May 4, 2024 - Week 15

"I find your lack in faith disturbing" - was one of the many Star Wars quotes I posted to my Team to believe in teamwork and hustling. This week, I found myself needing a lot of faith as I held my first practices with the students for drumming and choir.

Firstly, from exuberance, one of the congos broke so I enlisted the help of the carpentry team to help revive the poor drum. Then, the students rebelled against the song choice of "Theme from Mahogany (Do you know where you're going to?)" because they said the song was old, slow, and put them to sleep - and I agree with them, except the Board of Directors (aka people of a certain generation) dictated this 1975 song... Finally, I became a personal voice coach for three students as they prepared for their annual talent show, one of them chose a Jamaican Folksong that I couldn't even find an official recording of - needless to say I was quite useless in helping out with that entry.

Thankfully a little protege arrived to revive my faith...

I was gifted with a brilliant mini shadow who followed me one day (the 6-year-old granddaughter of one of the teachers), and she restored my faith in my teaching skills. She managed to play on the keyboard the song I've been trying to teach the students to play since a month ago! However, she did call me ancient when I said I used paper and pen/pencil when I was her age.

To close off the week, I finally received my official work permit (exemption) stamp with no hiccups; survived the slight tremors of a Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake (nothing was damaged), and weathered some torrential rain.

I'll leave you all with this hilarious mug which very much captures my love for coffee and yet need to be frugal in my budgeting: