Glacier Peak which I had seen in an amazing view from Image so I was content. If the leader isn't content, it's never a good idea to do it. So there we were with multiple layers in the wind (and a bar of cell phone service!) looking at peaks in Canada, Mt. Rainier, St. Helen's, Baker, and I think Adams. VERY beautiful and cool!

And so the descent began...I've always thought going down was more difficult than up and especially agree with that statement after this! We began the descent at 2 and had only made it down the first 500 ft in an hr when M realized he forgot his hiking pole. J was the closest to it b/c he was the slowest in the group and M decided to ask him to go back up and get it. In all honestly, I'm quite sure M could've gotten it in the time he succeeded in yelling back up the mtn and being comprehended and then J trekking for it. I told M it was 3:15 and he insisted we had plenty of time so I slowly continued trekking down. We made it back to the saddle and thus the snow fields downward began in a form even a child is familiar with-sledding. M showed us how to use our hiking pole as a brake..Jon had an ice axe. I went with my feet first, but my feet nor my hiking pole worked as a brake and I went flying, legs in a scissor position. M said I was starting to slow down but he grabbed my hand and feeling my heart beat inside was so relieved. I decided sledding was not the best idea and so tried to go down step by step with my hiking pole until that rolled down the hill. J gave me his yak tracks but they were too big and that too rolled down the hill. SO I waited there clinging to the spot I was in for dear life and waited for him to retrieve the two items that had fallen down the hill. An hr later we made it down that part with him carving spots for my feet and hands lowering me down one step at a time..until the 15$ ice axe decided to break and then we were literally just using the end. By this time it was 5:30. But the rest was a piece of cake in comparison. Boulders, rock fields, and scree. I decided to go ahead knowing I was slower coming down and decided to go in the trees being from MN and familiar with the woods. I felt like a monkey flying from tree to tree and descending rapidly. Until all there were were branches semi-rooted to the ground to which I clung to and decided it would be best to go back to the rock field bushwhacking through the trees until I reached the rock field. At this point, M and J were significantly behind me, but I didn't know which rock field to go down so I waited..and the sun began to go behind the basin (not sunset but the mtns are tall so the sun "sets" early). I realized we were going to be hiking down in the dark and so it began. We got our flashlights out just like we had that morning and began going down. Of course my hiking poles had to get caught in the crags of the rocks, but eventually we made it down to Copper Basin..in the pitch dark. So we start to go down to the path and realize we're on the wrong side of the creek. So backtracking, filling up water (we had been out for hours at this point), and with nothing on our minds but the Village we begin to descend radioing in telling them we will be back by 8:30. M told us he was only stopping for med emergencies and I agreed! Then J's headlamp bulb dies out...and then 30 mins later the battery. Of course we had to stop and hiking in the dark exponentially slowed our hiking down and something that took 1:45 to climb up took the same to come down when usually we had flown down this in 45 mins. At 10:15 we arrive back at the village, never been so happy to see it in my life!, and the HH guy and our emer contact are waiting there for us. I collapsed into lodge 6 and my roommate had already fallen asleep. 17 hours! G'night! But we did it and it was beautiful and all were safe!

And now my next adventure begins. I'm realizing I"m waiting for the unknown which could be forever and after taking an enneagram test (I'm a type 7 to the Tee!) realized I need to cease life to the fullest and found an opportunity to teach in Thailand for 4 months and receive my TESOL. Something in me was hesitant and questioning if I wanted to continue the nomadic life, but after friend, family, and stranger all saying nothing but GO! and then two sermons relating to getting out of your safety zone and the unknown, etc. I realized it was out of my hands and it's four months. What do I have to lose? A cafe job? I can do later if I really want to. So I'm going. Nov. 5! Between now and then I have to start and finish the 60 hr online portion, get my workshop CD for El Sistema ready to mail, and volunteer at a music festival in Black Mountain, NC, where hopefully more connections could arise. I'm committing! And Yes I'm excited even though it does seem crazy I'm jetsetting yet again. Thank you all for your support and of course I will continue to post!

Back in the USA!

Hello All!
Thanks to no internet for the past month I haven't been able to update, but aside from finally making quality friends (thanks to frisbee), lots of work (concerts galore!) and trying to spend as much time at Maku to learn as many African dances as possible including making a Bukoba drum (16 hours later!) and realizing I still haven't done souvenir shopping, that would be a summary of the last month. Not to mention the goodbyes where I received metres of fabric! I had a fashion show with my housemate Nina as we tried on dresses, skirts, and other clothing made especially for us :) I will miss everyone immensely and saying goodbye is always hard for me to do, but adding that many don't have email and I don't know if I will ever see them again made it especially sad not to mention the goodbye to my now considered nephew 4 yr old Colin.

It's so weird to be home. When I got off the airplane in Amsterdam, I literally stared at the Svarinsky crystal store close to 5 mins realizing this store alone is more than the whole of GDP in Tanzania! And then there was the airport library equipped with 1 euro massage/spa, bubble chairs, fake fireplace, books and iPads about Amsterdam history and culture, and a grand piano that is the nicest piano I have played all year just sitting idly in the airport (I think you can guess how I passed the next hour or so :) Thank you Blue Heron music not fitting in my checked bag.
NBI baggage people were complete assholes and insisting I could onyl have 1 carry-on. Explain to me that I can travel across the US with 2 carryons but intercontinental is only 1 and they tried to have a blanket count as my carry-on, bull shit. The guy who was weighing bags was really nice and helpful and suggested I repack my roller board so it is under the 12 kg limit for hte plane but the air guy wasn't having it so I took everything out and made one bag overweight...I think I got tricked into having to pay for a 3rd carryon because I somehow repacked this and the whole flight home kept realizing things I could have taken out: contact solution, books, strapping more shoes to my backpack, wearing more clothes, ah well shoulda coulda woulda. 200 dollars later I was on the plane with a 2 hr delay and ended up eating dinner at 1:30 AM and then crashing kabisa for the next 5 hrs.The second flight was much longer, but both uneventful.

Nairobi was a great last day in Africa with an excellent host and a great place, and i had a wonderful day in NBI meeting up with a CS from Kenya, a guy she was showing around from Denver, and a girl I met on the bus from Princeton who was an avid bird watcher. We saw the elephants at an elephant orphanage called the Sheldrick Wildlife Foundation (you can even adopt an elephant!) and I even got to pet them. I couldn't believe how fast they guzzled the bottles of milk, 45 seconds later and Abrakadabra-gone. Did you know elephants have a memory of 25-3o years? They also entertained themselves with a good ol' fashioned game of football (soccer).
This followed by a no picture trip to the Uhuru Gardens (uhuru means freedom) and a taxi breakdown followed by one last mbuzi (goat) nyama choma, ugali, and tomato salad lunch for the price of $1.50, was my first kiss...with a giraffe! Basically described as a dog slobbering on your face except with a pellet of giraffe pipi (candy) in between my lips.

The Nairobi National museum was also fascinating! I had no idea Kenya was the discovery of so many early humans like Nutcracker boy, etc! And they had the skeleton of an elephant that was the only wild elephant that the government supported to protect.

A bit of heart rate acceleration with 40 min. traffic and a need to be at the airport in 2 hours, but all went well. Taxis are SO much more expensive in Nairobi but she made a point, everything is more expensive in Nairobi. The Kenyan shilling is 90 to the dollar compared to approx. 1500 in Tanzania!
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Arrival in MN

You'll never guess the first thing I did after greeting my mom. Starbucks for a vanilla frappucino and an Asiago cheese bagel :) Just standing waiting for my mom was such culture shock seeing all these posh, very shiny (I didn't realize the difference of material they use on the cars here vs TZ), and tried to get in the car on the left side. Coming home, everything seemed so huge considering our whole house was the size of our family room! Had a lovely dinner of seafood spaghetti on the screened-in porch and admittedly took a nap to keep the jet lag at least a bit manageable. Minus being up at 5 AM jet lag is so far okay.

Not looking forward to unpacking and ECSTATIC to see friends I suppose this is my last blog until whatever the next adventure life brings me,
Kwa heri
Sara


PS A good friend of mine who is still in TZ who writes extremely well is whaleherdienda.com if you can't enough of TZ stories.