Malo!

It registered today that I've been in Samoa over three months now... Crazy! Have lots to update on but I'll share one piece now.

 

Two months ago, I joined the Samoan National Pasefika Orchestra (SNPO). Having learned the clarinet in intermediate and played sporadically at high school assemblies (all-boys catholic high school band always needed help...), I anticipated only playing the clarinet in the Orchestra. However, the Orchestra possesses a number of unused instruments as membership hovers around 10 members. Instead of waiting for more musicians (finding dedicated members is a problem here...), we realized it made more sense to learn these instruments ourselves (duh, right?). I have since taught myself to play the bassoon AND cello. Freakin' random, huh! 

 

We've already performed one major concert for government officials but I'll post pics/videos from the next one (which will include a bassoon solo from yours truly...)  

Back in the States in two weeks. Will be interesting to see how different it is... 

5342

5342 

That's the distance (in miles) between Salt Lake City and Apia. Two more days till the big day. And I'm a little worried. That I'm making the biggest mistake of my life... Haha! Dramatic much? 

Facing the unknown is a real fear. There is no guarantee that I'll thrive in Samoa. I thought the same thing in 2008 when I moved to Utah on a whim. And I've since carved out a respectable life... that I'm giving up. But I take comfort in my favorite poem by Robert Frost. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I

I took the one less traveled by 

And that has made all the difference 

I'm taking a road 5342 miles out of my comfort zone. I will miss Salt Lake City (even the dirty inversion and terrible drivers...) and the wonderful friends I've made. I will miss living with and near my brothers. And babysitting my rambunctious nephews. Thank you all for six years of amazing memories. Cheers!