Sept 30 - Headed to the airport in MSP

I leave for Minneapolis in 4 hours.  Unfortunately I have about 8 hours left of work to do.  Since I don't know what they think I should be teaching, I decided that my best bet would be to bring them something they don't have.  My choice?  YouTube videos!  There are marvelous examples of just about any kind of music in history or around the world!  I've been collecting everything from clips of sacred harp to Beethoven's 9th Symphony to didgeradoos from Australia and Chinese opera from Peking!  (My personal favorite?  Irish bagpipes!)  Driving to MSP today and flying out tomorrow.  The next 3 days will be quite an adventure.

Sept 22 - I HAVE A VISA!

Things are falling into place and I'll be ready to fly out on Oct 1.  Whew!  Thankful that my visa is in.

Sept 21 - The things I'm learning...

Just getting ready for this trip has been a real adventure.  I've been trying to create a way for me to have sound and video (including sheets on the windows if needed) to use in my music classes in Guinea. Since electricity is unreliable at best, I thought that rechargeable batteries for each component - and rechargeable batteries to use for everything - would work best.  Cinemin makes an UNBELIEVABLE miniature projector that is 2"x5" and will run for a little over 2 hours on a charge.  Projects video 6' wide!  Bose makes a portable speaker that should run for 5-6 hours.  I just hope I get there with all the right connections and the know-how to make everything work!

Sept 11 - Remembering

I was thinking, today, that I really didn't know anyone directly effected by the events of September 11, 2001 - and then I remembered my Mother, who was visiting me and helping me recover from rotator cuff surgery [ugh], was suddenly stuck in Bemidji because all the flights - nationally - were canceled.  That seems so small now, but all of our flights and travel have changed since and because of the events of that day.  Just thinking...

I finally got a ticket - planning on leaving October 1st.  Still working on the visa issues!  

Sept 1 - It's no long NEXT month that I leave!

Had a small moment of anxiety this morning when I realized that today was September 1st!  Although I don't have a ticket yet, I'm planning on leaving September 30th.  Still have lots to do.  Working on a blog and a website.  Working on collecting the technology I'll need to do my job and trying to be prepared to survive WHATEVER I'll be facing!