Thanksgiving 2010

I spent my first Thanksgiving ever away from my family,and while I miss them, I had the opportunity to share a wonderful meal made by some American students living in the same student village. It was a wonderful dinner and I enjoyed every moment of connecting with some of my classmates in a social situation and meeting and talking with some wonderful young students. The three young women that cooked did an amazing job with the turkey, stuffing, pies, the whole works. They were so generous in so many ways and I will likely always remember this Thanksgiving away from home. I was so impressed not just with their ability to cook, but with their gracious hospitality.

Today was the completion of classes for this semester and today we had our semester chant exam. All of my classmates and I worked very hard preparing for this exam, learning five chants a piece and four group numbers. We performed in front of a panel of four and we will receive feedback in January after semester break. I must say that the preparation and learning two Gregorian and one Irish language songs were of particular challenge. I was well prepared and had mostly conquered the pumping adrenalin going into the exam. What I wasn't prepared for was the frog in my throat that croaked the minute I opened my mouth and stayed to perform with me the entire time. No amount of throat clearing did the trick. I actually stoped once and stepped out of the room to try to clear my throat, but to no avail. But as they say, "the show must go on" and somewhat like a throat singer of Tuva, I sang my chants as best as I could, stayed in the moment and managing to squeak out some melodic phrases here and there. And then the moment was gone. It was what it was and I did the best I could in an unforeseen circumstance. Life is filled with unexpected challenges. Sometimes no matter how well prepared you are, something you didn't expect happens and you just have to go with it. That is what I did. While it was a bit disappointing and at some level, frustrating, it was also a humbling experience for sure. I am used to "pulling it out-of-the hat", as they say, but not thiis time. This is a whole new way of singing and I will learn from it and move on.

With the chant practicu m and a fieldwork presentation behind me I will finalize all my papers, finish a semester course journal and prepare for my elective chant exam that will be held next Friday. Since my elective is on Jewish ritual chant, I will be performing five Hebrew chants. I am actually looking forward to working on these pieces and despite today's challenges.

All in all it has been an excellent day. But, I realize that I am exhausted and so off to bed I go thinking of everyone back home and hoping that you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Love from Glocca Morra