Final exam time is here! This past week I had 3 of my
practical exams (2 drumming and then dancing). My first drum exam on Monday went
VERY well! I played a song called Bema with another student and we used the
dunno drum and the panlogo drum. It was actually fun to perform because the
other student and I have studied this particular drum piece in depth and we
were able to do some advanced techniques. My second drumming exam was alright.
I messed up a little on the master drum part but was able to find my way back
into rhythm again. Even though our group didn’t perform perfectly, we honestly
were about 200 times better than any other group hahaha (most people in the
class are not musically inclined and everyone in our group had musical
background). My last practical exam was for Traditional African Dance and it
was on Thursday. I performed in a group of 6 people and I had 2 improvisation
solos. Overall I think our group did very well! We were able to follow the
master drum and changed our dance moves at the right time. My solos went well!
I just have a few bruises to show for it. I have 2 more written exams and one
performance and then I’m done!!
I was supposed to travel up to the Northern regions of Ghana
this weekend but my dance group was switched to perform our final from Tuesday
to Thursday (we were going to leave Thursday to travel up North). I don’t want
to write much about it because I am still quite angry and frustrated that the
dance instructors would not let me perform on Tuesday and that I probably will
not be getting all of my money back that I paid for the Northern trip. Let’s
just sum it all up that I feel like the people here in Ghana and more
specifically the administration here at this university have demanded that we
just have a “go with the flow” attitude. But when I ask for the same
flexibility on my behalf, it is not given.
On a happier note… Because I did not travel this weekend I
was able to attend the Adenta Stake Conference! The general session on Sunday
was a regional broadcast for the stakes and districts in the Africa West area
and the Africa Southeast area. It was nice to hear from Elder Cardon of the
seventy, a member of the young women’s presidency, Elder Christofferson, and
President Monson. It was interesting to hear what they had to say to the people
in this area of the world and what council they were given that might be
different or unique to the people here. They talked about some of the cultural marriage practices here in Africa and how those practices are not in line with what the church leaders have counseled about marriage.
Well that’s about all that I have to post for now. I have
less than one month until I leave and I have a lot that I have to do! Thesis
research and writing, online human anatomy class, internship applications, drum
practicing, studying for finals, and last minute traveling in Ghana! I hope
everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving week!!! I will be excited to talk to all
of the family. I will be spending Thanksgiving at our ISEP Directors house where all of the other international students in our program will enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving feast! But I'm sure they won't have my favorite funeral potatoes haha.
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