missing in action.

Happy…May Day?!?!

Time flies when you’re having fun; there’s no other way I can describe the past month! Several of my friends are on the hall committee, and consequently I’ve been involved in helping with some hall events recently.  I also spent the first three weeks of April rehearsing for a performance with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, which was an amazing experience.  I met dozens of fun, interesting, and incredibly talented people and got to formally sing for the first time this semester.  Though it was a bit hectic learning over a dozen songs in about 2.5 weeks, every moment was worth it.

The performance itself went so well–I was struck several times on- and off-stage by the energy and joy radiating from everyone in the cast.  I challenged myself musically, as I had previously sung very little G & S.  In addition to being a member of the chorus, I was Marta in “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music, Mona (“Lipschitz”) in “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, and Edith in “Climbing Over Rocky Mountain” from Pirates of Penzance.  My biggest challenge, though, was getting ill a couple of days before dress rehearsal.  I woke up the morning of the performance with a cough and barely any voice; I proceeded to spend the entire day drinking tea, eating spoonfuls of honey, and trying not to talk.  It turned out so, well, though, and the audience was incredibly receptive and engaged.  Owl Eyes, the student magazine of St Andrews, published some photos here: http://www.owleyesmagazine.com/gallery/night-musicals.

A few days after the performance, I had a paper due for my Scottish Music module.  The day it was due was one of those gorgeous Scottish summer days that make all of the cold, rainy ones entirely worth it.  Unfortunately, I was stuck inside sick and trying to write a paper.  My academic dad decided that I needed a break from my essay, so he came over after dinner and brought Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and some excellent music.  We went outside and swing danced barefoot in the grass for about an hour, taking a break to enjoy some ice cream.  It was by far the best study break I’ve ever had!

I’m not sure that I’ve explained academic families yet, so let me do so now.  Academic families are a St Andrews tradition; upperclassmen (some starting in 2nd year, others in 3rd or 4th) “adopt” incoming freshers during the first weeks of classes.  JSAs and JYAs (Junior Semester or Year Abroads, aka study abroad students) often get adopted as well.  Some people adopt singly, others choose to adopt with a friend of the opposite sex like my “parents” did.  My mum is my English friend, Laura, who is going into her 2nd year as the president of Swing Dance Society.  She’s so wonderful!  My dad, as I mentioned above, is my Belgian friend, Lawrence, who is treasurer, and now vice president, of Swing Dance Society.  He’s pretty great, too.  I met both of them through dancing, and most of the time when I see them that’s what we’re doing!

Lawrence and Laura, my academic parents, swing dancing outside of the Library

another angle; we were selling tickets for our ’600 Minutes of Swing’ Speakeasy.

Another highlight of April: I cooked, by myself, for the first time!  Though I’ve done a good amount of baking in my life, I never did much cooking before I came to St. Andrews.  But we have to fend for ourselves every Saturday and Sunday evening for dinner, so we do a lot of cooking in the hall together.  In the middle of a paper for psychology, I decided that my break would be to challenge myself and cook solo.  A friend picked up some groceries for me while in town and I made myself some chicken fajitas.  I was so surprised–they were delicious!! I wish I had access to more spices here, but I thoroughly enjoyed it (as did a few friends: I made way too much for just myself!).

My first time ever cooking by myself was a success!

I’m off to go meet with a professor, but I have so many more stories to tell you (like dancing for 10 hours straight)! And don’t worry, I promise I have not forgotten about sharing photos and stories from my Easter holiday travels.  I will write soon; it’s week 1 of revision and I know I will want study breaks!

Class Act

Has it really been that long since my last post?! Time certainly flies and it needs to slow down.

I realized recently that I have not shared which modules I am taking, so allow me to briefly summarise each.

Scottish Music, a second-year module, meets 3 days a week for an hour each; it is co-taught by two really wonderful professors with a passion for music.  In less than three weeks, I have learned tons about Scottish history, church history, and both “classical” and folk Scottish music through the centuries.

This module also includes hour-long tutorials every other week.  Monday was our first one and we learned how to play the penny whistle.  It was a lot of fun!

In addition to Scottish Music I am also taking three fourth-year psychology modules, each of which meets once a week for two hours.

In Group Behaviour, we are talking a lot about crowd dynamics and crowd psychology which is a different perspective than I had anticipated, but it has been very thought-provoking and it has already done a lot to broaden my global perspective and reassess media portrayals of world events.  The class neatly combines aspects of sociology with social psychology.

I am also taking a class called Emotion, which has been quite philosophical so far; we have discussed the history of ideas on emotion, largely focusing on philosophers’ interpretations and ideas on what they are.  We also discussed the experience of an emotion and considered how to define what an emotion is.  It seems simple enough at first, but when you get into it you quickly discover that there is no one straightforward or really correct answer.  I never realized how little literature there is on definining emotions especially considering how much they are studied and discussed.

My third psychology course is entitled Cognitive Psychology and the Emotional Disorders.  My main area of interest is the clinical side of psychology and this class is a great complement to the counseling and abnormal psych classes I took last semester at Erskine.  We focus mainly on depression and anxiety and have been looking at some interesting research about implicit and explicit memory bias in individuals with depression, dysphoria, or anxiety.

A lot of that probably sounded quite nerdy; I apologize.  Needless to say I really love and enjoy my classes!

The light about a week ago was so beautiful: dark grey clouds contrasted with golden sunlight streaming through. I took this photo in the upstairs lobby of the arts building after my music module. Such a beautiful scene.

It’s also quite nice to be done with classes by 1 or earlier every day, though I always have to hightail it back to Melville for lunch because the dining hall closes at 1:30.  (You eat meals in your hall of residence here.)  My classes are all a 20 minute walk from my hall, but at least I get several miles of brisk walking in every day:  no wonder I’m always hungry!  I’m also rather cold all the time, especially when it’s very windy.  Which, come to think of it, is almost always.  My poor fingers and toes–by the time I get wherever I’m walking they are usually numb or aching and it takes forever for them to warm up.  Thankfully  my room is quite toasty and I’ve even had to turn the radiator down a few times at night after waking up too hot.

I still love living in Melville.  I am slowly meeting more people and the food is usually quite good.  I really appreciate the community atmosphere: that’s something that Melville has always been known for and it is very evident.  I also really appreciate our cleaning staff; just like at Erskine, they do a superb job keeping all of the common areas clean. Unlike Erskine, though, they also pick up our trash every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and vacuum our rooms and clean our sinks once a week.  It is certainly incentive to keep my room picked up and, as I do not have any cleaning supplies with me, it’s nice to know that it will stay clean.  Melville really does feel like home; we are such an eclectic group of people that as far as I can tell get along splendidly.

In my next few posts I will describe some of the events and activities that I’ve experienced so far and share some more pictures.  I take my camera with me everywhere so I have tons of photos.  I also plan to devote a post to food, and one to language–I promise there are some interesting stories there!  Until then, cheers!

I walk by the Old Course and the hotel every morning that I have class and about a week ago the hotel was literally glowing golden from the way the light was hitting it, even though the sky was so dark. It was incredible!

Cold Weather, Warm Conversation

As the temperature drops and the new semester starts for many college
students, Erskine begins what its students affectionately call “J-term.”
This one-month semester in January offers students the opportunity to take
one class that they might not otherwise have time or desire to take at a
much slower pace than during the normal semester. Instead of taking a
class, for my sophomore year I am externing with Erskine’s communications
department.

Today, instead of browsing college pamphlets and literature to learn about
publication style, voice, and design, I had the chance to sit down with
Mrs. Joyce Guyette, the Associate Director of Written Communications at
the home of the Flying Fleet. Mrs. Guyette writes for the campus alumni
publication Inside Erskine,and proofreads some of Erskine's other
literature.

After earning her English major, Mrs. Guyette attended graduate school and
completed her coursework after her first child was born. From her
description of her various editing and proofreading positions throughout
her life, a common theme has risen from Mrs. Guyette’s timeline of jobs.
Instead of a strategic career track or plan to climb the ladder of
English-related jobs, Mrs. Guyette seems to have been found by her editing
positions. She displays a great faith in the Lord, staying true to what
she enjoys, and trusting Him to provide. Moving around from places like
Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina, the Guyettes currently find
themselves in the Palmetto state, with Mrs. Guyette enjoying using her
English major to write and proof for Erskine College.

In addition to talking about what has led up to her position at Erskine,
Mrs. Guyette also shared a bit about the writing process with me. One of
my favorite anecdotes she shared was about her uncle, who served as senior
editor and senior writer at Sports Illustrated some years ago. He told his
brother, Mrs. Guyette's father, that he hears the rhythm of the writing in
his head. I found it particularly interesting to learn about how her jobs
differed in respect to work environments, group work versus individual
assignments, and her transition from thinking on paper and working with a
typewriter in college to completing the whole writing process on the
computer.

It was encouraging to learn that she was able to use her English major in
many ways that she loved. While I’ve heard many times about the benefit of
teaching after receiving an English major, it was inspiring to hear about
the many other prospects available for English majors. Also, in the
climate of pressured career preparation and long-term planning fostered in
college, it was relieving to hear a success story of someone who followed
what she loved, pursued education in what she enjoyed, and let the Lord
lead her to thoroughly enjoyable job opportunities.

After sharing her story with me, Mrs. Guyette offered some advice
regarding my college education. I am currently a double major in English
and Art, but have been on the fence as far as the English side goes for
the past semester. However, Mrs. Guyette encouraged me to take time during
the slower January term to stop, think, and pray about what direction to
go, and what to major and minor in.

I loved talking with Mrs. Joyce Guyette about her experiences in the
English world; her love of writing and editing seems to be contagious, as
I find myself reconsidering the English track at Erskine more deeply than
before our conversation. She has a wealth of information, and it was
wonderful to have a conversation with her.

Introduction

Hello!

I’ve never done a blog before, but here I am!  I hope that I will improve with time, because right now I am hopelessly lost in trying to figure out how this website works.  Obviously, I’m not very tech-savvy.

I do enjoy writing, though, and I hope that you will find some of what I have to say interesting.  I am getting closer to embarking on the most exciting journey of my life thus far, which begins January 22, 2013.  I will be spending Spring semester at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. I am so excited, despite having to say goodbye to the wonderful friends at Erskine that God has blessed me with.

So that you can get an idea of who I am, let me introduce myself:

My name is Christine Dumouchel and my hometown is Charleston, SC. I am a junior at Erskine and pursuing an honors major in psychology with a double minor in Spanish and family studies. (No, I’m not an over-achiever or anything.)  I’m interested in the connection between spiritual health and mental health; I also see great potential in alternative/arts therapies (art, music, dance/movement, writing, mindfulness meditation, yoga, etc.).  After undergrad, I plan to apply to both Master’s and PhD programs in therapy/counseling and clinical psychology.

I love singing, dancing, acting, and performing in general. I also enjoy reading and writing: books are my best friend.  I am quite active on Erskine’s campus: I am an SLA (Student Life Assistant) in Carnegie Hall, the residence hall for freshmen women, and I lead SI (Supplemental Instruction) for one of the sections of General Psychology.

4 of the 5 Carnegie SLAs (Tiffany, Leighton, Me, Heather) and a former Carnegie SLA (also Heather)

I sing with the Choraleers and Chamber Choir and also take private voice lessons.  This fall I played Elaine Harper in the fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace;  joined Erskine’s new improvisation group, ImproVfessional; and [successfully] rushed Erskine’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theater honor society.  I am a member of Alpha Chi (a national academic honor society) and Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership honor society).  I serve as the secretary of the Erskine Society of Psychology, which is in the process of forming a local Psi Chi chapter.  I enjoy working with Dr. Norman (Erskine’s president) and his wife as much as I can, and one of my favorite evening activities is babysitting their 3 wonderful boys-Noah, Asher, and Ezra.

Faith is one of the most important parts of my life.  I am Catholic but never feel out of place at Erskine despite its affiliation with the ARP church.  I am abundantly blessed by God’s grace and mercy, and I thank Him for that every day.  One of my favorite things about Erskine is seeing the way that He works in and through my friends, classmates, professors, and everyone that works to make Erskine the great place that it is.

It was difficult to have to say goodbye during exams, knowing that I will not be back at Erskine in the spring.  However, my friends and I made the most of the time; some of them even had a few surprises for me!   I look forward to challenging myself and learning all that I can while I study abroad.  Over the next several weeks, I will be posting about the study abroad application process, reflecting on my semester, and sharing about my preparation to cross the pond.

Happy Advent, and may God bless and keep you!

my friends threw me a surprise going-away party last Friday. I’ve never had a surprise party before and it was wonderful!

Exam Time

The cake Admissions got for me…yum!

Whew—what a whirlwind the weeks leading up to midterms were! By about this time in the semester, everyone starts spending less time socializing at meals and rushes off to finish reviewing for that next big test that’s looming. One often sees students walking around with a book or flashcards, or people off in corners intently reciting history facts or Spanish vocabulary. I, for one, ended up regaling friends with History of the English Language notes while we waited in the lunch line. (Guess who’s going to avoid me the next time they see me coming with a notepad in hand?)

Another notable event of the week—at least in my grandmother’s eyes—was my twenty-second birthday. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day in frenetic study, and when friends asked me what I was doing to celebrate, a sort of garbled, “Please don’t throw me a party or anything that might take time away from studying” escaped my lips…but the day was special, in spite of all the homework, because of all the sweet notes, phone calls, and happy birthday wishes. One friend also made me sugar cookies, and another gave me a pair of earrings. The Admissions Office even got me a delicious cookie cake—I was so impressed that they remembered my birthday! ‘Twas a special day because of the wonderful people God has put in my life.

Hannah and Amanda enjoying a night of cookies and fellowship in Robinson kitchen a couple weekends ago.

During the intense couple of weeks leading up to Fall Break, the social life of most people on campus tends to effervesce into the realm of the wished-for-but-currently-nonexistent. Unless, of course, study groups count as socializing. Studying in a group can be extremely helpful—not least when the participants keep from devolving into bouts of hyperventilation (not that I would ever do that). But in all seriousness, especially in the midst of exam season, it’s important for me to step back and ask myself why I’m studying or working hard in the first place.

A lesson I seem to learn again and again is that, if my aim is to bring glory to self and to earn the praise of men, I just won’t be able to continue when my stamina is running low and I’m exhausted by the rigors of academic life. If self-aggrandizement is the goal in view, either failure will lead to despair or success will lead to disillusionment and pride, because nothing apart from Jesus Christ can ultimately satisfy. A challenging round of exams and essays often reminds me of this truth. Consequently, I Corinthians 10:31 is a verse I try to keep in mind continually: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Who ate all the cookies?

Though hardly on par with Scripture, a couple of Inklings quotes were also a help to me last week amidst the exam-craziness. Gandalf’s words to Frodo are, I think, quite relevant for the college student juggling massive amounts of reading and writing: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” In The Weight of Glory (an incredible book of essays that is a must-read), Lewis states that “the present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.” Especially for those believers with perfectionist-tendencies, it’s important to be reminded that all we can do is seek to wisely the time we have, for the glory of the One who has called us. And for those of us who tend to be lazy or lackadaisical in our approach to the work God has placed before us, it’s important to remember that our time is not our own and that we serve a great King. If we really believed that, how would the way we spend our time look different?

Ideas

Last week, Morgan and I came up with this idea to let students tweet in convo. As a student here, you have to go listen to a speaker. You’re supposed to come out learning something and being academically and mentally challenged. But the truth is, a handful of students could care less.

In this day and age, we have to face the facts:

1. A lot of students have smart phones.
2. Students with smart phones are attached to their smart phones.
3. Separation anxiety is definitely a problem.
4. Because of this, students’ attention spans are limited…think squirrel if you will.
5. We expand the attention by doing what? Letting them actually use their phones in convo!!

When we had the THRIVE convo with Dr. Norman, we decided to let the students have at it and boy did they respond.

I think it’s pretty neat that a fellow student and I were able to communicate our idea and get faculty behind us to support that idea. Dr. Parker and the fellow THRIVE members helped spread the word. Student services printed off flyers for us. Communications set us up a Twitter account and ran a story on us in their paper. It was all pretty cool and I’m glad I got to voice my idea and see it come to fruition. It’s a great feeling knowing that you did something to spark the conversation and get students excited about convocation again. It’s a small step in the right direction.

Read, Write, Think

Recently, I was uncomfortably challenged when I read this quotation by Malcolm Cowley about writing: “Writers often speak of ‘saving their energy,’ as if each man were given a nickel’s worth of it, which he is at liberty to spend. To me, the mind of the poet resembles Fortunatus’s purse: The more spent, the more it supplies.” Cowley’s words challenged me for the very reason that I tend to hold a to a tacit, logically inexplicable view of my powers of expression (such as they may be) as a finite resource. I used to have a similar idea—albeit an unexamined one—about reading in that, when I began to especially love a book, I always began to read it exponentially more slowly. I suppose I felt that, the better and more worthwhile a book was, the longer I ought to savor it.

A few of the books on my shelf.

Certainly there’s an element of truth to such an idea. As Francis Bacon once said, “Some books are to be tasted, other to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.” My problem, however, is in discerning which books are in those elite few who deserve “to be ready wholly.” It’s also helpful for me to remember that, even if I misjudge a book at first and don’t read it thoroughly enough, I can always re-read it more fully; the important thing is to begin.

Although I know it would behoove me to write more, I also realize that in order to write well, one must read voraciously. Such a recognition pricks my conscience a bit since I have not, of late, been as disciplined as I ought to have been about making time for vigorous, intensive reading outside of class assignments. And as one professor is oft-reminding me, college is not about pedagogy (a basic transfer of spoon-fed knowledge); but is rather andragogy, with professors in the role of inspiring guides. Thus, if our view of college is simply that of fulfilling the minimum requirements necessary to get an “A” in a class (though, granted, doing so is hardly an easy feat at Erskine), our vision for education becomes limited and stultifying. Admittedly, deep, intentional intellectual exploration requires generous amounts of time, and that is something hard to come by in college. Anything of value, though, is worth striving for.

With friends as the Sigma Tau Delta English Convention I attended in New Orleans last month. Conversations there often centered on literature and ideas...so fun!

I’m always amused by Benjamin Franklin’s quip that “[r]eading feeds the brain. It is evident that most minds are starving to death.” Franklin was, of course, speaking in a cultural and historical context in which American society was perhaps at the peak of its literacy—or at any rate, the peak of actual, meaningful literacy rather than the mere functional literacy so sadly common today. The fact that he thought that many minds were so starved in the nineteenth century begs the question of what he would say were he to visit our current image-centered culture. If you’re interested in thinking through the differences between a culture dominated by the printed word as opposed to one pervaded by the visual (often to the exclusion of much meaningful engagement with  written language), I would highly recommend Neil Postman’s seminal work Amusing Ourselves to Death. Lest I sound too polemical, I should perhaps mention that I enjoy a good movie as much as the next person. I think it is vital, though, that we use and appreciate technology as a tool rather than allowing it to dominate or control us due to a failure to examine its implications.

Of course, if one is taking a challenging load of classes and aims to make good grades, the dilemma over how to approach technology and entertainment is largely simplified. The reason for this simplification is that if one regularly spends large amounts of time on Facebook, watching TV, or playing video games, good grades will all too quickly become nothing but a figment of the imagination. Most college students I know say they just don’t have time to watch more than the occasional TV show on the weekend. And really, I don’t think we’re missing too much. So pick up a book (or a book on CD, for that matter), set to work, and think! You might fight it more refreshing than you’d expect.

Rainy Days

It’s a rainy day at Erskine which means I’d rather be sleeping than awake right now. I was up pretty late last night (it’s just that time of year…you know, that time when all the work you should’ve been doing piles up and now you’re completely overwhelmed, stressed, and sleep deprived).

But regardless, I will be going to class in the next hour and a half. It’s Bible and it’s an 8 am. But I’m thankful. Why? Because I will never have to take an 8am class again!! Can I get an amen?!

My day will continue on. I have time to nap before my HR class later with Dr. Abraham. He’s fairly new in the business department but he has definitely made an impact on my life. Last year, even through all he was facing with his wife and her passing, he kept teaching class. He’s such a great Christian example and a true man of integrity. That’s rare in business these days.

After that I go off to Music & Politics taught by Dr. Woodiwiss and Dr. Kuykendall. Two of the most interesting and professors I’ve been taught by this year at Erskine. Music has always been such a huge part of my life so it’s cool to be able to see how it’s connected to politics. We get into some pretty heated discussions but it’s nice to open the mind and be open to different peoples interpretations of things.

Usually, I would go to Choraleers after that class but this week we have a bit of a break before graduation. It’s crazy to think that next year around this time my fiends and I will no longer be those bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman we once were. We will be seniors, young adults with certain skills under our belts with hopes and dreams to go out in the world and make some sort of an impact.

Acting class follows lunch and an afternoon nap (even though by now you’ve gathered that I take not one but two naps on Monday’s and Wednesday’s). It’s taught by Michael Genevie, current director of Abbeville’s Opera House. He’s a fun guy and I’ve always wanted to get back to my acting roots. I started acting on stage before I started singing so it’s neat to be able to come back and revisit an art that I didn’t even realize I missed so much until now.

Since its Wednesday, I will be attending FCA later in the evening. I’m still leading worship which has once again been a great experience for me. God has truly been working on me all year and I thoroughly enjoy being able to let God use my voice to minister to people. Tonight we are going to have the pastor of my church and his wife and another church couple come and answer our questions about anything and everything from a biblical perspective. I’m definitely looking forward to it and will most likely make another post about how it went later tonight.

Well, that’s my typical Wednesday. Monday’s are similar. I hope you’ve enjoyed all of that. If not, don’t worry I’m not offended. It’s just a peak into a typical day at Erskine for me.

It’s still raining…maybe I’ll get an email about class being cancelled…

Making Time

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged all semester. On one hand I feel like I have so much to catch you all up on. On the other hand I feel like I should start from now and move on. Either way, I hope you enjoy my little rant for the time being.

Tonight was a long night. But then again it is April. Quite possibly the busiest month for any student at Erskine. Quizzes, papers, tests, projects, presentations, etc. The list could go an and that’s just academic stuff. You can’t forget about the recitals, the convos to frantically attend cause you didn’t realize you have more convos to get before the ear ends, the meetings, etc.

But perhaps the one thing I always tend to forget during this month is the importance of making time for my friends. I try to justify all the work I do and all the things I’m involved in by saying its all preparation for my future, and while that’s true, I can’t help by think of all the little moments I may be missing out on with my friends.

The moral of the story is to make time for people. At the end of the day and after all the homework and meetings, your friends shouldn’t be neglected. People all crave love and attention. Sure it may be selfish, but there are times when someone genuinely needs someone to just be there and listen, someone to give advice, someone to just keep them company. Remember that next time you find yourself busy and swamped with work. Work is a priority but know how to discern when work must be out off for a brief moment with your futuregroundsman or bridesmaid, your future mate, or your future partner in crime at the nursing home you’ll both be in one day. After all, it’s Erskine. What would it be without friends?! They keep us sane!

Grad School Auditions: Check

I am officially finished with grad school auditions!  I feel so content, almost relaxed, now that they are all done.  Although there are many big things to be working on now – not the least of which is my pre-recital hearing next week – none of it seems to compare to the preparation and nervousness of the last few weeks.

I had two auditions this weekend: one at UNC Greensboro and the other at UNC School of the Arts.  Luckily, my friend Emma lives in Charlotte, so I imposed on her family’s hospitality and gratefully accepted the offer to stay at their house for the weekend.  From there, it was a manageable hour to an hour and a half traveling to Greensboro and Winston-Salem for my auditions.  Being around people I knew and not having to deal with the extra burden of finding a hotel to stay in was a relief.  After everything else that I was dealing with in those two days, it helped me relax quite a bit knowing where I was going to sleep, and having familiar faces around.

So, the big question now, I suppose is: “How did it go?”

One of my great challenges: the runs in "Parto, parto" from Mozart's 'La Clemenza di Tito'

Well, I had a good experience at both locations: I liked both campuses (and found them easily, thanks to my friend Rachel’s GPS that I borrowed!), the judges and other facilitators were friendly, and I sang well.  It’s a satisfying feeling to walk away from an audition and know that I couldn’t have done much better.  The aria that I was most worried about (Mozart’s “Parto, parto” from La Clemenza di Tito) turned out to be a personal best performance!  I never sang those long, complicated runs as well as I did on Sunday, and I am so proud of that.  I also did my sight-reading perfectly and easily on Saturday, which boosted my confidence.

I think the only small mishap involved my preoccupation in driving to UNCSA on Sunday – I was so absorbed in my thoughts, running lyrics, and warming up that I didn’t notice my gas tank quickly emptying.  Finally, my gas light went on about a minute before I reached the campus, startling me and causing me to make a detour through Winston-Salem to find a gas station.  After driving for a few minutes through the city and not finding one, it finally occurred to me that I had a GPS, which has the capabilities to find something like, say, the nearest few gas stations.  After trying the first three that came up on the GPS (all of which were closed or non-existent), I happened upon one and breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled in to fill up.  This small crisis certainly didn’t help my nerves, but it is easy enough to laugh at it now.

 

The music building at UNC Greensboro - my second possible home next year. (from their website: performingarts.uncg.edu/music)

After everything, I am left with one definite rejection, one probable acceptance, and one totally ambiguous.  UNCSA had call-backs last night, which I wasn’t asked to stay for, but I’m okay with this.  For one thing, it is nice to know for sure, even though the result is negative.  Plus, it was a great experience to get a little bit of a feel for a conservatory, and to be in the presence of so many talented, aspiring opera singers who share my passion.  So now I’m waiting for word from Converse and UNCG; the former seemed quite positive when I auditioned, and I have no idea what the latter thought.  Regardless, now I just have to sit back and wait, and do more of that simple thing called “schoolwork”. . . piece of cake, after three grad school auditions in two consecutive weekends.