Out of Africa

That's just the title of the book I'm reading. I couldn't think of a title for this post and it was sitting right next to my computer, so I stuck that in there. If you haven't read it, you should because it's incredible.

Anyway... Yesterday, we had the car until 10 in the morning, so we decided to get up early and go to Piha, which is supposed to be an absolutely beautiful beach. It's a bit too chilly to go swimming any more but we were just going to go out and walk on the beach. As it was, we never made it to Piha. We realized about 30 minutes down a road that we had taken the wrong turn at the last roundabout. Oops. So we decided to keep going for a while since it wasn't really worth it to turn back. We ended up at a completely deserted beach. There was literally nothing around it. I can't even remember what it was called. It had black sand though, which was really cool. I have never seen black sand. I was wearing converse and it made the white bits of my shoes the same color as the rest. We weren't there very long before we had to drive back to return the car but it was still a nice outing. It was a good way to start the school day. It is always harder to go back to school after we've been away for a weekend.

In choir yesterday, a scary thing happened to me. We are preparing for a workshop performance of Haydn's Nelson Mass. The director told anyone who was interested in singing any of the solos to contact him. So, I emailed him saying that I would be interested in singing the alto solos. It's just kind of how I roll. I will go for anything if I don't have anything to lose. I figured that we would just have to sing for the director sometime. When I got to choir yesterday, I was informed that I get to sit in front of the entire choir for the whole rehearsal and sight-read solos. Ahhh! It was terrifying to me. It was so strange. However, I was impressed with myself because I believe that I at least appeared calm and collected. So that's a win.

Otherwise, it has been practice and school stuff for me. I am a bit behind on some of my reading. So I have to play catch-up. Plus, I got an email from Ben, the bassoon professor and person who usually runs reed class, that he will be unable to attend class this Friday. As a substitute, he has asked Elsa Lam to step in. She is the former principle clarinetist of the China Philharmonic. I have to play in class on Friday. So, needless to say, I am a bit nervous. So, lots of practicing going on.

Also, I forgot to mention this a while ago... I am getting to sub with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. It is not a professional orchestra, per say, but it's also not a bunch of university students. It's more of a community orchestra, I think. I've never heard them perform, so I can't say how good they are but they are definitely a visible part of the Auckland arts community. It's an exciting thing in any case. I will be playing for what is referred to as the Proms concert. It's a British thing. I'm not sure exactly what it is or what it's celebrating but the way that it was described to me, it seems similar to Fourth of July concerts in the States. Rehearsals start in a couple weeks and go until the concerts sometime in mid-June.

I'm also subbing with the University woodwind quintet, starting in about a week. They're a pretty good ensemble but they're all freshmen who don't seem to understand the concept of communication while playing. So that will be interesting. I'm still looking forward to it. There is an advantage to being the study abroad student who isn't playing permanently in any ensembles. Everyone else is busy. So guess who gets all the pick-up gigs? I do! I'm pretty well immersed in the music world right now and I am enjoying it highly.

Next weekend, my friends and I are planning a trip to Taupo. This is a big trip. We are planning on skydiving on one day and hiking Tangeriro (Mt. Doom) on the other. It's going to be so awesome! This is going to be a really good way to do things because after next weekend, I pretty much have to stay in Auckland until exams because of various music things. And this is one of the adventures that I have been particularly looking forward to... So I'm psyched. That's about all of consequence to report. If any of you who have Facebook are looking for a good laugh, switch your language to English (Pirate). Now, I am easily amused but this is hilarious to me, so it will be at least mildly amusing to normal people. Just a suggestion.
Peace.