Yesterday morning began at my old haunt Chunche's for some fried plantains, coffee, and internet. Much to my surprise, shortly after I arrived, so did Kaz! We spent the morning in Chunche's hanging out and talking about life while simultaneously trying to stifle laughter and distance ourselves as much as possible from the gringo walrus at the table next to us. He honestly said to the woman who works here, "INTERNET NO WORKO!" I've never seen a Tico give a dirtier look before. What was really strange about this was that his wife spoke very competent Spanish, and yet he took it upon himself to yell nonsensical Spanglish (if that) at the nicest woman in the world. I hate gringos.
After that we took a taxi to Bromelias (we really didn't want to walk) and picked up Katherine, Dario, and Lisa along the way! We got to the venue and had rehearsal which went pretty well in spite of the rain, especially now that I know that Bromelias has amazing wifi and that I can go up to the cafe on my breaks and use it! This means that I was finally able to Skype with one Meghan Louise Horowitz! It was very exciting. So great to see the lovely face of a good friend I miss dearly. The best part of the day was the last rehearsal and our post-rehearsal Cabaret rehearsal. My last rehearsal was with Dario to choreograph some of his solo sections, which was so much fun. About a week or two ago, he actually got down on his knees and begged me to work in some tap dancing for him. So yesterday I taught him the tap section. He's so excited, and it's super adorable. I think he'll do well with it once he gets his speed up.
After rehearsal with Dario, we headed upstairs to rehearse for the Cabaret with Katherine, Hannah, Anna, and Kaz. It was incredibly fun to sit around a piano with good friends and do what we all love. Katherine and Dario are singing "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera, Katherine and I are singing "What is this Feeling?" from Wicked, Dario and I are singing "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors, and Hannah and Dario are singing "Written in the Stars" from Aida. We're all also doing various solo songs and Anna is performing some of her original songs. It's going to be a really great show, and it's been super fun for all of us. Patricia, the woman who owns Bromelias, wants us to basically do our Cabaret during her open mic night next Thursday! Can I please do this for the rest of my life?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A Real Update on Life...
So, nothing much has happened in the past day. We got completely soaked and flooded in the storm yesterday - probably the worst one I´ve seen here! But this post is not going to have a whole lot to do with Santa Elena or FCCMT.
I think my blog has opened up a new Pandora´s box of technology for my parents and relatives. Skype was one thing, but blogging is a whole new adventure for them. Not only are they following my blog, but they´ve also discovered Zeke´s and Zeb´s for their respective adventures in Germany and Bhutan. But in following Zeke´s blog, they found Liza Starr´s blog (a friend of Zeke´s who I don´t even know). She is on a biking trip across the U.S., so of course they are following her, too! Not to mention they have sent all of our links to at least one (probably more) of my aunts who is now following all this, too. I feel like I need to make my blog more entertaining now that I know so many people are reading it! But I was skyping with my mother this morning, and we discussed all this. She enjoys hearing our takes on all these exotic places and unique experiences we´re all having. And hey, this way I don´t have to send a thousand e-mails every week!
So, keep reading to find out what´s up with me and if you want the links to any of the other blogs I´ve mentioned let me know - I enjoy reading them!
I think my blog has opened up a new Pandora´s box of technology for my parents and relatives. Skype was one thing, but blogging is a whole new adventure for them. Not only are they following my blog, but they´ve also discovered Zeke´s and Zeb´s for their respective adventures in Germany and Bhutan. But in following Zeke´s blog, they found Liza Starr´s blog (a friend of Zeke´s who I don´t even know). She is on a biking trip across the U.S., so of course they are following her, too! Not to mention they have sent all of our links to at least one (probably more) of my aunts who is now following all this, too. I feel like I need to make my blog more entertaining now that I know so many people are reading it! But I was skyping with my mother this morning, and we discussed all this. She enjoys hearing our takes on all these exotic places and unique experiences we´re all having. And hey, this way I don´t have to send a thousand e-mails every week!
So, keep reading to find out what´s up with me and if you want the links to any of the other blogs I´ve mentioned let me know - I enjoy reading them!
More Pictures!
After dinner in Puntarenas!
On the beach the morning we left!
The water was warm! Unlike in NorCal...
Katherine, Darío, and me working the kids´ program the first week... UGH! They look cute in pictures, but trust me, it´s all a hoax!
I quite like this picture! Right before we performed at the community arts festival.
Most of the staff (minus Michelle) and quazi-staff (Darío).
Picture Update!
This is part of the path from my house to town... not kidding about the unnamed dirt roads!
This is the main street in Santa Elena... all of it.
This is just on the outside of the town looking up the world´s most terrible hill.
This is José Daniel. I am obsessed with him. He is Darío´s 9-year-old little brother. He is playing Oliver. I want to kidnap him.
These are my friends Katherine and Darío! I love them. It was early the morning of our performance at the community arts festival.
Katherine´s and my first night out on the town!
We made it to the beach in Puntarenas! Excitement!
I love ceviche! This picture is for all those who remember Pablo in Costa Maya.
This picture is for all those who understand the phrase "Piragua, piragua! New block of ice. Piragua!"
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Patience Wearing Thin
I forgot one thing from my last post - when dogs wander in and out of rehearsals daily.
The last couple of rehearsals have just been ridiculous. So many of the kids are starting to get attitudes and are getting comfortable with us and therefore think they can sass us and argue with us when we´re just trying to do our jobs. It´s getting rather frustrating. However, we are officially done with the Salón Parroquial which means I don´t have to deal with snarky clergy folk any longer! We have moved rehearsals into the actual space, which is both exciting and infuriating. It´s great to actually feel like we´re in a theater and doing a show, but the space is absolutely terrible. I mean, it´s nice for a concert amphitheatre, but very difficult to adapt for a musical. There are no wings, and the space is very small. The whole thing is domed so we can´t use all the space because the ceiling is so low at the back. It´s very frustrating, but it has great acoustics! Oh, and there´s no pit.
Last night we went out again to the same place we went last weekend. It was so much fun! We ended up going with Katherine´s host sister and three of her friends from the States who are also staying in their house. Plus, we ran into Laila and her random friends that she manages to meet in the most unexpected places, so it was fun to hang out with her outside of rehearsal and work! But apparently Katherine and I cannot escape the curse of running into our students at bars! Kaz, who is 14, was there! It was a ridiculous evening, but very fun.
Today was a very long day. It was our first rehearsal in the theater, and things just weren´t exactly going as planned, so it was a little frustrating for all who were involved. But tomorrow Laila, Katherine, and I are heading to Puntarenas to go to the beach! It shall be a whole bunch of fun and a very nice adventure!
The last couple of rehearsals have just been ridiculous. So many of the kids are starting to get attitudes and are getting comfortable with us and therefore think they can sass us and argue with us when we´re just trying to do our jobs. It´s getting rather frustrating. However, we are officially done with the Salón Parroquial which means I don´t have to deal with snarky clergy folk any longer! We have moved rehearsals into the actual space, which is both exciting and infuriating. It´s great to actually feel like we´re in a theater and doing a show, but the space is absolutely terrible. I mean, it´s nice for a concert amphitheatre, but very difficult to adapt for a musical. There are no wings, and the space is very small. The whole thing is domed so we can´t use all the space because the ceiling is so low at the back. It´s very frustrating, but it has great acoustics! Oh, and there´s no pit.
Last night we went out again to the same place we went last weekend. It was so much fun! We ended up going with Katherine´s host sister and three of her friends from the States who are also staying in their house. Plus, we ran into Laila and her random friends that she manages to meet in the most unexpected places, so it was fun to hang out with her outside of rehearsal and work! But apparently Katherine and I cannot escape the curse of running into our students at bars! Kaz, who is 14, was there! It was a ridiculous evening, but very fun.
Today was a very long day. It was our first rehearsal in the theater, and things just weren´t exactly going as planned, so it was a little frustrating for all who were involved. But tomorrow Laila, Katherine, and I are heading to Puntarenas to go to the beach! It shall be a whole bunch of fun and a very nice adventure!
Friday, July 16, 2010
You Know You´re in Monteverde When...
1. Coffee is cheaper than water
2. You can set your watch by the afternoon storm
3. Clouds seep into your bedroom
4. Everyone uses usted, qué chiva, and tranquilo all the time
5. You walk everywhere down unnamed dirt roads
6. The houses don´t have numbers... the people who work at the post office just know where everyone lives
7. Everything is up a hill
8. You don´t know where the local movie theater is
9. The priest´s house is the biggest in the entire town and in the most convenient location
10. You are so incredibly happy because this is an amazing place!
2. You can set your watch by the afternoon storm
3. Clouds seep into your bedroom
4. Everyone uses usted, qué chiva, and tranquilo all the time
5. You walk everywhere down unnamed dirt roads
6. The houses don´t have numbers... the people who work at the post office just know where everyone lives
7. Everything is up a hill
8. You don´t know where the local movie theater is
9. The priest´s house is the biggest in the entire town and in the most convenient location
10. You are so incredibly happy because this is an amazing place!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Happy Feet
The last couple of days have been insane. We've been working hard with the kids' program, which has been going infinitely better than last week, and even harder with the senior cast. Things are finally starting to get memorized and solidified, and most of the characters are beginning to develop further, which is so great to watch. I think the staff is also starting to fall into a nice rhythm. I feel like people know better where we all fit in and how we can all work together to make this program and this show the best it can possibly be. I am feeling much more positive about how this is working out than I did four days ago.
Dario and Hannah have been working on a Cabaret to raise money for Far Corners and to give people some more performance opportunities while we're here. I'm pretty nervous about it, but I think it will be good for me to sing in public. Plus, Hannah's working on songs for everyone, and she has convinced Katherine, Anna, and me to let her teach us how to belt. Wish me luck!
Yesterday was extremely long. We had the little ones all day, so by 4:00 (my time to work with them...) they were very restless. We have some very attitude-ish kids in there, too. I don't particularly like kids with attitudes, and I don't put up with those attitudes very well, but we managed to get some work done.
For the first time in my life I made a kid cry yesterday. But he is 13, and he kind of deserved it. He and his 11 year old cousin each act about three years younger than you actually are, and the 13-year-old has the biggest attitude I've probably ever encountered. He's a know-it-all, pretentious kid that I just don't mesh well with. So yesterday during my rehearsal they were being extremely disruptive, and after asking them to stop about four times, I looked at the older one and said, "Come on, knock it off. Come on, dude, you're 13." And it made him cry. So when they younger one kept bugging him after that I yelled at him and sent him to the other side of the room. Am I turning into the mean staff member at Far Corners?
Last night was movie night, which actually turned out to be a lot of fun! I sat in the back with Katherine, Laila, Dario and a bunch of other older people. The younger ones got the vote to watch Happy Feet, however, so most of the movie-watching experience was just mocking for us. Not a bad night for those of you who know how much I love to mock terrible movies! Then a whole bunch of us walked back to town together, and as per usual, almost died by getting run over by cars and motorcycles.
On the subject of "happy feet," Dario has begged me to include some soft shoe during "Pick a Pocket or Two" for him as Fagin. Done.
Dario and Hannah have been working on a Cabaret to raise money for Far Corners and to give people some more performance opportunities while we're here. I'm pretty nervous about it, but I think it will be good for me to sing in public. Plus, Hannah's working on songs for everyone, and she has convinced Katherine, Anna, and me to let her teach us how to belt. Wish me luck!
Yesterday was extremely long. We had the little ones all day, so by 4:00 (my time to work with them...) they were very restless. We have some very attitude-ish kids in there, too. I don't particularly like kids with attitudes, and I don't put up with those attitudes very well, but we managed to get some work done.
For the first time in my life I made a kid cry yesterday. But he is 13, and he kind of deserved it. He and his 11 year old cousin each act about three years younger than you actually are, and the 13-year-old has the biggest attitude I've probably ever encountered. He's a know-it-all, pretentious kid that I just don't mesh well with. So yesterday during my rehearsal they were being extremely disruptive, and after asking them to stop about four times, I looked at the older one and said, "Come on, knock it off. Come on, dude, you're 13." And it made him cry. So when they younger one kept bugging him after that I yelled at him and sent him to the other side of the room. Am I turning into the mean staff member at Far Corners?
Last night was movie night, which actually turned out to be a lot of fun! I sat in the back with Katherine, Laila, Dario and a bunch of other older people. The younger ones got the vote to watch Happy Feet, however, so most of the movie-watching experience was just mocking for us. Not a bad night for those of you who know how much I love to mock terrible movies! Then a whole bunch of us walked back to town together, and as per usual, almost died by getting run over by cars and motorcycles.
On the subject of "happy feet," Dario has begged me to include some soft shoe during "Pick a Pocket or Two" for him as Fagin. Done.
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