Tibetan Monks

Yesterday afternoon at work (I love my job) I got to go to a Tibetan Arts Workshop, and it was fantastic. I was completely awestruck by what I saw and learned. They did some dance, some music, some hand gestures- which were incredibly beautiful, and showed us how they do some of their arts such as sand mandalas, ink printing and butter sculptures. Anyhow, what was so inspiring was how they used the arts to pr-- and worship. They have these prayers that they chant with the hand gestures, they use the musical instruments to aid in clearing their mind to meditate, they print prayers on silk flags and hang them all over the place, they do so many creative things to act out and symbolize their requests . . . why does the chu-- have so much trouble figuring out what to do with the arts? Why are they so separate? The arts are such an integral part of these monk's worship- there is so much Chr---ians could learn from them. Sadly, most never will look to other religions to find the good points, the things they've got right.

And then today I got to go to an African hand drumming workshop- also brilliant. Like I said, I love my job :) (this week anyhow ;) ) Now I'm off to see the Monks and then the drummers perform in the opening for Salisbury International Arts Festival- two weeks of art and culture! Whoo-hoo!

Swan Lake

I didn't mean for England to sound bad- I love it here! I'll have to put more conscious effort into posting about all the wonderful things as well.

Saturday I went to see the Royal Ballet do Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden! It was so amazing. I was just sitting there thinking, "Wow, I am actually in London watching the Royal Ballet perform my favorite ballet and it only took me a couple hours to get here. Why didn't I do this sooner?" I've never seen such wonderful scenery. I teared up during the Act II adagio and didn't think anything could top it, but then the end of Act III always does with all it's drama, Odette in the window, Odile and Von Rothbart laughing wickedly, and Sigfried (daft as he is- how does he mistake this evil woman in black accompanied by this very dodgy bloke and some demons for the swan-woman he fell in love with the day before?) throwing himself on the floor in despair. I love it.

I went up with Sarah and Ian- they had never seen a ballet before and they really enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner- that's two down, Nashville and London! Anyhow, it was a smashing day- a fabulous end to a very difficult week.

Hello?

Is anybody reading this? Should I bother?

Unfair

Earlier this week, the student I was working with had to leave early for an appointment, so I ended up working with a deaf lady for the last hour of the day. I was so completely broken at the end of that hour that I just burst into tears as the moment another support worker asked me if I was ok.

It is difficult enough for an average deaf person to learn in the hearing world, when everyone around you is speaking a language you don't understand. But for someone with severe learning disabilities, I can't even imagine the isolation, the frustration of not being able to communicate. I had to find creative ways to communicate with this woman, and when I did, I was surprised at how able she is. But how many people take the time and the effort to do that? I certainly never had before. If there was a school just for deaf people with learning disabilities, I know she would be able to do so much more. Instead, she walks around grabbing people and crying, and it breaks my heart now that I understand why. She is locked away, trapped in a world of her own because she is unable to break into ours.