IrishOboe

Today I went with my ‘twin sister’ from BCF (Basel Christian Fellowship) and her brother to the Alsace region of France.  Catharine has been dubbed my twin because we look very much alike and often people at church have mistaken me for her.  We’re finding out we have much more in common than our looks so it made for a lovely trip.

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This has been the busiest week yet of being out all day running for event to event.  I’d complain about being tired, but who could have pity on someone with a schedule full of dancing, playing, concerts, and meetings with incredible people?

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Tonight was the Tanz-abend.  It’s midnight and I should go straight to bed, but my blood is still pumping from the fun.  About 150 merrymakers gathered in a room a bit too small for five hours of watching, listening, dancing, eating, laughing and playing.  The evening started off unpleasant for me because of confusion over just who was playing what and with whom and when and some people were not happy about it and I really couldn’t take the bull by the horns because I’m still figured out the system.  I felt irresponsible, yet unable to take action.  Yuck!  I’m happy to report the story has a happy ending.

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There is no way I can do justice to all the incredible things that have happened this week.  I can’t remember what I’ve told whom, and don’t have time since I can’t even really figure out what all is in my schedule for this week!  Suffice it to say it’s been busy, but good.  Wednesday is my busiest day with classes.  I had “instrumental workshop” with Ken Zuckerman, which was great!  I’m not sure why that’s the title, but he worked with one student, teaching her a medieval tune by ear then playing around with the tune.  They happened to be in E-minor, so I joined in on my whistle.  That’s the way to teach a music class!  I watched some of the advanced modal improvisation, but since I know little about Indian music I didn’t get too much out of it.

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Aber du verstehst sehr gut Deutsch.  NOT!  So, I’m doing my best not to panic but take this as one more of God’s blessings, only this time in disguise.  I’d love to write more about the terribly exciting things that have been happing, but this is consuming me for the moment: it turns out that I’m in a concert on Tuesday.  Surprise!

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Yes, I’m still writing up my winter adventures and am not ready to publish.  This weekend was dedicated to getting over a cold, which I did marvelously.  This week has been so insane that even I have skipped some meals because I was too busy to notice the time go by.  As you can tell by my posts, it’s been good insane, though.  One might argue about my priorities, but I’ve felt the burden to post and less need to finish all my German homework (don’t tell) or worry about what the other musicians will think of me.  Life at the Schola is coming along well but I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve signed up for too much.  No problem if I have, all of it’s voluntary!  I wonder if I’ll ever be able to have such freedom in later times of my life . . .

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There is a lot I don’t understand.  What exactly does it mean to “mourn as if you were not mourning”?  What does “don’t worry, for the Lord knows you need these things” mean?  One thing is for sure, it doesn’t mean you will never go hungry.  For reasons I don’t understand God has blessed me beyond (my feeble) believe and keeps blessing me in so many big and small ways.  I don’t understand what I’ve “done” to “deserve” this other than I don’t deserve it at all.  Yet I will rejoice and thank my God for everything he does and IS.  I know there will be a season where I don’t find myself to be blessed, and maybe that’s the meaning of “be happy as if you were not”:  simply realizing in our rejoicing that our circumstances are temporary and beyond our control.  I rest in the knowledge that God has the very best, most amazing plan for me, even though (because?) it will include times of struggle and trial.  Given all he’s done so far I wait excitedly to see what he’s going to do next!  His imagination is infinitely better than mine and no matter what I dream up he’ll always surprise me with something more beautiful!

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I’m working on the write up of my traveling adventures, but it seems each hour of fun takes an hour to write about.  This week has been “simply” work, so it won’t take so much time to write about.  Plus there are no pictures to label and sort and upload . . .

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I leave early tomorrow for a short retreat in the mountains.  I will return Sunday night.  I plan to spend the first few days in Pontresina.  I'm sorry I haven't written about my adventures up to now.  I must make note on the train so I remember to write the interesting details.  Until then, it will just be notes when I hit an internet spot.  Peace!

Tuesday evening was the final night of Luzern’s Fasnacht.  Corrine, a friend of Anu’s from work, had invited me to come with her to enjoy the festivities.  I gladly accepted and after work on Tuesday we met at the Basel SBB station to take the hour train to Luzern.  Corrine grew up in Luzern and her mother still lives there.  After dropping our stuff at her mothers we walked down the street to the middle of the old town.  It was getting dark when we arrived, but it was still beautiful.

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There is something wrong when a Google search for "Fastnach 2007 Zurich" brings up my blog as the first hit.  I'm fifth for "Fastnach 2007."  Of course that means I can't spell.  The correct word is Fasnacht.  I don't know about other cities, but if you're interested in Basel's Fasnacht, check out the official site for Basel Fasnacht 2007.

www.fasnachts-comite.ch 

 Viel Spass!

It’s hard to keep up with the blog when I’m hardly at home.  I can’t believe it’s been a week since I’ve written, and that I’ve been in Switzerland for a month!  Last Sunday I spent the day with Stephan, Anu and Tamino in the northernmost part of Switzerland.

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I've just had time to recover from the busy weekend and I'm heading out again.  In an hour I go to Luzern with Corinne.  We'll enjoy the fastnacht there then spend the night at her mother's.  I'm going to skip German class (times have changed since I had a hard time skipping college classes, though I was better than my mother, who never skipped-ever!) and enjoy a day in Luzern.  Sadly, Sergio is back in Brasil, but that gives me an excuse to come to the city again after he returns.  As if that weren't enough traveling the next week is off for Basel fastnacht.  After two days of the festivities I'll skip the third (there's only so much druming and eating one can take) and probably head down to the Vaud region for scenic train rides and cheese factories.  Apologies in advance if this schedule makes blog communication a bit scarce.  I love you all!

Note: Due to computer problems this is being posted a day late.  I had more adventures today (Sun. Feb 18^th) but in this post “today” refers to Sat. Feb. 17^th.

 

Well, I supposed it wasn’t much of an exploration, but Friday and Saturday I went out alone to discover what came my way and felt good to be free of duty even though I didn’t actually go to a city I’d not been to before.

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Thanks to my gracious God for not making we wait too long before relations with my first German teacher improved.  The very morning after I complain about it in a post we had a session so tolerable I almost enjoyed it.  Today wasn’t bad either.  Maybe we’re all loosening up, but whatever it is, it’s in the right direction.

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