Rhythm

I’m beginning to find patterns of movement here that are making life seem more… comfortable isn’t exactly the right word. But more manageable. I’m finding a rhythm. No doubt I will hit another wall of cultural confusion soon and take several steps back. I think that’s how adjusting to a new culture works: in layers.

The School of Creative Arts has been keeping me happily busy. We have finally hit a lull after the last wave of events before the Christmas season. I did almost nothing at work today. It was great.

The frenzy started with the week leading up to the SoCA facilitator retreat and our first Art Factory since the Feast of the Clowns in August. Art Factory is the platform that Zee dreamed up for our students to perform what they’re learning. It serves as the practical side of their studies and an incentive as an opportunity to perform. Because Art Factory is free, it also is a way that we can provide performances to the community, especially to those who might not be able to afford paying for access to the arts. We also bring in at least one professional act so that we can draw the community in and allow the students to share a stage with artists they respect.

Initially, the only thing I was responsible for with the Art Factory was helping to design the poster. But due partly to one of the other volunteers unexpectedly leaving and to the chaotic way things generally get done here, my role increased as the event drew nearer. One of our big problems was that the students had somehow not been informed about the event until a week before. This meant planning last minute rehearsal time and trying to dole out “transport” money for students to come to school on days they don’t have classes. I spent most of that week on the phone with facilitators and students trying to make sure everyone knew where to be when and how they were getting there. The school was a bustle of activity all week long, filled with students getting ready for the show. One of the things I am learning is that just because things get postponed till the last minute, doesn’t mean they won’t happen. In the end the Art Factory was a success, despite torrential rain that kept some of our audience away. And we, as a team, learned some important lessons for next time.

The Art Factory was on a Friday night and Saturday Zee and I were planning on putting together the agenda for the day long retreat/planning session with our facilitators, taking place Sunday. Unfortunately, Zee got sick and ended up having to stay home for a week. So instead of planning the agenda leisurely over “cold drinks”, I met Zee at her home and we went through all the points while she huddled under the covers of her bed. And since I would now be facilitating the planning session, I had to understand all the points much more clearly. I also needed to prepare for the braii, which I wasn’t expecting to do. Thankfully, my friend Mandla came to the rescue, helping me buy the meat and other supplies at the only super market still open on a Saturday night, carry it across town to my house and then marinate it for the next day.

Miraculously, the retreat went well. I am impressed by all our facilitators; they’re dedication to our students and their creative ideas on better ways to engage them and our community. It was also nice for us all to get to hang out, since we’re never all at SoCA at the same time.

The following week was equally hectic, since Saskia (the other remaining volunteer) and I were running everything with Zee still sick. That weekend was the retreat for all of TLF, around 200 people. And I was put in charge of art. In the end we had some places for people to respond to questions relating to our theme of abundance, a table full of art supplies available for people to express their ideas about the theme and a slideshow of images to provide a back drop for the communion and celebration dinner. I enjoyed taking on some responsibility in the larger setting. The retreat itself was a great mix of fun, relaxation and good dialogue with coworkers.

Once Zee was back, we had so much catching up to do and two more events for the week. Some of our students were performing on Monday and on Wednesday we hosted a Christmas lunch for all our most dedicated students. This ended up being a much bigger endeavor than we initially expected. Once again I was constantly on the phone with facilitators, students and performers. The idea for the lunch was to reward our consistent students with a nice meal, a small gift and quality performances in the different disciplines we teach from people outside the school. Once again, everything came together at the last minute and the lunch was a huge success. Our star performer for the day even offered to become our official patron. The students enjoyed the show and I think were really encouraged by seeing artists who are excelling in their fields.

In case all these events weren’t enough, Robin and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner the Thursday after the actual holiday. We ended up with 26 people around one huge table, which included people from South Africa, Germany, the U.S. and Zimbabwe. We were locals, foreigners, refugees, middles class, struggling, unemployed, volunteers, professionals, educated, students, uneducated, singles and families with different abilities, family back grounds and financial statuses. Robin pointed out that the table was a physical example of the abundance we had been speaking about all weekend at the retreat. It was also great to share this beloved holiday with people who were mostly celebrating it for the first time.

Since then I have basically crashed. I’ve been making up my overtime hours accumulated in all the madness by working short days (or taking days off). This weekend was gloriously uneventful. Except that we also were introduced to a new holiday tradition: Saint Nicholaus Day. Saturday night we all put one shoe outside of our bedroom doors and in the morning they were filled with sweets and goodies. In Germany (and apparently in Museum Park) Santa comes on December 6th. I like this better because then Santa gets to do his thing without taking away from the birth of Christ. And that same evening, there was a ridiculous hail storm that turned the ground white, as if with snow.

This week the school is quiet as many of our students have gone home for the holidays. I’m looking forward to rest and to celebrating Christmas for the first time on this half of the globe.