intangible work

to counter my last doom and gloom post, i'd like to share an uncharacteristically entertaining and enjoyable evening with you all.

last night, at the behest- ehhem... i mean request - of a fellow colleague, i agreed to tag along on a school field trip to a big city nearby for what they told me would be an opera (which actually was a splendid musical).

two full buses worth of students and teachers piled into the soviet-era transport devices and we shuffled ourselves to this lovely city. coincidentally, i had spent much of last week there at an HIV/AIDS and Anti-Trafficking conference with a counterpart of mine and attended a lovely Beethoven symphony in the same theater. i had also had time to peruse the city and was familiar with the central area. as we drove there, i mentally amassed a quick list of things to accomplish during the hour or two afforded us prior to the musical's commencement.

on my list of adventures to knock off whilst meandering around blissfully alone and in peace were...

the purchase of a brand new white out thing-a-ma-jigger.
the purchase of dried apricots.
wandering through the huge fruit and vegetable bazaar.
having another look at ancient roman ruins.
listening to lots of new music.
drinking a delicious dulgo kafe (think really strong, tall espresso).

it was simply marvelous. the weather was near summer-like, the sun shining and the temperatures warranting outdoor cafe service. i spent the whole "free time" period alone, too happy to be concerned about my blatant disregard for the opportunity to integrate with the teachers.

i think i often forget that, unlike these teachers (most of whom i have little in common to begin with), i'm constantly at work even when i'm not technically at work. cultural integration and adaptation is a heck of a lot of work every single day. or so i told myself yesterday as i wandered away from the group.

when the designated time arrived, i met up with the kiddos and the teachers to grab my ticket for the musical. we crammed ourselves inside and thus it began.

i must admit that the musical was delightful. any and all of my previous apprehensions and worries about not understanding any of it were put to rest quickly, as the humor of the musical 'charley's aunt' and the animated actors brought it to life. an interview with the actor who played charley's aunt is here.

it was such an enjoyable experience, i soon forgot everything. i forgot i didn't understand every word of it. i forgot i was with no one who spoke english. i forgot how exhausted i had previously felt from the tedium of cultural work. completely forgot about all my sulking, and my sticky negativity and the defeat beating me down. i forgot how, for many of the kids that went with me, this was their first time in this big city.

and, in the most unlikely of places- the production of an english musical in another language on the other side of the world -i remembered to breathe and to smile because i have so much to be grateful for. i remembered that the work being done here is often work i cannot see with my eyes or touch with my hands.