Phew. It's good to be home.
I just got back from a month-long, whirlwind journey through Poland and Israel with an enthusiastic group of teenagers from Chicago and Israel. It was pretty intense to say the least. Music played such a central role on the trip, though, which was so cool to see. My guitar made me feel much more at home (that is, until the venerable El Al airlines kindly decided to take it off my hands-permanently- on the way back, ugh...we'll see if it ever shows up again). Songs punctuated every meaningful moment. From Hannah Szenes's "Eli Eli" sung quietly at the Birkenau concentration camp, to constant requests for "Forever" on the bus; from an Israeli "pony dance" chant (I couldn't explain it if I tried) to rising star Eric Berman's "Beinonimi"; from Hannah Montana tunes (really? I mean, you guys are in high school...) to jazzy jams and drum circles, it was all there. The group consistently employed voices, guitars, hand drums, flutes, and even a didjeridoo to express the mood.
Without music...I don't know. It would have been blank.
Glad you're back :) Even if I'm heading off.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Alan for coming out last night to bid me farewell, it was nice to see you both.
G'luck! And I hope you get your guitar back!