Sunday, August 5th
Whew! What else can I say after two hours in a Chinese market? We’re on the bus on our way to a Peking Duck lunch, and we’re hungry after haggling, bargaining, pulling away from vendors who literally pull you into their stalls, and constantly wondering if you’ve finally gotten them down to the lowest price. I think there’s a certain amount of self-consciousness involved with admitting how much you’ve spent on a silk tie, a pearl necklace, or an “Armani :)” dress shirt, because what could be worse than finding out someone else bought the same thing for less?
We’re in Beijing for the third day, and we’re doing really well. I’m constantly amazed at our students’ willingness to go with the flow, even when it resembles molasses, or when it feels like we’re trying to herd cats. Our last two tourist visits, to the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace in Beijing, have been quite hectic due to the massive amount of people, but the students have been awesome. We’ve only lost two students, so we’re well below budget. Obviously I’m kidding – everyone has been great about sticking together and taking care of one another – we call it sticky rice.
Last night we played in the concert hall inside the Forbidden City. The jazz combo played a pre-concert reception held by Northern Trust, and I was especially proud of them because they ran the entire set by themselves. They’re really running the show on their own by this point, which is sort of scary, since it makes me a bit obsolete! The combo sounds great everywhere we go, even when they’re on their third gig of the day. The big band is getting better with every performance. We really gelled well two days ago when the big band played for the students who became our home stay hosts. I keep stressing to them the importance of being musically aware at all times, regardless of what is going on around them. What we are trying to achieve is so elusive, like a western toilet at an ancient Chinese garden. We’re trying to play every beat of every tune as if we are one solitary, swinging organism. What I love about these trips is that we live together and get to perform so often together that we can’t help but become more familiar with each other, both personally and musically. I’m humbled to be able to refer to these students as “mine”, since the truth is that their talents are theirs alone. Nonetheless, the band is swinging and I’m having a blast performing and exploring with them. I will miss the routine when we’re all back to our normal crazy lives.
Nic
Us taking pictures of a cute group of Chinese students in Tian An Men Square.
The Chinese (and Ed) taking pictures of cute MYA students in Tian An Men Square.
