I recently finished reading Long Walk to Freedom, the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Please read this amazing book.
One of my favorite quotes:
"I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite...Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished." - Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Leaving Flagstaff
I leave Flagstaff for the East Coast next week.
Inevitably as you prepare to leave a place you reflect on your time there. These two years in Flagstaff have been so incredibly vivid and full of life. I left the Bay Area after four and a half years and was, admittedly, a bit dazed by the smog, the traffic, the fast pace, and a very stressful job. I came to Flagstaff with my Bay Area friends thinking I was crazy to want to live somewhere to remote. I came to Flagstaff wanting despeartely to be awakened in some way.
For those of you who have never been here, Flagstaff is in northern Arizona, about 2.5 hours north of Phoenix. We are at 7,000 feet elevation at the base of the gorgeous San Francisco peaks (see below). This area boasts the largest group of volcanic peaks outside Hawaii. Flagstaff has about 50,000 residents (not including NAU) and is a strange mix of NAU students, hippies, lesbians, artists, Native Americans, "gun and country" types... the gamut. To combat some Arizona stereotpyes... No, this is not the desert. No, this is not like Phoenix or Tucson. Yes, this is a quite liberal area in a sea of red. Yes, we do live in a massively large Ponderosa Pine forest. YES, it snows here... a lot.
Living here has made me appreciate the outdoors much more. In San José, you need to seek out wilderness. In Flagstaff, it surrounds you. Skiing was 15 minutes away, hiking everywhere, the Grand Canyon just over an hour away...
But more than re-awakening my love for nature, what has amazed me about my time in Flagstaff has been the people. Outside my work at NAU, I served as assistant conductor of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff and also as choir director at Flagstaff Federated Community Church. What I soon found was that there is just enough of that small town atmosphere here to be charming (rather than my hometown of 6,000 folks where everyone thinks they know your business). Starting last spring, I couldn't go anywhere in town without running into someone I knew. And I found that I loved that. I loved that people knew me and that we could exchange pleasantries in the produce department at Safeway. I loved not being a number in the Bay Area rat race. I loved being a part of this community. I guess what I'm realizing is that this community has become a part of me...
I will miss Flagstaff immensely and will try to take these lessons to heart as I move to D.C.
Inevitably as you prepare to leave a place you reflect on your time there. These two years in Flagstaff have been so incredibly vivid and full of life. I left the Bay Area after four and a half years and was, admittedly, a bit dazed by the smog, the traffic, the fast pace, and a very stressful job. I came to Flagstaff with my Bay Area friends thinking I was crazy to want to live somewhere to remote. I came to Flagstaff wanting despeartely to be awakened in some way.
For those of you who have never been here, Flagstaff is in northern Arizona, about 2.5 hours north of Phoenix. We are at 7,000 feet elevation at the base of the gorgeous San Francisco peaks (see below). This area boasts the largest group of volcanic peaks outside Hawaii. Flagstaff has about 50,000 residents (not including NAU) and is a strange mix of NAU students, hippies, lesbians, artists, Native Americans, "gun and country" types... the gamut. To combat some Arizona stereotpyes... No, this is not the desert. No, this is not like Phoenix or Tucson. Yes, this is a quite liberal area in a sea of red. Yes, we do live in a massively large Ponderosa Pine forest. YES, it snows here... a lot.
Living here has made me appreciate the outdoors much more. In San José, you need to seek out wilderness. In Flagstaff, it surrounds you. Skiing was 15 minutes away, hiking everywhere, the Grand Canyon just over an hour away...
But more than re-awakening my love for nature, what has amazed me about my time in Flagstaff has been the people. Outside my work at NAU, I served as assistant conductor of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff and also as choir director at Flagstaff Federated Community Church. What I soon found was that there is just enough of that small town atmosphere here to be charming (rather than my hometown of 6,000 folks where everyone thinks they know your business). Starting last spring, I couldn't go anywhere in town without running into someone I knew. And I found that I loved that. I loved that people knew me and that we could exchange pleasantries in the produce department at Safeway. I loved not being a number in the Bay Area rat race. I loved being a part of this community. I guess what I'm realizing is that this community has become a part of me...
I will miss Flagstaff immensely and will try to take these lessons to heart as I move to D.C.
The San Francisco peaks in winter
photo credit: Brad McCann
The view from my first room in Flag. Ponderosa Pines everywhere!
Working with the NAU Men's Chorale... a source of great joy and inspiration
Conducting the Harter Memorial Handbell Choir at NAU. So much fun.
Monday, June 27, 2011
new horizons and getting involved
Some downfalls to moving around all the time is that your friends don't know where you are. It is also difficult to become "rooted" and connected professionally. The main professional organization for choral directors is ACDA, the American Choral Directors Associaiton. ACDA had been a vital part of my development as a choral director and it is a national organization which operates mostly through voluteer leadership. There is a national office in Oklahoma City with a small staff, but all the national officers and R & S (Repertoire and Standards) chairs are volunteers. Each state has its own ACDA chapter, and there are seven divisions which have their own leadership. My goal is to get involved with Maryland/DC and Eastern Division ACDA.
I can't believe I'm moving to the East Coast in just over two weeks. I am excited to start my new job and to explore D.C., but I can't believe I'll be leaving the west behind. I've become very accustomed to life (far) west of the Mississippi. I'm not sure how I'll adjust to humid, traffic-ridden D.C. life. I do love the city. Hopefully it will be a smooth transition. I plan to ride a lot of public transit.
I need to get a website. Putting that on the "to do" list for fall.
I am currently in process of choosing the repretoire I'll teach next year. An exciting but daunting process, especially when you don't yet know the students you'll be teaching. The learning curve this year will be steep.
I am trying to be more active in these last two weeks. I have been rather lazy this summer and want to get off the couch and in good shape before driving 2,300 miles (!!) to my new home.
I can't believe I'm moving to the East Coast in just over two weeks. I am excited to start my new job and to explore D.C., but I can't believe I'll be leaving the west behind. I've become very accustomed to life (far) west of the Mississippi. I'm not sure how I'll adjust to humid, traffic-ridden D.C. life. I do love the city. Hopefully it will be a smooth transition. I plan to ride a lot of public transit.
I need to get a website. Putting that on the "to do" list for fall.
I am currently in process of choosing the repretoire I'll teach next year. An exciting but daunting process, especially when you don't yet know the students you'll be teaching. The learning curve this year will be steep.
I am trying to be more active in these last two weeks. I have been rather lazy this summer and want to get off the couch and in good shape before driving 2,300 miles (!!) to my new home.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Random things I love, installment #1
#1: Garrison Keillor
Oh how I love this man. Ironically, I didn't learn about him or A Prairie Home Companion until I moved to California. I do remember being required to read one of his short stories in a middle school English textbook and TOTALLY not getting it (I couldn't "see the forest for the trees").
Since becoming a PHC listner, I have seen the show taped live twice and seen him speak live twice. I am absolutly enamored of the News from Lake Wobegon (which you can now download as a weekly podcast). The creativity he displays in telling stories of this totally fictional town blows my mind.
These stories from an imaginary town strike extraordinarily close to home. Coloquialisms, stock characters and iconic establishments still exist in my hometown. It makes me remember when I lived in a much simple time and a MUCH simpler place. Thers is a warm nostalgia that washes over me when I listen to Garrison. I am glad I got to see him in person before he retires (which unfortunately I think will be very soon).
I love that a 50's style radio show is still such a popular thing in the USA today.
#2: This American Life
If you don't know about this amazing PBS show, here is a blurb from their website:
"This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 1.7 million listeners... The radio show and TV show follow the same format. There’s a theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme. It’s mostly true stories of everyday people, though not always."
Ira Glass hosts the show and it is amazing the stories/people they find. There are so many compelling things I've thought about because of this show. This is like a very smart, healthy version of reality television. They're talking about things that matter.
You can download the weekly shows for free as a podcast. Check out http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ for more info.
#3: Ice Cream
One of my vices. Did you know you can get a kids cone at McDonald's for only 56 cents? Amazing!
#4: Rufus Wainwright
Who else could possibly re-create the 1961 Judy Garland Carnegie Hall concert...? I mean come on.
If you haven't heard his album Release the Stars, run don't walk to get it.
#5: National Parks
How many have you visited? I believe there are 53 now established.
I recently watched one installment of the new Ken Burns documentary about the history of the national parks. Fascinating. I can't believe that I lived in California for five years and didn't learn about the amazing work of John Muir until recently. He was an amazing man. If nothing else, read about his struggle to save the Hetch Hetchy valley.
I have now been to six national parks: Rocky Mountain (CO), Yosemite [twice] (CA), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (CA), Petrified Forest (AZ), & Grand Canyon (AZ). I want to visit many more. Unfortunately, very few are east of the Mississippi. I recently learned that Isle Royale in Lake Superior is a National Park. I hope to be able to visit the Smokey Mountains when I live in D.C.
Here are a few pictures from my recent trips to Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Petrified Forest:
Oh how I love this man. Ironically, I didn't learn about him or A Prairie Home Companion until I moved to California. I do remember being required to read one of his short stories in a middle school English textbook and TOTALLY not getting it (I couldn't "see the forest for the trees").
Since becoming a PHC listner, I have seen the show taped live twice and seen him speak live twice. I am absolutly enamored of the News from Lake Wobegon (which you can now download as a weekly podcast). The creativity he displays in telling stories of this totally fictional town blows my mind.
These stories from an imaginary town strike extraordinarily close to home. Coloquialisms, stock characters and iconic establishments still exist in my hometown. It makes me remember when I lived in a much simple time and a MUCH simpler place. Thers is a warm nostalgia that washes over me when I listen to Garrison. I am glad I got to see him in person before he retires (which unfortunately I think will be very soon).
I love that a 50's style radio show is still such a popular thing in the USA today.
#2: This American Life
If you don't know about this amazing PBS show, here is a blurb from their website:
"This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 1.7 million listeners... The radio show and TV show follow the same format. There’s a theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme. It’s mostly true stories of everyday people, though not always."
Ira Glass hosts the show and it is amazing the stories/people they find. There are so many compelling things I've thought about because of this show. This is like a very smart, healthy version of reality television. They're talking about things that matter.
You can download the weekly shows for free as a podcast. Check out http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ for more info.
#3: Ice Cream
One of my vices. Did you know you can get a kids cone at McDonald's for only 56 cents? Amazing!
#4: Rufus Wainwright
Who else could possibly re-create the 1961 Judy Garland Carnegie Hall concert...? I mean come on.
If you haven't heard his album Release the Stars, run don't walk to get it.
#5: National Parks
How many have you visited? I believe there are 53 now established.
I recently watched one installment of the new Ken Burns documentary about the history of the national parks. Fascinating. I can't believe that I lived in California for five years and didn't learn about the amazing work of John Muir until recently. He was an amazing man. If nothing else, read about his struggle to save the Hetch Hetchy valley.
I have now been to six national parks: Rocky Mountain (CO), Yosemite [twice] (CA), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (CA), Petrified Forest (AZ), & Grand Canyon (AZ). I want to visit many more. Unfortunately, very few are east of the Mississippi. I recently learned that Isle Royale in Lake Superior is a National Park. I hope to be able to visit the Smokey Mountains when I live in D.C.
Here are a few pictures from my recent trips to Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Petrified Forest:
 |
| Hetch Hetchy - O'Shaughnessy Dam (Yosemite) |
 |
| Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (Yosemite) |
 |
| Random valley shot (Yosemite) |
 |
| Yosemite Valley waterfall |
 |
| Zumwalt Meadows (Kings Canyon) |
 |
| Kings Canyon |
 |
| Petrified Forest |
 |
| Petrified Forest |
 |
| Painted Desert (Petrified Forest) |
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Well, it's been awhile.
Much has happened since I last wrote here. After my epiphany about not pursuing the Peace Corps, I began to apply for teaching jobs. I applied for several jobs in California and several throughout the country in cities I'd be willing to live in.
The first "bite" I had was for a private school job in Bethesda, MD (right outside Washington D.C.). In mid-April, I had two phone interviews and then was flown out for an audition/interview, which went very well. That same week they offered me the position. As of August, I am the new middle school choir and handbells teacher at Norwood School.
This is quite a change from my original plan, I realize, and I have had some struggle reconciling this discrepancy. Teaching private school isn't a bad thing to be sure... just a major departure from "the plan." Perhaps the larger message here is that you can't plan your life too specificically. In the end it will take you where you need to go.
So, I will spent half the summer here in lovely Flagstaff, then move in mid/late July to the East coast.
Last night I watched Waiting for Superman, a documentary about public education in America. GREAT film. If you haven't seen it, I'd highly recommend it.
Public education in this country needs help. I remember how fresh faced and naive I was when I began my teaching career. I taught in a big urban (and very disfunctional) district. Over my four years there, I was continally struck by the challenges. Kids being raised by their older siblings, gang issues, a negative (and creepy) campus climate, kids who speak little or no English... I found a reality I wasn't at all prepared for. Though I found some success, I was never really satisfied with my school, district, or teaching. I always felt like my kids deserved better.... the sad reality is that most of them will never get a better education.
More on this to come.
In the meantime, check out http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/
The first "bite" I had was for a private school job in Bethesda, MD (right outside Washington D.C.). In mid-April, I had two phone interviews and then was flown out for an audition/interview, which went very well. That same week they offered me the position. As of August, I am the new middle school choir and handbells teacher at Norwood School.
This is quite a change from my original plan, I realize, and I have had some struggle reconciling this discrepancy. Teaching private school isn't a bad thing to be sure... just a major departure from "the plan." Perhaps the larger message here is that you can't plan your life too specificically. In the end it will take you where you need to go.
So, I will spent half the summer here in lovely Flagstaff, then move in mid/late July to the East coast.
Last night I watched Waiting for Superman, a documentary about public education in America. GREAT film. If you haven't seen it, I'd highly recommend it.
Public education in this country needs help. I remember how fresh faced and naive I was when I began my teaching career. I taught in a big urban (and very disfunctional) district. Over my four years there, I was continally struck by the challenges. Kids being raised by their older siblings, gang issues, a negative (and creepy) campus climate, kids who speak little or no English... I found a reality I wasn't at all prepared for. Though I found some success, I was never really satisfied with my school, district, or teaching. I always felt like my kids deserved better.... the sad reality is that most of them will never get a better education.
More on this to come.
In the meantime, check out http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Every road ends somewhere
My Peace Corps journey ended (for now) on Monday, March 7. After a lot of thinking and struggling, I've come to terms with the fact that the Peace Corps is not the right thing for me at this stage in my life.
Music is too much a part of me and things in this career field are going too well to leave at this point. I went into my Master's program hoping to fall back in love with choral music... and I have. Hardcore. I am the luckiest man alive to spend a significant portion of my life creating joy and beauty through the choral art. It's what I'm good at. It's what gets me up in the morning. It's what brings me joy. It's what I do.
I hadn't heard from the Peace Corps in a long time, so in February I called the D.C. placement office inquiring about my application. I got an e-mail informing me they wanted me to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training in Teaching English as a Second Language. This got me thinking: why would I push myself to add more to my plate (on top of trying to leave this Master's program with my sanity and all my hair) to do something I'm not passionate about. Now, I'm not saying that I'm god's gift to choral conducting... but I'm good at what I do. And I'm excited about it. And I can make a living in it-- now.
The long and the short of it is that this just isn't the right time for me to go to Africa for 27 months. It will be someday. Just not now.
So... now the next dilemma-- the job search. Eek.
Here's to diverting and diverging paths!
Music is too much a part of me and things in this career field are going too well to leave at this point. I went into my Master's program hoping to fall back in love with choral music... and I have. Hardcore. I am the luckiest man alive to spend a significant portion of my life creating joy and beauty through the choral art. It's what I'm good at. It's what gets me up in the morning. It's what brings me joy. It's what I do.
I hadn't heard from the Peace Corps in a long time, so in February I called the D.C. placement office inquiring about my application. I got an e-mail informing me they wanted me to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training in Teaching English as a Second Language. This got me thinking: why would I push myself to add more to my plate (on top of trying to leave this Master's program with my sanity and all my hair) to do something I'm not passionate about. Now, I'm not saying that I'm god's gift to choral conducting... but I'm good at what I do. And I'm excited about it. And I can make a living in it-- now.
The long and the short of it is that this just isn't the right time for me to go to Africa for 27 months. It will be someday. Just not now.
So... now the next dilemma-- the job search. Eek.
Here's to diverting and diverging paths!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
a busy time
I haven't posted in awhile. It's been very, very busy these past few weeks.
Two days ago I gave my graduate lecture recital, the capstone experience for my master's degree. It went extremely well. I am so lucky to be working with many different choirs and to spend my days making beautiful music. It makes leaving this profession for two years hard to think about.
I called Peace Corps yesterday because I haven't heard anything for many weeks (when I called them in late December they said I'd hear something in 4-6 weeks). I got a voicemail and an e-mail back saying that they're concerned about my lack of experience in English teaching. They are asking me to complete thirty hours of training before they give me an invitation. They also want to do ao 20-30 minute phone interview. I haven't responded yet and I'm not exactly sure yet what I'm going to say.
As an alternative to the Peace Corps, I applied this week for a one-year fellowship with the Global Health Corps. It's a great organization which coordinates with many different NGO's throughout the world. The housing and pay are better than PC, and it's only one year. We'll see what comes of this, but right now it seems like a good alternative.
I am also thinking more every day about applying for teaching jobs. But where?
Hopefully now that my lecture recital is over I'll have more time to really dig deep and get to the core of what I really want the next two years of my life to look like. The clock's ticking and I can't afford to be indecisive for much longer...
Two days ago I gave my graduate lecture recital, the capstone experience for my master's degree. It went extremely well. I am so lucky to be working with many different choirs and to spend my days making beautiful music. It makes leaving this profession for two years hard to think about.
I called Peace Corps yesterday because I haven't heard anything for many weeks (when I called them in late December they said I'd hear something in 4-6 weeks). I got a voicemail and an e-mail back saying that they're concerned about my lack of experience in English teaching. They are asking me to complete thirty hours of training before they give me an invitation. They also want to do ao 20-30 minute phone interview. I haven't responded yet and I'm not exactly sure yet what I'm going to say.
As an alternative to the Peace Corps, I applied this week for a one-year fellowship with the Global Health Corps. It's a great organization which coordinates with many different NGO's throughout the world. The housing and pay are better than PC, and it's only one year. We'll see what comes of this, but right now it seems like a good alternative.
I am also thinking more every day about applying for teaching jobs. But where?
Hopefully now that my lecture recital is over I'll have more time to really dig deep and get to the core of what I really want the next two years of my life to look like. The clock's ticking and I can't afford to be indecisive for much longer...
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