Macau Update!
December 18, 2006
Hello dear friends,
It's been a while since I wrote and it's about time for an update. Hani and I have been in Macau since December 5, doing a trial with the orchestra. It has been pretty fun, and the weather during this time of year is absolutely beautiful. Skies are sometimes clear, temperature is in the 60s and 70s (F), and it's not so humid as other times of the year.
Here's a picture of Hani and I at the top of Guia Hill, where there is an old lighthouse that used to be overlooking the sea. A bit cloudy but still pleasant:
Our audition was not until this past Friday (12/15), so we were laying low for quite some time, staying rested & preparing. I was getting up at 6am every day to do a comprehensive warmup, and going to bed between 8pm and 10pm each night. As many of you know I have been abstaining from caffeine and trying to stay as healthy as possible.
All of this (plus just a little bit of practicing these last months..) was really worth it, because on Friday I played an awesome audition. Like, really. As good as I could possibly play. Numerous factors at work here; psychological ones were the most interesting and most different from other audition experiences. I have been doing a lot of positive thinking and confidence-building exercises, and I felt 100% confident in the audition.
Hani was feeling quite under the weather, but toughed it out to play an excellent audition. Everyone was really impressed with her playing; count me among the proud & impressed, as well! She truly stepped it up in these last months and the results were obvious.
Our auditions were pre- morning rehearsal. A rehearsal we didn't have to be at, actually. So, after we finished we walked to a favorite Portuguese cafe; I was going to treat myself to a coffee finally!
First I warmed up with a tomato+cheese sandwich and a water, thinking, talking, playing a little chess. Then, I ordered the latte. Oh sweet swirly Portuguese-cafe latte goodness. It was very, very, very nice -- my victory latte, since job or not, the audition was a personal victory.
Fast-forward a few days to something even nicer. The principals of each section convene with the management and conductor on a balmy Sunday morning, post dress rehearsal in an old church in the center of the center -- St. Dominics in Senado Square.
The decision was made, unofficially, that they want to hire us. I ran into Shamil after this meeting. He looked at me. He smiled. I knew. Russians don't smile except when something big happens. He shook my hand and told me congratulations, we have the job.
(I then had the largest ever pint of beer with some friends, who confirmed the decision.)
(Yes, a pint can vary in size. This pint was the largest pint I've ever drank.)
Indeed, barring any strange changes or acts of malevolence, Hani and I are now the 3rd and 4th horns, respectively, of the Macau Orchestra!
We have not been told this officially, nor seen any contractual looking documents, so I am reticent to share this good news, but, hell, it was time for an update!
It will take several months for all the immigration papers to be worked out, and for us to actually start getting settled here. I don't know what the immediate future holds, in terms of what we will be doing and where we will be, but that will work itself out (and we have our apartment leased until August 2007 anyway...)
My hope is that we can come over here and work something like 15-20 days a month, then since we will have to leave the Macau border, we can travel around Asia/Australia/Europe for the rest of the month, then come back and do a little more work. This would go on for as long as it takes the government to get our visas (it can take up to 8 months)
That's the news for now... I leave you with a few more photos -- mostly from Guia Hill.
Butterfly on the ground:
What exactly are you supposed to be doing at this workout station??
Turtle skyscrapers:
Penha church:
A view of the southern tip of the island, taken from Penha church:
Hani and me again:
We will be in Bloomington from Dec.21-23, Florida from Dec.23-30, and Albuquerque from Dec.31 to Jan.4, if anybody wants to hang out...
Best wishes!
Marc
It's been a while since I wrote and it's about time for an update. Hani and I have been in Macau since December 5, doing a trial with the orchestra. It has been pretty fun, and the weather during this time of year is absolutely beautiful. Skies are sometimes clear, temperature is in the 60s and 70s (F), and it's not so humid as other times of the year.
Here's a picture of Hani and I at the top of Guia Hill, where there is an old lighthouse that used to be overlooking the sea. A bit cloudy but still pleasant:
Our audition was not until this past Friday (12/15), so we were laying low for quite some time, staying rested & preparing. I was getting up at 6am every day to do a comprehensive warmup, and going to bed between 8pm and 10pm each night. As many of you know I have been abstaining from caffeine and trying to stay as healthy as possible.
All of this (plus just a little bit of practicing these last months..) was really worth it, because on Friday I played an awesome audition. Like, really. As good as I could possibly play. Numerous factors at work here; psychological ones were the most interesting and most different from other audition experiences. I have been doing a lot of positive thinking and confidence-building exercises, and I felt 100% confident in the audition.
Hani was feeling quite under the weather, but toughed it out to play an excellent audition. Everyone was really impressed with her playing; count me among the proud & impressed, as well! She truly stepped it up in these last months and the results were obvious.
Our auditions were pre- morning rehearsal. A rehearsal we didn't have to be at, actually. So, after we finished we walked to a favorite Portuguese cafe; I was going to treat myself to a coffee finally!
First I warmed up with a tomato+cheese sandwich and a water, thinking, talking, playing a little chess. Then, I ordered the latte. Oh sweet swirly Portuguese-cafe latte goodness. It was very, very, very nice -- my victory latte, since job or not, the audition was a personal victory.
Fast-forward a few days to something even nicer. The principals of each section convene with the management and conductor on a balmy Sunday morning, post dress rehearsal in an old church in the center of the center -- St. Dominics in Senado Square.
The decision was made, unofficially, that they want to hire us. I ran into Shamil after this meeting. He looked at me. He smiled. I knew. Russians don't smile except when something big happens. He shook my hand and told me congratulations, we have the job.
(I then had the largest ever pint of beer with some friends, who confirmed the decision.)
(Yes, a pint can vary in size. This pint was the largest pint I've ever drank.)
Indeed, barring any strange changes or acts of malevolence, Hani and I are now the 3rd and 4th horns, respectively, of the Macau Orchestra!
We have not been told this officially, nor seen any contractual looking documents, so I am reticent to share this good news, but, hell, it was time for an update!
It will take several months for all the immigration papers to be worked out, and for us to actually start getting settled here. I don't know what the immediate future holds, in terms of what we will be doing and where we will be, but that will work itself out (and we have our apartment leased until August 2007 anyway...)
My hope is that we can come over here and work something like 15-20 days a month, then since we will have to leave the Macau border, we can travel around Asia/Australia/Europe for the rest of the month, then come back and do a little more work. This would go on for as long as it takes the government to get our visas (it can take up to 8 months)
That's the news for now... I leave you with a few more photos -- mostly from Guia Hill.
Butterfly on the ground:
What exactly are you supposed to be doing at this workout station??
Turtle skyscrapers:
Penha church:
A view of the southern tip of the island, taken from Penha church:
Hani and me again:
We will be in Bloomington from Dec.21-23, Florida from Dec.23-30, and Albuquerque from Dec.31 to Jan.4, if anybody wants to hang out...
Best wishes!
Marc