I thought Bill Clinton is an interaction type. Hillary is a speech type. They are different. When it comes to making a speech, Hillary's voice sounds great. When it comes to interacting, Bill can make people comfortable and feel trustful. They are different, I thought.
Now, John Kerry started to speak!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hillary's speech
I happened to see Hillary's speech tonight and was so impressed with it. After the bitter defeat, I was interested to see how she pull herself together. She was beautiful, first of all. Her eyes were shining. She seemed full of confidence. Her language, of which I could understand every word, which means, I believe, every American including lots of immigrants who don't speak English well could understand what she said. It was very persuasive. Even I, who is not an American citizen, was almost moved to tears as one of the women in the world, felt sympathy for what she was saying. Then the question raised to my mind that it might have been a mistake not to choose Hillary as a presidential candidate or not....
Now, I'm very much interested in what Obama talks about in his speech, maybe Thursday night? He must leave a stronger impression than Hillary. It must be a tremendously difficult job!!
Now, I'm very much interested in what Obama talks about in his speech, maybe Thursday night? He must leave a stronger impression than Hillary. It must be a tremendously difficult job!!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
conversation and life
When you feel strong, you feel like you want to have a conversation with someone. For me, "Strong" can be "happy", "positive", "motivated", or "remembering loves towards people around you". To have a further converstaion, you might need to reveal your weakness sometimes.
This week, I had two conversations which now remain in my deep mind.
On Tuesday, I visited Mr. D's room before lunch time. He always stays in his room. He watches TV almost always. He seems to like being alone. I have rarely seen him in the day-room. I had talked with him several times before, but never had a deep conversation. I don't remember how it went but we started to talk about the time when we lose our motivation. Maybe I asked him how his physical therapy was going, he said it was going fine but not significant. And I remembered that I lost my energy to walk to the second closest subway station, which is only 15-minute walking distance from my place, after a few weeks of the workshop. I started to regain my energy just last weekend or so. This Tuesday morning, I realized that my feet moved forward by themselves and I felt like walking even to the next station of the second closest station. I talked about my story to him, and confessed, that I couldn't feel like talking to anyone after the workshop because I was too tired, I even shut the office door for a few hours even when I was back at the Home, then now I regained my energy both physically and mentally so I have a conversation with him and was so glad with it.
He started to talk about his weakness, saying, "I understand, I understand...." . He used to live with his elder sister, just two of them. He was told that he muscle was getting weakened and needed to be hospitalized. It was last year. He was so shocked to hear that. But he believed he could came back and lived with his sister again. He was hospitalized and moved to this Home a few months ago. I don't know his physical condition in details. I can tell his muscle is weak because he can't walk well and can't speak clearly. He spoke slowly but it actually helped me to understand his words. His slowness made me somehow secure. I could ask him to say the words again when I couldn't catch his words. He continued. His sister visits him often and express her loneliness. She wants him to come home soon. Yes, he wants to come home, too. He said he sometimes can't be positive. He sometimes loses energy to walk, to try hard. His eyes got filled with fluids..... It made me sad. I said, "I can understand your mind, a little bit....." I really hope his condition becomes better and live with his sister again as soon as possible. I said
We need to be healthy both physically and mentally to live positively.
On Thursday's lunch time, I made a round each table at the main dining room as usual. Most of the conversation was just greeting, saying "How are you today?" "I'm find and you?" "I'm fine, too" "Take care!", "It's a beautiful day today!" or something like that. I would make a longer conversation to several people who are willing to talk .
This time, I want to write about Ms. F. When I saw her first time, she seemed so weak. Her back was bended. She often coughed and can't digest food well. After lunch, she prefer going outside, to the Patio, and enjoy the sunshine. or if it's too hot or cold, she is at the hallway, in front of the elevators, and see people passing by. I usually say to her, "Hello, how are you?" shaking her hand. First time, I was surprised to see her grip strength is so strong! We shake our hands and exchange greetings, that's all, most of the times. One day, maybe around two months ago, when we have a cold meal, she said, "I am a German, so I don't eat a cold meal." It was the longest words I had ever heard she spoke at that time.
I remember, this Tuesday when I greeted her, she said, "you were not here yesterday, you are a bad girl!" I said, "Yes, I took a day off yesterday, I'm sorry, yes I'm a bad girl!"
Next day, Wednesday, I said, "Hi, I'm here! I'm a good girl today, right? Tell me I'm a good girl!" She said, "yes, you are a good girl!" I was glad we had a good daily phrase to exchange.
Then Thursday, after saying a "you are a good girl!" phrase, she started to talk. Our conversation went like this:
"I'm tired."
"Why?"
"I'm too old"
"No, you are not too old. You have much times left in your life!"
"No, I'm 93 years old. Too old. I'm tired to live."
"Don't say that. I'm glad you are here. You are here to make people happy because I feel happy you are here."
"My grandfather died 81 years old. I'm too old. I don't want to live any more. I lived too long. I'm tired."
"Oh, you overlived your grand father. You should be proud of yourself! I know people here who are elder than you. I think you are not the eldest here. And listen, if you had passed away, let's say a few years ago, we could haven't met each other. It's sad. I'm so glad we could meet each other. "
She smiled silently. She wanted to tell something to me. I was glad she talked to me about her deep feeling. Now, I want to know her life. Where she was born? What was her childhood like? What was her young hood like? I want to talk with her more. I want to know her 93-year-long life more.
I realized that, in my daily life at the Home, I make a longer conversation with certain people. With other people, I tend to exchange just greetings. I want to expand the possibility to have a longer conversation with more people. I shouldn't give up.
For the past week, we lost two women who regularly come to the Adult Day Health Care Center. We are going to have a memorial service for them next Tuesday. Also we lost other two residents who lived at the nursing home. One of them, Mr. C had no family, Ieva told me that. We visited him at the hospital in June. He seemed small at the time but his voice was strong enough to shout out to complain that people were not kind enough to him or he really wanted to come to the Home. He was joking around. He said he could teach me a "good" English. I asked him to teach me. At first, I thought he is a scary person, but my impression changed after we talked together for a while. He was a good person. I felt sad when I heard his death. I want to attend his funeral, maybe some day next week.
Our life is limited. We can't do everything. Sometimes you feel a life is too short, some times you might feel it's too long, because it's unpredictable, it's a mystery somehow. I don't know what to explain but mixed feelings going around in my mind this week.
This week, I had two conversations which now remain in my deep mind.
On Tuesday, I visited Mr. D's room before lunch time. He always stays in his room. He watches TV almost always. He seems to like being alone. I have rarely seen him in the day-room. I had talked with him several times before, but never had a deep conversation. I don't remember how it went but we started to talk about the time when we lose our motivation. Maybe I asked him how his physical therapy was going, he said it was going fine but not significant. And I remembered that I lost my energy to walk to the second closest subway station, which is only 15-minute walking distance from my place, after a few weeks of the workshop. I started to regain my energy just last weekend or so. This Tuesday morning, I realized that my feet moved forward by themselves and I felt like walking even to the next station of the second closest station. I talked about my story to him, and confessed, that I couldn't feel like talking to anyone after the workshop because I was too tired, I even shut the office door for a few hours even when I was back at the Home, then now I regained my energy both physically and mentally so I have a conversation with him and was so glad with it.
He started to talk about his weakness, saying, "I understand, I understand...." . He used to live with his elder sister, just two of them. He was told that he muscle was getting weakened and needed to be hospitalized. It was last year. He was so shocked to hear that. But he believed he could came back and lived with his sister again. He was hospitalized and moved to this Home a few months ago. I don't know his physical condition in details. I can tell his muscle is weak because he can't walk well and can't speak clearly. He spoke slowly but it actually helped me to understand his words. His slowness made me somehow secure. I could ask him to say the words again when I couldn't catch his words. He continued. His sister visits him often and express her loneliness. She wants him to come home soon. Yes, he wants to come home, too. He said he sometimes can't be positive. He sometimes loses energy to walk, to try hard. His eyes got filled with fluids..... It made me sad. I said, "I can understand your mind, a little bit....." I really hope his condition becomes better and live with his sister again as soon as possible. I said
We need to be healthy both physically and mentally to live positively.
On Thursday's lunch time, I made a round each table at the main dining room as usual. Most of the conversation was just greeting, saying "How are you today?" "I'm find and you?" "I'm fine, too" "Take care!", "It's a beautiful day today!" or something like that. I would make a longer conversation to several people who are willing to talk .
This time, I want to write about Ms. F. When I saw her first time, she seemed so weak. Her back was bended. She often coughed and can't digest food well. After lunch, she prefer going outside, to the Patio, and enjoy the sunshine. or if it's too hot or cold, she is at the hallway, in front of the elevators, and see people passing by. I usually say to her, "Hello, how are you?" shaking her hand. First time, I was surprised to see her grip strength is so strong! We shake our hands and exchange greetings, that's all, most of the times. One day, maybe around two months ago, when we have a cold meal, she said, "I am a German, so I don't eat a cold meal." It was the longest words I had ever heard she spoke at that time.
I remember, this Tuesday when I greeted her, she said, "you were not here yesterday, you are a bad girl!" I said, "Yes, I took a day off yesterday, I'm sorry, yes I'm a bad girl!"
Next day, Wednesday, I said, "Hi, I'm here! I'm a good girl today, right? Tell me I'm a good girl!" She said, "yes, you are a good girl!" I was glad we had a good daily phrase to exchange.
Then Thursday, after saying a "you are a good girl!" phrase, she started to talk. Our conversation went like this:
"I'm tired."
"Why?"
"I'm too old"
"No, you are not too old. You have much times left in your life!"
"No, I'm 93 years old. Too old. I'm tired to live."
"Don't say that. I'm glad you are here. You are here to make people happy because I feel happy you are here."
"My grandfather died 81 years old. I'm too old. I don't want to live any more. I lived too long. I'm tired."
"Oh, you overlived your grand father. You should be proud of yourself! I know people here who are elder than you. I think you are not the eldest here. And listen, if you had passed away, let's say a few years ago, we could haven't met each other. It's sad. I'm so glad we could meet each other. "
She smiled silently. She wanted to tell something to me. I was glad she talked to me about her deep feeling. Now, I want to know her life. Where she was born? What was her childhood like? What was her young hood like? I want to talk with her more. I want to know her 93-year-long life more.
I realized that, in my daily life at the Home, I make a longer conversation with certain people. With other people, I tend to exchange just greetings. I want to expand the possibility to have a longer conversation with more people. I shouldn't give up.
For the past week, we lost two women who regularly come to the Adult Day Health Care Center. We are going to have a memorial service for them next Tuesday. Also we lost other two residents who lived at the nursing home. One of them, Mr. C had no family, Ieva told me that. We visited him at the hospital in June. He seemed small at the time but his voice was strong enough to shout out to complain that people were not kind enough to him or he really wanted to come to the Home. He was joking around. He said he could teach me a "good" English. I asked him to teach me. At first, I thought he is a scary person, but my impression changed after we talked together for a while. He was a good person. I felt sad when I heard his death. I want to attend his funeral, maybe some day next week.
Our life is limited. We can't do everything. Sometimes you feel a life is too short, some times you might feel it's too long, because it's unpredictable, it's a mystery somehow. I don't know what to explain but mixed feelings going around in my mind this week.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
musical "Hair" at the Central Park
I saw the musical "Hair" at the Central Park last night. It was just fabulous!! My friend who I met Brian's radio show's event three years ago asked me to go there together. She went to the park at 7:30 AM to be in a line to get the tickets. She said there were already more than 500 people, 7:30 in the morning! But she found another line for senior citizen over 65, and there were only 8 people in the line! She was there until 1PM when the staff started to give the ticket to the people. We had dinner at her apartment and headed to the Park together. The weather was perfect, not so hot and not so cold, at intermission, we saw the beautiful moon!
Also I was impressed with the beauty of the theater itself, especially the natural lawn on the stage!
In the performance, each singer sang so beautifully and the band played wonderfully. The band's conductor was a woman, a keyboardist! I noticed there was an Asian singer among them, I didn't know her but I felt proud of her as Asians.
I couldn't understand all of the lyrics, but could understand most of the read lines. In the end of it, some of the audience went on to the stage and danced with the performers. It was like a dancing party, not a light-hearted one but a deep-hearted one. Everybody seemed to enjoy it also I felt everybody deeply wish for peace as they were dancing. I was moved as I saw the scene.
I'd never heard of the musical before. Before going there I googled it and learn about it a little bit. My friend told me her sentiment for the Hair. She said this time is the same as the time when the musical had a debut at the Public theater at Lower Manhattan over forty years ago. Now, we still have wars, people are dying everyday. Even military duty is not mandate anymore (I didn't know that!), many people are suffering because sometimes each family member has different idea toward war or military. A son might want to join the military to protect his own country because he thinks that's the best things to do in his life, and the mother might think it's ridiculous. It's happening here. Her words and the musical made me think a lot about what is the meaning of having a military system in your country or what is the meaning of fighting a war now, and so on. Also I thought of why people tempted to use drugs when they became helpless or hopeless, even among intelligent people, among powerful people. Or people in the so called "high-level" might be weaker? I don't know. It's a deep issue.
We don't have a military system in Japan. But several politicians insists we should have one to be independent from the US or for some other reasons. I don't like the idea. But I'm afraid more and more people are getting conservative and patriotic and inclined to this extreme idea...... We won't have peace if we continued to keep guns with us. I don't want to live in such a world where all people keep their guns, even to protect themselves. I don't know how to improve the situation but only to wish for peace.
It might be important for us to just talk with each other, not only between people with same ideas but also people with different ideas, cultures, races, nationalities, to make peace come.
This fall, there will be the presidential election here in the US. Personally, I want to see the first black President in the history. I'm very much interested in the result. It will definitely affect the relationship between my country and the US.
Also I was impressed with the beauty of the theater itself, especially the natural lawn on the stage!
In the performance, each singer sang so beautifully and the band played wonderfully. The band's conductor was a woman, a keyboardist! I noticed there was an Asian singer among them, I didn't know her but I felt proud of her as Asians.
I couldn't understand all of the lyrics, but could understand most of the read lines. In the end of it, some of the audience went on to the stage and danced with the performers. It was like a dancing party, not a light-hearted one but a deep-hearted one. Everybody seemed to enjoy it also I felt everybody deeply wish for peace as they were dancing. I was moved as I saw the scene.
I'd never heard of the musical before. Before going there I googled it and learn about it a little bit. My friend told me her sentiment for the Hair. She said this time is the same as the time when the musical had a debut at the Public theater at Lower Manhattan over forty years ago. Now, we still have wars, people are dying everyday. Even military duty is not mandate anymore (I didn't know that!), many people are suffering because sometimes each family member has different idea toward war or military. A son might want to join the military to protect his own country because he thinks that's the best things to do in his life, and the mother might think it's ridiculous. It's happening here. Her words and the musical made me think a lot about what is the meaning of having a military system in your country or what is the meaning of fighting a war now, and so on. Also I thought of why people tempted to use drugs when they became helpless or hopeless, even among intelligent people, among powerful people. Or people in the so called "high-level" might be weaker? I don't know. It's a deep issue.
We don't have a military system in Japan. But several politicians insists we should have one to be independent from the US or for some other reasons. I don't like the idea. But I'm afraid more and more people are getting conservative and patriotic and inclined to this extreme idea...... We won't have peace if we continued to keep guns with us. I don't want to live in such a world where all people keep their guns, even to protect themselves. I don't know how to improve the situation but only to wish for peace.
It might be important for us to just talk with each other, not only between people with same ideas but also people with different ideas, cultures, races, nationalities, to make peace come.
This fall, there will be the presidential election here in the US. Personally, I want to see the first black President in the history. I'm very much interested in the result. It will definitely affect the relationship between my country and the US.
Friday, August 15, 2008
This week
On Monday, I joined the singing session for Monteverdi's Vesper led by Gwen, who was one of the faculties at the Smith II workshop. I met more than 10 people from the workshop, also a few people from the Friday singing group. It was like a reunion! I very much enjoyed singing it with everyone. I've listened to it once in Japan but it was my first time to sing it. I loved the piece. I love Monteverdi.
At the Home, we were going to watch the Mets baseball game but it was canceled due to the thundersromy weather. I felt so sad about it!!!! I hope we have another chance to go there.
On Tuesday, we had Bible study at the Home. We had a good time. I sang the "Lord's Prayer" in the end. As I was singing, I looked at everybody's face. Their faces were shining with joy. I felt happy with it.
On Wednesday, I had a good time with Ieva. We hadn't been able to have time to work together since her retirement. I had the two workshop, she went to a two-week trip between them. We felt happy to work together. We visited several residents rooms and enjoyed chatting. We had a meeting with a social worker about our new project. We want to interview our residents and record it because we think many of them have a precious memory not only for them but for this country's history. Even if their memory becomes short, they have a good day when they remember many things and are willing to talk. We went to the Story Corp. website and thought we might bring some of the residents there and record the interview or invite the mobile van to our Home some day! Ieva and me talked about many possible plans afterward at the MacDonald over ice cream. When two of us get together and talk about what we can do to make the residents lives improved, we become positive and hopeful. Our power might be small, but we could encourage others to help us, then I believe, we could do something big in the end!
On Thursday, one of the fourth floor residents went home. Her discharge schedule had been postponed several times. One time, she was happy saying she could go home soon, I felt so happy for her, then the schedule postponed, wchich made both of us sad, then she was told she could go home soon, and postponed..... Finally, she went home! I felt so happy for her, but at the same time, I felt sad because I loose her..... I'll definitely miss her. But... I should say, congratulation, Helen!
My piano student gave me a beads neckless for me. I wore it as my charm for the choir audition that night.
At the Home, we were going to watch the Mets baseball game but it was canceled due to the thundersromy weather. I felt so sad about it!!!! I hope we have another chance to go there.
On Tuesday, we had Bible study at the Home. We had a good time. I sang the "Lord's Prayer" in the end. As I was singing, I looked at everybody's face. Their faces were shining with joy. I felt happy with it.
On Wednesday, I had a good time with Ieva. We hadn't been able to have time to work together since her retirement. I had the two workshop, she went to a two-week trip between them. We felt happy to work together. We visited several residents rooms and enjoyed chatting. We had a meeting with a social worker about our new project. We want to interview our residents and record it because we think many of them have a precious memory not only for them but for this country's history. Even if their memory becomes short, they have a good day when they remember many things and are willing to talk. We went to the Story Corp. website and thought we might bring some of the residents there and record the interview or invite the mobile van to our Home some day! Ieva and me talked about many possible plans afterward at the MacDonald over ice cream. When two of us get together and talk about what we can do to make the residents lives improved, we become positive and hopeful. Our power might be small, but we could encourage others to help us, then I believe, we could do something big in the end!
On Thursday, one of the fourth floor residents went home. Her discharge schedule had been postponed several times. One time, she was happy saying she could go home soon, I felt so happy for her, then the schedule postponed, wchich made both of us sad, then she was told she could go home soon, and postponed..... Finally, she went home! I felt so happy for her, but at the same time, I felt sad because I loose her..... I'll definitely miss her. But... I should say, congratulation, Helen!
My piano student gave me a beads neckless for me. I wore it as my charm for the choir audition that night.
My school of NYC!
These days, I've come to think of my experience here as I've been attending variety of classes at the school of New York City. I came here to work as a volunteer at a nursing home, but as the time has passed, unexpected wonderful opportunities happened to me. I was given a year period of time. I've been learning variety of things from variety of people here in the US.
At a supermarket, a check-out speaks extremely fast and I couldn't catch what she or he says. One day, I understand she says! "Do you want a plastic bag?" "Do you have a c-town card?" "Cash or plastic?" something like that. This Monday, the check out woman was yawning, then I said, "Are you sleepy?", she smiled at me. She gave me a discount for a few cents!
On the bus, I saw kind people. A man keep the door open until all the passengers got off. Another man just say, "After you" until all the passengers get on before him. One day, a woman said to me, "Where did you get your bag?" pointing my piggy patterned bag. I said, "In Japan" with smile. She said, "Oh, anyway, I love it!"
Yesterday, I had an audition for a choir. I went to the building and went up to the third floor, and got lost. I couldn't find the room and was just walking around the hallway several times. I found a cleaning lady and asked, "I'm looking for the room 3491 but can't find it. Can you tell me where it is?" She tried to tell me the direction, saying it is near the pantry. She asked me if I knew what the pantry is, I answered no. Then she just took me to the place. Also she told me where the lady's room was just in case. I was so impressed with her kindness.
One day (a few months ago) on the street near my nursing school, a man shouted at me (I thought he shouted but maybe he didn't) something. I couldn't catch what he said so I just ignore it. After a while I found my shoe string was untied. Then I realized what the man said to me. He was saying "Tie your shoe!!" again and again. I'm sorry, sir! I should have said "thank you" to him. He was a kind man.
I can't remember all of the episodes I have had here so far.
Everyone I meet here, and everything I meet here teaches me. I don't know what's happening to me for the rest of the time staying here, but I will appreciate everything I will meet here. This is my school. I could learn from everything, not only happy things but also unhappy ones.
At a supermarket, a check-out speaks extremely fast and I couldn't catch what she or he says. One day, I understand she says! "Do you want a plastic bag?" "Do you have a c-town card?" "Cash or plastic?" something like that. This Monday, the check out woman was yawning, then I said, "Are you sleepy?", she smiled at me. She gave me a discount for a few cents!
On the bus, I saw kind people. A man keep the door open until all the passengers got off. Another man just say, "After you" until all the passengers get on before him. One day, a woman said to me, "Where did you get your bag?" pointing my piggy patterned bag. I said, "In Japan" with smile. She said, "Oh, anyway, I love it!"
Yesterday, I had an audition for a choir. I went to the building and went up to the third floor, and got lost. I couldn't find the room and was just walking around the hallway several times. I found a cleaning lady and asked, "I'm looking for the room 3491 but can't find it. Can you tell me where it is?" She tried to tell me the direction, saying it is near the pantry. She asked me if I knew what the pantry is, I answered no. Then she just took me to the place. Also she told me where the lady's room was just in case. I was so impressed with her kindness.
One day (a few months ago) on the street near my nursing school, a man shouted at me (I thought he shouted but maybe he didn't) something. I couldn't catch what he said so I just ignore it. After a while I found my shoe string was untied. Then I realized what the man said to me. He was saying "Tie your shoe!!" again and again. I'm sorry, sir! I should have said "thank you" to him. He was a kind man.
I can't remember all of the episodes I have had here so far.
Everyone I meet here, and everything I meet here teaches me. I don't know what's happening to me for the rest of the time staying here, but I will appreciate everything I will meet here. This is my school. I could learn from everything, not only happy things but also unhappy ones.
Monday, August 11, 2008
baby kitty!
I visited my church friend house today to see 2-week-old baby kitty.
It was sooooooooo cute!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
warm gift
I got a gift which couldn't be warmer from a resident at the nursing home, my piano student, yesterday.
On Tuesday, we had a Bible study time at the Adult Day Health Care Center. It was my first day back from the Smith II workshop. I had a rest on Monday so I thought I was ready for working at the Home, but I knew I was not. I entered to the pastoral care office in the morning, checked the e-mails and updated the room changes and so on. Then I suddenly felt that I didn't want to see anyone, I couldn't talk to anyone. My inner world was just not ready for communicating with anything. For the first time since I came here, I shut the door and put my face on the desk. I couldn't get up for the next two hours. The Bible study was supposed to start at 1:30, and the time came. I forced myself to go there and sat down at the piano. I just could manage myself to play the first hymn. Then the volunteer pastor, Euginia started to pray, then my piano student started to read the Scripture like: "God, make us strong, show us the way we go." something like that. The atmosphere and the Words made me cry. I don't know why. Maybe I was too tired to be normal! I was like a baby! I was so embarrassed but couldn't stop crying. The piano student and the pastor came to me one after another saying, "God will take care of you, don't worry, everything is going to be all right" I excused myself to the office and left home afterward. I felt sorry for all the people there because they like my piano and singing every time and they said they missed me last week. I wanted to be there but I couldn't.
Then, yesterday, when I got to the office in the morning, there was a plastic bag on the desk with a memo "for Naoko from XXX(piano student's name)" it was filled with her loves! An apple, an orange, cookies, a peanut bar, a chocolate bar, ginger ale, a straw, and a plastic cup. She just tried to sooth me with everything she had. I was so impressed with her warm consideration. Later on, I met her and just hugged her. She said, "I felt so sorry for you on Tuesday. You came from another part of the world, you see different culture, thoughts, and you don't have anyone to talk to. I remember my first days I came to the US. I understand your mind. You are like my daughter. I love you." My heart got filled with her loves. Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me.
I feel no tiredness at all. I just feel happy now!
giant hot chocolate!
I was quite surprised to see the giant hot chocolate when I had breakfast with the participants at the workshop on Monday morning lat week. It was huge!!!! At first I thought I couldn't drink it up, but in fact, I enjoyed it to the last drop! I loved the American size!
what is the difference?
I had a good time with Keiko, who are from Japan and whom I met at the workshop, on Wednesday. After visiting the African American Museum, we had a rest at the food court at the South Street Seaport. We enjoyed the wonderful scenery from the deck, especially the Brooklyn Bridge! Can you tell the difference between this photo and the photo at the top of this blog? You can enjoy the special exhibition with the Brooklyn Bridge now. Waterfall!
Friday, August 8, 2008
My charm at the workshop
I want to show you my charm at the workshop. I had two charms.
One of them was a birthday card filled with lovely messages from the Friday singing group members. I first joined this group three years ago. I stayed in NY for three months three years ago to learn English language. When I had an evaluation interview by my ESL teacher, I told her that I was looking for church I could attend in Brooklyn where I was staying at that time. The teacher introduced me her own church in Park Slope, Brooklyn. On my first day at church, I sat next to a woman who talked to me after the service asking if I was interested in joining both the church choir and the singing group where her friend was leading. Since then I started to join both the church choir and the singing group. When I left NY in June, 2005, I felt so sad because I thought I could never see them again. I am so happy that I could come back here and have been joining the choir and singing group again! Actually, my friends in the singing group asked me to join the Western Wind workshop. One meeting leads another meeting, and it makes your world expanding! I love everyone in the singing group. They all are lovely! I was delighted to receive this birthday card. I'll never forget my birthday this year in the US.
Another card is from Ieva, the former pastor and now a volunteer pastor at the nursing home. She always encourages me with her warm and knowledgeable advice. Before joining the second workshop, she gave me this message card.
I put these two cards on the shelf in my room at the dorm and looked at them whenever I thought I needed encouragement.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
back from the Smith II workshop
I got home yesterday from the Smith II workshop. It was another very challenging experience.
I sang the following music this time:
(in random order)
"Katy Cruel" by Robert Dennis
the rhythm work killed me! but it was very enjoyable song when you make it.
"I Hide Myself" by Eric Whitacre
deep sound something like an aurora or rainbow. the lyrics sounds philosophically, and somehow fit my feeling. Yumiko joined our group to help my alto part. We became together in the end, on the stage, I felt happy about it.
"Messe De Nostre Dame -Gloria-" by Machaut
at first, I thought it would be a new time music but it was not! it was made before renaissance time! the harmony work is very interesting, and it took a long time for me to grab the music. I enjoyed my time in a practice room with this piece. Each time, I found new things and was excited with it.
"Pure Imagination" by Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley, arranged by Yumiko Matsuoka
This music is from an old movie, "Charlie and Chocolate Factory". I loved the lyrics. At first I focused on singing with particularly tenor part (Richard), and then I realized I should more focus on making a good harmony with the bass part, and things started to go better. At the final concert, while I was singing, I felt like I was in a dream world. Such a lovely song!
"Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?" Nigro Spiritual arr. Paul Hart
Richard told us that this song should be sung with outrageous expression. In my mind, I remembered people at the nursing home. Some black people told me their hard time, their experience of being treated unfairly, I was sad to hear that, anger feeling came up to my mind, I remembered that time. One day, my piano student told me that she stopped crying one day, and instead, she started to speak out when she was treated unfairly. We should express our anger sometimes to let people know it. When I sang it, I remembered it.
One more interesting thing about this song was: we sang this song with Kayla's group on the stage. It was totally coincidence but Richard and Gayla chose the same song for the groups! I very much enjoyed singing with different group. It was a lovely time.
"Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei!" by Henry Purcell
Singing Purcell is not an easy job unlike it sounded. There are lots of dissonant that make me sing in a wrong key! I played the organ part by the piano again and again as I sang my part. My joy was that Gwen (the organist for us) let me play the lovely box organ during lunch break one day. It sounded so lovely that I started to be in the music deeply and enjoy singing it from the bottom of my heart. The interaction between each part is really beautiful in this piece.
"a Felix de Nobel I. O Magnum Mysterium" by Francis Poulenc
Poulenc became one of my favorite composer since I sang his piece at the last workshop. This piece is also lovely. It sounds variously, sometimes sadly, shimmery, deeply, spiritually, it reaches into the bottom of your heart.
"Hosanna to the Son of David" by Thomas Weelkes
It was my first time to sing Weelkes music. It is a gorgeous and spiritual song, makes people look up to the highest place.
"Talismane" by Robert Schumann
This is the large group piece conducted by Richard. When I sang this song, my voice came out naturally I felt no stress singing it. It was a really great piece. This music make people sing! Great amount of energy just comes out from you without recognizing it!
"Questi vaghi concenti" by Claudio Monteverdi
I particularly enjoyed singing with our soprano singer, Franny. There were several part for us to interact with each other. When I was singing, I felt like there was another me next to me. Such a happy time!
"Janger" (Traditional Balinese) arr. Budi Susanto Yohanes
It's a rhythm work and a playing time! We sang it at the final concert for the weekend course. I loved it!
"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by julie Dolphin
This was a large group piece for the weekend conducted by Kristina. It is a truly beautiful world. Sounds spreading like beyond the end of the earth! It was my happiest time for me singing it through the weekend.
"Ticket To Ride" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney arr. Alexander L'Estrange
Beatles! This is the only song I knew through the two workshops! Laura joined my also part helped me. At first I felt weak but I enjoyed singing it in the end.
"Salve Regina" by Claudio Monteverdi
I sang this trio at the Continuo concert with Franny and Jeff. I couldn't sang it well but loved it very much.
"Ave, Regina Coelorum" by Giovanni Felice Sances
I was asked to join this trio for the also part just one day before the concert. It turned out to be my favorite performance through this time. I was glad to sing with Steve and Bruce. They taught me about the Latin lyrics and I gave them my suggestion about the tempo change and articulation. We exchanged our ideas and nurtured our music. We had a good time and enjoyed our performance on the stage!
I sang the following music this time:
(in random order)
"Katy Cruel" by Robert Dennis
the rhythm work killed me! but it was very enjoyable song when you make it.
"I Hide Myself" by Eric Whitacre
deep sound something like an aurora or rainbow. the lyrics sounds philosophically, and somehow fit my feeling. Yumiko joined our group to help my alto part. We became together in the end, on the stage, I felt happy about it.
"Messe De Nostre Dame -Gloria-" by Machaut
at first, I thought it would be a new time music but it was not! it was made before renaissance time! the harmony work is very interesting, and it took a long time for me to grab the music. I enjoyed my time in a practice room with this piece. Each time, I found new things and was excited with it.
"Pure Imagination" by Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley, arranged by Yumiko Matsuoka
This music is from an old movie, "Charlie and Chocolate Factory". I loved the lyrics. At first I focused on singing with particularly tenor part (Richard), and then I realized I should more focus on making a good harmony with the bass part, and things started to go better. At the final concert, while I was singing, I felt like I was in a dream world. Such a lovely song!
"Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?" Nigro Spiritual arr. Paul Hart
Richard told us that this song should be sung with outrageous expression. In my mind, I remembered people at the nursing home. Some black people told me their hard time, their experience of being treated unfairly, I was sad to hear that, anger feeling came up to my mind, I remembered that time. One day, my piano student told me that she stopped crying one day, and instead, she started to speak out when she was treated unfairly. We should express our anger sometimes to let people know it. When I sang it, I remembered it.
One more interesting thing about this song was: we sang this song with Kayla's group on the stage. It was totally coincidence but Richard and Gayla chose the same song for the groups! I very much enjoyed singing with different group. It was a lovely time.
"Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei!" by Henry Purcell
Singing Purcell is not an easy job unlike it sounded. There are lots of dissonant that make me sing in a wrong key! I played the organ part by the piano again and again as I sang my part. My joy was that Gwen (the organist for us) let me play the lovely box organ during lunch break one day. It sounded so lovely that I started to be in the music deeply and enjoy singing it from the bottom of my heart. The interaction between each part is really beautiful in this piece.
"a Felix de Nobel I. O Magnum Mysterium" by Francis Poulenc
Poulenc became one of my favorite composer since I sang his piece at the last workshop. This piece is also lovely. It sounds variously, sometimes sadly, shimmery, deeply, spiritually, it reaches into the bottom of your heart.
"Hosanna to the Son of David" by Thomas Weelkes
It was my first time to sing Weelkes music. It is a gorgeous and spiritual song, makes people look up to the highest place.
"Talismane" by Robert Schumann
This is the large group piece conducted by Richard. When I sang this song, my voice came out naturally I felt no stress singing it. It was a really great piece. This music make people sing! Great amount of energy just comes out from you without recognizing it!
"Questi vaghi concenti" by Claudio Monteverdi
I particularly enjoyed singing with our soprano singer, Franny. There were several part for us to interact with each other. When I was singing, I felt like there was another me next to me. Such a happy time!
"Janger" (Traditional Balinese) arr. Budi Susanto Yohanes
It's a rhythm work and a playing time! We sang it at the final concert for the weekend course. I loved it!
"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by julie Dolphin
This was a large group piece for the weekend conducted by Kristina. It is a truly beautiful world. Sounds spreading like beyond the end of the earth! It was my happiest time for me singing it through the weekend.
"Ticket To Ride" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney arr. Alexander L'Estrange
Beatles! This is the only song I knew through the two workshops! Laura joined my also part helped me. At first I felt weak but I enjoyed singing it in the end.
"Salve Regina" by Claudio Monteverdi
I sang this trio at the Continuo concert with Franny and Jeff. I couldn't sang it well but loved it very much.
"Ave, Regina Coelorum" by Giovanni Felice Sances
I was asked to join this trio for the also part just one day before the concert. It turned out to be my favorite performance through this time. I was glad to sing with Steve and Bruce. They taught me about the Latin lyrics and I gave them my suggestion about the tempo change and articulation. We exchanged our ideas and nurtured our music. We had a good time and enjoyed our performance on the stage!
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