A couple of weeks ago, the violin instructor at the Uni asked if I would be interested in performing with the Collegiate Orchestra on Saturday. Of course I agreed. The orchestra was tiny - the three newly-recruited violinists brought the total of first violins to five. Oh well, playing was the important thing.
On Saturday evening, after my day surfing the waves, I walked to St. Paul's Cathedral in the Octagon and found out that the director wanted me to sit as concertmaster. I had only been to two rehearsals and missed the Saturday afternoon rehearsal, but he insisted. I made plenty of mistakes, but overall the concert went pretty well.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Catch a Wave!
One of the Arcadia NZ programs every semester is a surf lesson. Before I even came to New Zealand, I was so excited. I've always wanted to give surfing a shot, even if I was terrible at it. The lesson was originally scheduled for a couple of weeks ago, but we had rain and big waves so it was postponed until today. It could not have been a nicer day to spend out in the sea. The sun was shining and the wind was calm, absolutely perfect conditions.
We were told to meet outside of the Farmers Department Store to catch the city bus to the beach. Only 2 of us turned up, though, along with Helen, who is employed by Arcadia to help out with all of the students. She ended up driving us instead. On the way, we picked up another student who misunderstood the information and was waiting at the train station where the farmers' market was set up. . .
More students met us at St. Clair beach where we were suited up with wetsuits. It was the first time I have ever worn one. (They are amazing! I could hardly feel the cold water.) My arms were a bit too short to carry my pink surf board the "correct" way for very long, so I balanced it on top of my head instead and made my way down the beach. We were split into two groups and given a few instructions on the basics of surfing.
We all laid our boards in a semi-circle and pretended to paddle. Then, we were told to jump up in one fluid motion, landing with our feet a bit further than shoulder length apart, on the back half of the board, with our front foot turned out. Believe me, this is much easier said than done. I almost always landed incorrectly, and it was never a fluid motion.
Oh well. We headed out to attempt to catch our first waves. Making my way out to sea was pretty challenging; for every step I took forward, the incoming waves pushed me back another two. Once I finally made it out to about my torso, I was able to catch a few waves. Timing the waves wasn't hard at all - the difficult part was standing up.
Most of the time, I would make it to my knees and then slip off my board. A couple times I swirled around in the waves for a few seconds before resurfacing. The instructors gave me good tips on how to try and stand, and eventually I did it! Twice! I stood on my moving surf board twice! I'm so proud.
We spent about two hours or a little less in the water, but it went by quickly. I kept trying again and again, and I didn't even get frustrated when I couldn't get up. By the end, though, I was exhausted. Carrying the board, fighting the waves, and using my arms to paddle and then force myself up was hard work.
Today was one of my favorite in Dunedin. I can't wait to try surfing again.
We were told to meet outside of the Farmers Department Store to catch the city bus to the beach. Only 2 of us turned up, though, along with Helen, who is employed by Arcadia to help out with all of the students. She ended up driving us instead. On the way, we picked up another student who misunderstood the information and was waiting at the train station where the farmers' market was set up. . .
More students met us at St. Clair beach where we were suited up with wetsuits. It was the first time I have ever worn one. (They are amazing! I could hardly feel the cold water.) My arms were a bit too short to carry my pink surf board the "correct" way for very long, so I balanced it on top of my head instead and made my way down the beach. We were split into two groups and given a few instructions on the basics of surfing.
We all laid our boards in a semi-circle and pretended to paddle. Then, we were told to jump up in one fluid motion, landing with our feet a bit further than shoulder length apart, on the back half of the board, with our front foot turned out. Believe me, this is much easier said than done. I almost always landed incorrectly, and it was never a fluid motion.
Oh well. We headed out to attempt to catch our first waves. Making my way out to sea was pretty challenging; for every step I took forward, the incoming waves pushed me back another two. Once I finally made it out to about my torso, I was able to catch a few waves. Timing the waves wasn't hard at all - the difficult part was standing up.
Most of the time, I would make it to my knees and then slip off my board. A couple times I swirled around in the waves for a few seconds before resurfacing. The instructors gave me good tips on how to try and stand, and eventually I did it! Twice! I stood on my moving surf board twice! I'm so proud.
We spent about two hours or a little less in the water, but it went by quickly. I kept trying again and again, and I didn't even get frustrated when I couldn't get up. By the end, though, I was exhausted. Carrying the board, fighting the waves, and using my arms to paddle and then force myself up was hard work.
Today was one of my favorite in Dunedin. I can't wait to try surfing again.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Antal Szalai and his Gypsy Band
Last night, I went to a performance at the Regent Theatre in the Octagon. It was Antal Szalai and his Gypsy Band, a show I heard about while Dad was here and I was really interested in seeing it. I got my ticket only one day before, but my seat was seven rows back and had a great view.
The group is led by Antal Szalai, a gypsy violinist. He is amazing. Despite his not-so-perfect technique, his sound is phenomenal and precise. His band consists of a clarinetist/panflutist, a violist, bassist, and a man who played the cimbalom. Perhaps easiest described as a hammered dulcimer, the cimbalom has something like 139 strings and is played with mallets. It sounded to me a bit like a harpsichord. The musician played incredibly fast. For one number, they even blindfolded him and he continued to play accurately.
I decided during intermission to buy a CD. That meant, though, that I would have to take the bus home instead of the taxi. I was okay with that, since I had been thinking of taking the bus home anyway. When the concert let out, I waited around for a while at the bus stop. I waited, and waited, but no bus came. Thursday nights are big party nights in Dunedin, and the Octagon has lots of bars, so I was a bit nervous just standing around waiting. I made the decision that, if I were going to be standing around for a while anyway, I may as well start walking home.
In order to not target myself as a young woman walking alone at night, I took out my cell phone and pretended to have a conversation the whole way home. At first it felt stupid, but it was kind of comforting nonetheless. I made it home safely and, when I got there, I put my new CD on iTunes.
The group is led by Antal Szalai, a gypsy violinist. He is amazing. Despite his not-so-perfect technique, his sound is phenomenal and precise. His band consists of a clarinetist/panflutist, a violist, bassist, and a man who played the cimbalom. Perhaps easiest described as a hammered dulcimer, the cimbalom has something like 139 strings and is played with mallets. It sounded to me a bit like a harpsichord. The musician played incredibly fast. For one number, they even blindfolded him and he continued to play accurately.
I decided during intermission to buy a CD. That meant, though, that I would have to take the bus home instead of the taxi. I was okay with that, since I had been thinking of taking the bus home anyway. When the concert let out, I waited around for a while at the bus stop. I waited, and waited, but no bus came. Thursday nights are big party nights in Dunedin, and the Octagon has lots of bars, so I was a bit nervous just standing around waiting. I made the decision that, if I were going to be standing around for a while anyway, I may as well start walking home.
In order to not target myself as a young woman walking alone at night, I took out my cell phone and pretended to have a conversation the whole way home. At first it felt stupid, but it was kind of comforting nonetheless. I made it home safely and, when I got there, I put my new CD on iTunes.
Hair Cut
Last week, Mom asked if it was time for me to get a haircut. I replied with a "No, I want to keep growing my hair, thank you very much." (Well, that's not exactly what I said, but that's what I was thinking.) But then I started evaluating my hair. It hasn't been cut since early June, and I thought it was doing fine, but I noticed that the ends were, in fact, dry. So yesterday when I was walking around I saw a sign for $25 hair cuts and decided that I'd just get it done.
Boy am I glad I did. It only took about 15 minutes for the lady to wash, cut, and dry my hair. It feels so much lighter and fresh, and it doesn't even look shorter. Thanks for the suggestion, Mom.
Boy am I glad I did. It only took about 15 minutes for the lady to wash, cut, and dry my hair. It feels so much lighter and fresh, and it doesn't even look shorter. Thanks for the suggestion, Mom.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Laundry
Power is expensive. Our flat is set up with a prepaid power system, and we usually each chip in $15 a week for units of electricity. We've made a deal, though, that if we use the drier, we pay an extra $2 for 90 minutes of dry time.
Normally, I'll throw in a load about once a week and I just pay to dry the items that are needed soon. Today, though, is sunny, and I decided to make use of the clothesline we have in the back yard. I washed my sheets and let them dry in the sun and breeze. They only took about an hour and a half to dry. When I brought them back in to make my bed, I found a few cherry blossom petals stuck in the corners.
Normally, I'll throw in a load about once a week and I just pay to dry the items that are needed soon. Today, though, is sunny, and I decided to make use of the clothesline we have in the back yard. I washed my sheets and let them dry in the sun and breeze. They only took about an hour and a half to dry. When I brought them back in to make my bed, I found a few cherry blossom petals stuck in the corners.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
New Things
I've done lots of planning and buying of gifts for my friends and family since I've been here. Now that I've turned in my last essay, I figured it's finally time to reward myself with some New Zealand treasures. I walked down to a shop called Koru, one I've been to quite a few times because I love to look at their nice jewelry. It was a bit hard to shop, though, because they have so many neat things that I didn't want to narrow it down.
I eventually picked out two things for myself, both made of Pounamu, or greenstone, or New Zealand jade. I chose a dainty ring, perfect for my small hands, and a nice greenstone necklace. I love the color of it, kind of unfinished looking. Good finds.
I eventually picked out two things for myself, both made of Pounamu, or greenstone, or New Zealand jade. I chose a dainty ring, perfect for my small hands, and a nice greenstone necklace. I love the color of it, kind of unfinished looking. Good finds.
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