Life.

Hi guys! I know its been a while…sorry :/ guess I know what my new years resolution will be…

Okay so there has been a trend at school lately…at least in the last few weeks.  The majority of my kids have been “blowing” off their practice time to do revisions on past exams (their finals are tomorrow…so I guess I can’t blame them).  Teachers also have been refusing to allow them to practice because they feel that the music time is taking away from their grade (which is a whole other pet peeve, and I don’t think I have room or time to get into it right now).  But they also have a big concert that they need to be preparing for as well.  So…I gave an ultimatum.  Which I hate myself for.  I told them practice, or they can’t play Saturday.  Half of my lessons this week are canceled because of the exams this week…which I feel is just poor timing.  So I think this week I will be ripping my hair out, banging my head against a wall, and eating far too much chocolate to keep myself from going crazy.  I guess technically its “concert season” and these types of feelings are normal but c’mon! I don’t like it…I feel like everything is happening so last minute and everything that I’m doing is being thrown together and not really, truly, perfected the way it could and should be.  I have inherited this kingdom of strings.  It’s my job to make it better and pass it on to the next person…or stay here and continue to make it better.  Most days I don’t think about my job like that, but lately…it’s all I can think about.  For example, my Junior School orchestra…went from about 20 kids to 7 in one term (standard 8’s aren’t allowed to participate in music since they have no lives).  My strongest players went with them so I’ve been scrambling since the beginning of the term…wah…

Anywhoo…the term ends next week in a flourish of musical presentations…one right after the next…Grace and I just can’t believe how busy we’re going to be.  Buuuut I think it will all be okay :) (at least…I hope so) I plan to go to Nairobi next weekend after the term ends for a few days…so if it’s all a disaster…I can hide out there haha.  Though…I do stand out so hiding might not be an option.  I just want to do a good job and have people think that hiring me and having me here is a good thing.  I want people to think I’m a good teacher and to see the fruits of my labor! Is life always this hard for a first year teacher?

Well I got to meet someone important today!  She is the Minister of State for Special Programs…we brought the orchestra to present for her.  We played the national anthem annnnd then we played Dragonhunter! (for the ump-teenth time…)  My students did so well! I was so proud and they are so happy that they don’t have to play Dragonhunter ever…hopefully for a very long time haha.  I baked them cookies too…which made me wonder…how much should we give to our students to let them know we care and that there effort is satisfactory.  Is verbal praise enough anymore?  I find that students every where are all about presents and gifts and we as teachers give in 9 times out of 10.  Well…at least I do.  How much do students need now a days to have the feeling that they did a good job?  Why do they lack the confidence and self reflection to be okay without additional praise?

Wow…talk about huge tangent…oops…now for something completely differently…

Back to my original sentence…this presentation.  I was told about the presentation a week before.  That is something I’m fine with, especially since we just had a performance.  All the communication leading up to today was far, few, and in between.  I only found out this morning that they were expecting more than what we prepared and there was a huge ordeal with the transportation.  Oh and did I mention that they scheduled the orchestra to go to this event when half  my kids were expected to be taking an exam?  Yeah…woo hoo.  But just like Rachel was telling me…there are certain things that I have to just laugh about.  I’m trying my hardest to get used to the way things are at the school.  Who knows how long it will take.  I wonder sometimes about transitions and what things can be done to make them go faster or smoothly.  Or maybe the difficulty we experience is part of the process.  Could we even call it a transition if it happens smoothly with no learning experiences? Well you know whats probably going to happen…by the time my time here is over I will be perfectly transitioned and then have to leave and re-transition to American life…aye.

I think every day whether or not I can stay here for two years.  Every day I come up with the same answer.  I have no idea.  Maybe I’m trying to rush things too much.  I just feel like I have gotten attached so quickly and my relationships with these kids is going to be so soo strong.  Not that I didn’t have students before…or that I won’t have students ever again.  Maybe it’s because it’s my first real job.  Who knows.  It’s definitely a roller coaster.

I’m rounding on the two month marker…which means four more months until I get to go home! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (where is the time going?!?!?!?!?!?)

Kwaheri rafiki(s) 

Well…the drama has begun! You would think that with this laid back Kenyan life style that things would not be as crazy when it comes to drama…LIES!

The one thing that I feel is missing from this school here is trust…(I’m not exactly sure if “trust” is the right word to use but just go with it….maybe the word I’m looking for is perception? who knows.)

So…an “incident” happened about three weekends ago here.  I personally don’t think its a negative thing but I guess I can see how one can misconstrue the situation.  There are two male teachers who are in charge of the school band (not brass bands, guitars, drums, singers, and stuff…)  They were there on a Saturday night in the music office watching “America’s got Talent” and the show “The Voice”.  They were using these shows to try to help their students understand stage presence and vocal techniques.  There were four students with them, three girls and one boy.  Now, they had the lights off while this was going on.  Since this is a boarding school, until the students go to their dorms, there are two to three teachers on duty who watch over them.  Apparently one of the teachers on duty saw the teachers in the music office with the lights off…I’m not exactly sure when the director was notified but by the time it got back to the director the story was that the students were watching porn.  Aye.

Now, why the teacher on duty did not go investigate that night I have no idea…but the situation was discussed with the teachers in question until two weeks after the incident had occurred.

I think that if the faculty here did not automatically think the worst of situations this whole thing could have been avoided.  They should have gone in immediately if they thought that something bad was happening.  The should have told the teachers to turn the lights on and seen exactly what was going on.  Not assume that something bad was happening, let it get blown out of proportion and then wait two weeks to actually talk to the adults involved.  I don’t understand why people find it so hard to talk to each other now a days.  It’s like face to face conversations are a lost art.  Yes, I understand that confrontation can be hard but if it’s in the best interest of students who you are there to serve and watch over then it has to be done sooner rather than later.

I will never understand why people feel like they can talk about things when they DON’T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.  As a result of the incident…we are no longer allowed to let students who are not involved in the music program into the music area and girls are no longer allowed to have lessons after 7pm.  Why boys are still allowed I have no idea.

Yay school politics.

Anywhoooo…I have been trying to upload videos I have taken of my kids playing and reflecting and being wonderful but it’s not working too well :/ I will try again soon…Overall my kids are doing splendidly!  I have started up some small chamber groups with them and the kids are just eating it up!  I think I will have a chat with them on the evolution of the string quartet…hmmm lesson plans are brewing my friends…lesson plans are brewing >:)  I also have plans for a chamber group from Nairobi to come and work with the kids too!! WEEEEE!

Besides the drama…Kenya has been a bit cold and drizly…but I am looking forward to this weekend…I’m hoping for sun shine!!!

Badayee watotoo!

Oh no…this blog is turning into a neglected middle child…ha well whatever.

Soo lots has happened since I updated you all last…its been like two weeks…oops.  On the 24th Mount Kenya Academy hosted Citizens Gospel Sunday and Kubamba program!  The kids had a blast and we had a combined orchestra performance of the song Dragonhunter!  The performance was featured in the church service and the Kubamba was a dance session so I got to get my groove on with my kids :)

Since then I have been preparing for Parents Day.  The school would like the Junior School Orchestra to perform and some kids from Senior School as well.  In a month.  You should know that the orchestras only meet once a week for an hour.  THAT ONLY GIVES ME FOUR HOURS :X Aye-yai-yai-yai (I’m turning Kenyan too…)  For the Junior School we are going to play a piece called Rock Riffs by Soon-Hee Newbold (I think…)  And my plan for that is to have a improv break by a few kids and they seem pretty excited about it.  I’m going to have the senior school kids play some smaller ensemble pieces…though it seems like everyone who is in orchestra wants to play…though I can’t have everyone who signed up play because I don’t have enough instruments for everyone…decisions :/ Poo.  But I have a pile of quartets and duets but I feel that some of them are a bit beyond them so I’m in a bit of a pickle…

One thing that I have been dying to blog about is one of my viola students.  He has a bit of an attitude which I don’t think he is used to getting back from his teachers…haha me being a sassy American is a bit of a shock to him.  We were talking about music (I can’t remember the context to save my life) and I asked him what the difference between music and noise was and he said:

“Noise is just noise.  Music is harmony.”

I only wonder what Mark Campbell would have to say to that one…I think my plan for him is to expose him to some more modern music…

I am fitting in well though I think.  Everyone is very friendly.  I get into heated arguments about moral things like adultery and homosexuality but I think that story is a blog for another time…

I am off to senior school to teach violins and cellos! WOOOOOOOOO!

<3 Carey

AYE! Tomorrow starts my first solo week with my babies!  EEEE I’m so excited and nervous!

I just got back from spending a few days in Nairobi.  It started out with a crazy night out until 3 am then getting no sleep and taking Rachel to the airport :( Then it was over to see my friend Karis for the next few days.  We played some chamber music and then ate lots of food.  The rest of the weekend was about the same…playing music…eating…drinking….being merry…the usual :p

I had an interesting conversation with a new friend of mine.  He is Kenyan.  We were discussing the differences between Americans and Kenyans and how Americans are so emotional and sentimental and how Kenyans are more laid back and live the phrase “hakuna matata”.  Their lives are all about not worrying and not being upset with things don’t work out.  I can honestly say that I have never lived that way.  I can think of several instances in the past year living in America where I have been upset when something did not work out the way I wanted it to.  So where does this difference in living come from?  When did American’s get so worried about their lives?  Have we always been this way?  Is it just our culture or maybe just the American’s that this friend of mine has come into contact with?

I pose these questions to you my followers…give me some insight here friends!

My brain hurts and I’m to tired to think of this anymore lol

Badayee! 

Wah! So this is my first blog in Africa at the Mount Kenya Academy :) I am super duper happy to be here even if the traveling was stressful and exhausting.  My friend and woman I am replacing, Rachel has been helping me to get over my Jet Lag by not letting me sleep haha.

It is freaking gorgeous here!  Everything is so vibrant and people are very friendly! (probably because I’m American and a Woman…)

I’ve met most of my kids and they’re all great!  They all love playing and music!  I’ve also learned that teaching here is pretty laid back for some teachers.  The kids have school six days a week and are doing homework until 9 or later at night.  I am super excited to teach them and figure out what they know!

Other things I’ve learned is that Kenya’s are pretty private compared to Americans.  There are a bunch of different tribes of Kenyans around too…the local tribe is Kikuyu.  OH one thing I learned today from a 5th grader named Chris (he has other Kikuyu names but I don’t remember them…) a common phrase is “aye yaie ya!” which is freaking adorable coming from a 5th grader…

I have learned a bit of swahili…but I think I need some more practice until I get it solidified.  But! I was given an Kikuyu name when I arrived so they call me Wanjicu (or nice lady).  I like it. haha :p

Rachel plans to take me everywhere so possibly can while we are together so this weekend we are going to an open marked and a local spa :) 

Wish I had more teaching stories for you all buuut I am still shadowing :)

Well…I think that’s all for now!

Kwaheri! (bye in swahili)