A night of magic
Hello friends,
It’s late (or early, depending on your perspective), so this will be a short entry. Just to let you know a bit about today. Several exciting events occurred today: for one, I began my work at the University School by meeting with Jean Smith, one of my supervising teachers, and her class. We discussed a little bit about what my job will be, and what my job will help me to do: I will be teaching the students social studies and history through storytelling and also analyzing the results, allowing me statistics to support the benefit of my work: this left me even more honored and thrilled with my position.
I also was privileged to attend a potluck dinner at the house of Dr. Sobol (my academic advisor) and his wife with several of the other storytelling students. My time there was perfect. We shared a splendid meal and had a relaxed, casual conversation. There was even a cat who stopped by: at first we (the students) thought him to belong to the Sobol’s, due to his casual entrance, but we later learned they did not know this cat at all: so we concluded this cat was simply attempted to take over the house through its occupation, and it almost succeeded (it was a cute cat), until we learned which neighbor it belonged to.
After this enjoyable meal, I accompanied one of my fellow students to a contra dance. This is a dancing style often compared to square dancing, but at the same time very different. You find a partner (different partner for each dance), and are told/shown/taught a series of steps you perform with your partner and another couple: then, when the steps are completed, you move to the next couple: all the while a sort of Irish influenced folk music is being played. These dances are certain to loose most of the dancers each time, but it is arranged so that if a dancer looses his/her place, they can soon find their way back into the tangle. The atmosphere was also such that no one cared if a mistake was made: there was simply a laugh and then moving on. And every so often the dance would simply flow for a few patterns and it was beautiful to experience this almost out-of-body experience as you find yourself twirling and twisting with your partners, most of whom you have never met, in a tangle of arms, while music that exudes joy manages to present some vague sense of order amidst this chaos: a wonderful way to meet new friends and share in a plethora of types of fun.
And of course, as often ends a magical evening, there was a bit of romance. I went on a late night date with a new friend, and it was magical, or at least felt so to me, and she certainly seemed to enjoy herself. But I won’t burden you with those details yet, instead, for now, I will simply wish you all the best and I look forward to seeing you soon (when I am able to arrange a tour, if not before).
Best,
Lethan