Artists and their Visual Symphonies

I've been working hard on a school-wide art show at The Day-Star School in Juticalpa. It's going well, especially since it's about a month away. At first, I was only going to have it for grades 7-12. But, though I knew it'd be more work, I decided to let grades 4-6 enter too because I know that they are very talented too. Plus, it's been fun getting to know some of the other kids.

 So far, I've got over 120 entries, and I'm not done organizing the names yet! The director and I decided that I am going to have to select the best art -- which might be a challenge because some students are so talented. I'm getting help from other teachers, and my students are going to be required to help me set up and take everything down. March 12-23 is going to be a busy time for me because of this event.

One thing that is very important to me during my time in Juticalpa is expanding the culture. I volunteer with the Society of Culture in Juticalpa and many times someone says something about "There is no culture here". Living here has been frustrating at times because there is not a whole lot to do and it's highly suggested that you don't leave your house past 7 pm. I've gotten used to it because I focus on work and am pretty dedicated to the Society of Culture and La Casa de la Cultura (see Facebook page that I started!). For example, I have set up a recital that will include students and teachers. I'm going to play Bach and possibly De Falla (depending on if it's ready or not) but I'm really excited to improvise with my students who play the guitar. I'm not sure what else is going to happen on the day of the recital, but the nice thing is that we can plan it relaxed and let the program work itself out.

Finally, I have also arranged and art show at La Casa de la Cultura. This will take place in April, and so far I will involve the best entries from the Day-Star School art show. Every little attempt to augment the culture here seemed slow at first, but now I'm seeing results! It's really exciting, and I'm getting to know my own students on a different level. One of my students Ricardo painted this picture with his friend Jorge. Before I even suggested combining art and music, the two friends decided that they were going to paint their assigned landscape and refer to music. I was impressed I loved looking at their piece as they were painting it. I can't wait to see what they contribute for the art show!

Quote: “Art is a beautiful symphony that we musicians love to play.” – Ricardo

Violinist.com Blog

Link to my violinist blog:
http://www.violinist.com/blog/Michelita

After Nicaragua, back to D'Olancho!

I'm back in Juticalpa, Honduras. To celebrate this relaxing day and return home, I cooked up some frijoles rojos with a bunch of D'Olancho and also prepared an ensalada with lechuga, tomates, vinagre, sal, pimiento, and aceite de oliva. I also bought some decent tortillas de maiz. I still need to find a person to buy good corn tortillas from!

La Michele, Lindsay Michel, Cristobel, Elaine, Sariel, Kenny, Abuela Consuelo, y Freddy.

For the last days of 2011 and the first of 2012, I was in Nicaragua. I had a blast. It was my primera navidad outside of the United States. . . and not with my immediate family. I celebrated with my Nica family: Abuela Consuelo, Aquiles, Zadyr, My Tio Ricardo from Florida, and finally from my dad's family Tio Carlos O. and Tia Jenny O. with their hijas and nieto.  That's not it, though. Zadyr has a wonderful girlfriend Sandi Bel. Among the two, they have 5 wonderful children. And even more, the maid of my Abuela, Maria celebrated with us too. She has the cutest little boy ever, Freddy. I am in love with him! So is everybody else. He's such a wonderful baby.

Maria y Freddy

 Relleno, Pollo, and Ensalada

These pictures are only some of the comida I ate.  I ate tons of gallo pinto, sopa, mariscos (pescado) y relleno. Aquiles and Zadyr took me to Mercado Oriental to buy some soup one day, another day, they made me sopa de pescado. What else? I ate some yummy salads in Montelimar, San Juan del Sur, and Managua. And, delicioso pollo in Catarina. I also rode this lovely caballo in Catarina. The path overlooks Laguna de Apoyo. I like this picture because it gives me some ideas for my new novela that will entertain my mind while I've nothing else to do. When I'm not watching Teresa, I suppose!

In San Juan del Sur, my family and I ate, and then I stayed after they left. I really just needed to relax, and this was a perfect opportunity. This beach is beautiful, and of course full of tourists. I didn't really talk to anyone because I was just soaking in the beauty and wrote a lot, went to bed, and went back to Managua dark and early on the bus.

 

Izquierda: Michelita, Aquiles, y Sandi Bel. 

I don't know if you can see, but Aquiles and I are joined at the hip. At least, we were for this trip. It was really nice to get a tour from Viajes Aquilitos, como siempre.  

Derecha: Zadyr and Sandi Bel. They're really cute, and Sandi is such a warm being. I'm also really happy that she loves to bailar! I love dancing!

I had such an amazing time. No tengo suficiente palabras to describe how much I love going to Nicaragua to spend time with my family and get to know my country. There is so much more that I did and have done, and I'm happy to share it! I can't wait to go again!

Art Lesson Plan Website

http://pinterest.com/

Calimax Store Pictures

Calimax

"D'Olancho" the chile salsa salsa picante "D'Olancho"

el heladothe ice cream

 the tomatoes

los tomates

the bananas and onionslos bananos y cebollas

 el queque
the cake

 El pájaro

The bird

Muffin!¡Moffin!

Miercoles 7 diciembre

Programa a desarrollar: 07 de diciembre de 2011 - 7:00 pm

1. Olancho relatos Regionales (Autor: Dario Euceda Roque)

2. Historia de Manto 

3. Mosaico Literario

Maestra de seremonia: Profa. María Luisa Mendoza Aguiluz

At La Casa de la Cultura, I was able to perform for my very first time in Honduras!  I'm proud to say that I've performed in Central America before.  I played in a concert featuring cover songs of the Beatles in 2007. 

Anyway, I had fun playing.  I was a little shy during the days before the event. Sometimes I just don't want people to hear me!  But, then again, that's why I play music.  After all, if a tree falls down in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, then does it make a sound?

I got over it when I practiced playing for my music classes at school. Playing for students always makes music so fulfilling.

I was planning on playing the Honduran National Anthem which is called Tu bandera, Mozart Violin Sonata in B flat Major, and Bach's Partita 3 Gavotte and Rondeau.  I managed to leave the Mozart at school and was asked to play an extra piece.  I played Bach's Air on the G and La Cinquantaine by Gabriel-Marie in between introductions and during topic transitions. 

I had so much fun playing! I loved every moment and was excited to see the crowd it drew.  Teachers that I worked with came, some of my students came, and a variety of others went to the event.  I didn't know many of them, but they seemed to enjoy the event.  Some people said that they had never heard their own national anthem on the violin.  I really liked having so many varying supporters. 

The next day, I had two students turn in extra credit reports for this event. I enjoyed reading what they said because not only did they say how much they loved my playing, but they also said that the books made them be proud to be Olanchanos and basically that they want to remember what their roots are. I was pretty impressed with their connection with the book. They actually paid attention! One girl kept her program.  I told them that I was going to keep their extra credit papers forever. And they received 50 points for writing it.  

I really enjoyed my time with the locals that I met through this time, and I am looking forward to working with La Casa de la Cultura for another recital and the Day-Star School art show.  I'm pleased to know that there are some cultural events going on, and a place that these ideas can come to fruition.

friday. . . calimax . . . what to do what to do

it's friday night in juticalpa.

i'm not going to work (as in enter grades or lesson plan up until january).


i don't even know if i'm going to party.
maybe. but maybe not.

what i might do, however, is take a walk to the local calimax. it's a little store owned by nice people.

things i might buy:
1. a brush to clean the pila
2. toilet paper
3. a tomato
4. already bought beans and tortillas, so can't buy that
5. if  i had a sweet tooth i'd buy ice cream. i'm not that ambitious to do that tonight either.
maybe i could buy matches. or paper towels.

or  just hang out and watch a bit of a novela. the end.