One perfomance down, and one more to go! Our performance at Kimball went really well! I was happy to see Guru Francis so excited; he gave us an awesome introduction and joined in not just with the voices but with the chaking! I think the audience enjoyed our performance too.
Well, less than a week until the last performance! I just wanna say that I've really enjoyed this class. More so than I then I at first realized. For some reason, I felt like I've learned more than I thought I would have learned, but when I think of what more it was, it doesn't seem THAT much more. For instance, when I initially signed up for the class, I thought I'd learn a new dance style, which I did, I'd thought I'd learn some history and culture about where the dancing came from, which I did, and I even thought I do a performance which I did (though, I thought it'd only be for the class, not the community!). However I think what I didn't expect was the great sense of community we would have as a banjar and how good a public performance would feel. I'm actually kind of glad that we have one more performance to do, this time with the rest of the banjhar (but somehow I think middle schoolers will be a more intimidating audience).
Good luck everyone!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Performance!
Okay, so the performance at Kimball Theater is in exactly one week! I'm very nervous. I really hope we do alright, mostly, I hope that WE feel we did well afterwards.
So, this weekend I'm going to really practice on my old man routine, and figure out the exact hand movements I want to use for the conversation. Once I've figured out what I'll do, then I'll be able to make sure the mudras are precise and can then exaggerated (right now, my mudras are done pretty close to my body, and I don't think the audience will be able to differentiate between different ones. I'll just look like I'm rolling my hands around aimlessly!).
I think we've been doing really well, all of us, on our performances. I am especially grateful for Kalyani!! SHE IS AMAZING!! She has given us so much direction for our performance, from how it should be staged and offering us example mudras to use. I think we all appreciate her guidence.
Well, I just wanted to express how I will be working hard this weekend to hammer out my part! We've all been doing so well up to now, and now that we're going into our final week before our premier performance, it's important to stay focused and bring as much as we can to our banjar and to the Ramayana. Good luck, everyone!
So, this weekend I'm going to really practice on my old man routine, and figure out the exact hand movements I want to use for the conversation. Once I've figured out what I'll do, then I'll be able to make sure the mudras are precise and can then exaggerated (right now, my mudras are done pretty close to my body, and I don't think the audience will be able to differentiate between different ones. I'll just look like I'm rolling my hands around aimlessly!).
I think we've been doing really well, all of us, on our performances. I am especially grateful for Kalyani!! SHE IS AMAZING!! She has given us so much direction for our performance, from how it should be staged and offering us example mudras to use. I think we all appreciate her guidence.
Well, I just wanted to express how I will be working hard this weekend to hammer out my part! We've all been doing so well up to now, and now that we're going into our final week before our premier performance, it's important to stay focused and bring as much as we can to our banjar and to the Ramayana. Good luck, everyone!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Post-Election Recap
Yay! The election is over, and we are now officially into the "Lame Duck" period. I, myself, am excited to see what Obama and the new Democrat congress will do (even though I didn't vote for him). Whether something great happens, or our country takes a turn for the worse, these are interesting times we are heading into.
Personally, I am a bit disappointed in some people during the race. I feel that "race" was too much of an issue. Granted, it would be naive to expect that people not recognize the historic nature of electing the first African-American (I would use "non-white," except I think it's particularly poignant of his particular race given the history of African-Americans in this country), however I would have hoped that people would not have factored in race AT ALL in their decision. This, of course, is not to say that he is not qualified for the presidency, though I do believe that people lowered their reservations for such. It's as if people thought, "Hey, he's good (enough), and we really like that he's black."
For instance, about a year ago, when Obama was still campaigning, I had a conversation with my (African-American) co-worker. He was talking about how wonderful it would be for Obama to get the Democratic nomination so he could vote for him. He said that he, for the most part, agreed with his policies, but he was most excited to vote for an African-American, and hoped that America had moved past its racism and would vote the same way. I said that if we had truly moved past racism, wouldn't it be that race is no longer an issue? American doesn't prove "it's not racist" by voting for a non-white, but by not considering race as a factor in the decision process. He replied, that though it would be nice (for people not to consider race), America had not reached that point, and therefore, he should not follow the same course. He would, instead, factor race into his decision.
To that I say, "you must be the change you wish to see." If you want to see the country move that way, where race/gender/ethnic background does not influence a decision that should be based on merit, you, yourself, have to make those decisions, and leave prejudices or favoritism at the door. I think this country still looks at race as too large of an issue, whether it's stereotyping or affirmative action. Hopefully, this new term will help us to realize that. Whether Barack does well or not, I hope he will be known in history not as a good or bad BLACK president, but simply as a good or bad president; as a person capable of successes and failures just as the people that have gone before him.
Personally, I am a bit disappointed in some people during the race. I feel that "race" was too much of an issue. Granted, it would be naive to expect that people not recognize the historic nature of electing the first African-American (I would use "non-white," except I think it's particularly poignant of his particular race given the history of African-Americans in this country), however I would have hoped that people would not have factored in race AT ALL in their decision. This, of course, is not to say that he is not qualified for the presidency, though I do believe that people lowered their reservations for such. It's as if people thought, "Hey, he's good (enough), and we really like that he's black."
For instance, about a year ago, when Obama was still campaigning, I had a conversation with my (African-American) co-worker. He was talking about how wonderful it would be for Obama to get the Democratic nomination so he could vote for him. He said that he, for the most part, agreed with his policies, but he was most excited to vote for an African-American, and hoped that America had moved past its racism and would vote the same way. I said that if we had truly moved past racism, wouldn't it be that race is no longer an issue? American doesn't prove "it's not racist" by voting for a non-white, but by not considering race as a factor in the decision process. He replied, that though it would be nice (for people not to consider race), America had not reached that point, and therefore, he should not follow the same course. He would, instead, factor race into his decision.
To that I say, "you must be the change you wish to see." If you want to see the country move that way, where race/gender/ethnic background does not influence a decision that should be based on merit, you, yourself, have to make those decisions, and leave prejudices or favoritism at the door. I think this country still looks at race as too large of an issue, whether it's stereotyping or affirmative action. Hopefully, this new term will help us to realize that. Whether Barack does well or not, I hope he will be known in history not as a good or bad BLACK president, but simply as a good or bad president; as a person capable of successes and failures just as the people that have gone before him.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Finally!
I'm finally done with my applications to Japan! I turned in my applications last Thursday and sent them off to Japan. I should know whether I've been accepted to each program by mid-December, and I can't wait to know!
I've been wanting to study abroad to Japan since freshman year, but I wanted to have the most language preparation possible, hence I've waited until Spring semester of my Junior year. However, from then until now, it's been a bit difficult. Initially, I had wanted to do the W&M exchange program to Keio University in Tokyo, but I missed the application deadline (which is a whole other story! My advice: talk to someone who's done the particular program you want for information. The Reves Center is not much help and will send you on a goose chase!). But, I think I've found two very great programs that are actually cheaper (awesome!).
I'm so excited to be going to a foreign country! On one hand, it'll be scary once I get there, to be speaking only in Japanese (or limited English), but I want so much to live among another culture. Which is why I'll be living with a host family! I hope they will have children, espeically a high school student (I find Japanese high school life so fascinating). I also want to travel around the country to see the typical sights and visit some friends. So hopefully they can help me with the not only the langauge but also getting around the country. Very exciting!
Okay, well I think I've rambled on long enough. Just wanted to let you all know!
I've been wanting to study abroad to Japan since freshman year, but I wanted to have the most language preparation possible, hence I've waited until Spring semester of my Junior year. However, from then until now, it's been a bit difficult. Initially, I had wanted to do the W&M exchange program to Keio University in Tokyo, but I missed the application deadline (which is a whole other story! My advice: talk to someone who's done the particular program you want for information. The Reves Center is not much help and will send you on a goose chase!). But, I think I've found two very great programs that are actually cheaper (awesome!).
I'm so excited to be going to a foreign country! On one hand, it'll be scary once I get there, to be speaking only in Japanese (or limited English), but I want so much to live among another culture. Which is why I'll be living with a host family! I hope they will have children, espeically a high school student (I find Japanese high school life so fascinating). I also want to travel around the country to see the typical sights and visit some friends. So hopefully they can help me with the not only the langauge but also getting around the country. Very exciting!
Okay, well I think I've rambled on long enough. Just wanted to let you all know!
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