Things are starting to settle down for me in Singapore- there are less surprises every week, and after 6-7 weeks (the fact that I've lost count is a good sign, hehe!) I'm starting to feel somewhat like I belong here.

This post is mainly going to be about violin because, for better or worse, violin has become my life while I'm here!

In the past 2 weeks since I've written I've basically been living at the music school. I leave at 9:30 in the morning, have a leisurely breakfast at school, and then do my morning warm-up routine (about 1 hour of scales and technique practice). Then the rest of the day, depending on what day of the week it is, will consist of more practicing, rehearsals (chamber or orch), violin lesson, or hanging out with some of my lovely new friends at school. I usually get home sometime between 10pm- midnight and crash for the next day.

It feels funny for me to be at the music school for so many hours in a day, but the workaholic atmosphere here is rubbing off on me to the point that I always feel guilty if I am not working as hard as those around me. The practicing is definitely paying off though, because I have received some great feedback from those around me. I've been able to play and perform at a higher level than I was able to even a month ago, thanks to the incredible influence of my private teacher, chamber coach, and peers. The great thing is I am ENJOYING the practicing the performing too, and I'm so happy that music never becomes a drag.

The next few weeks are going to be crazy~ I have a string quartet performance on September 30th, a solo performance on October 10, and I'm playing in the sun festival in Singapore with selected members of the orchestra on October 18th. And I leave for Vietnam today, so I must keep this short!

Since I don't have time to upload photos to the blog, here is the link to my facebook album which shows some of what I have been up to lately!
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072967&l=198c8&id=5401136

~Leah

Dear faithful readers,

Sorry for the delay in postings! The opera is finally over and I once again have time to write here.

I had the astonishing revelation a couple nights ago, that I am a foreigner. This may sound painfully obvious, but it's something that took a while to dawn upon me- that the native Singaporeans are "normal", and I am "different". It is an important thing to realize though, as it is hard sometimes for me to get through a day without running into a myriad of surprises- and I need to remind myself that I am in a world that does not care if things are done differently in the US. I am not one who sees a right and wrong way of doing things, but my next goal is to get rid of seeing things as either "familiar" or "weird". As my Chinese roommates examine my measuring cups and peanut butter in the kitchen with confusion and curiosity, I realize that I am just as "weird" as anyone else here.

One thing I have learned loud and clear is that Singaporeans and Chinese people(and maybe all Asians) have a work ethic that puts myself and most people I know to shame. A taxi driver I met put it quite well - "In Singapore people don't stop working. People work till they die". Almost everyone is ALWAYS working or studying or practicing, and it makes me feel guilty for needing breaks sometimes. Inspired by others around me, I am working extremely hard too, and practicing as much as possible, but, unlike others, I like to have SOME leisurely time, especially on the weekends! I guess I'm just realizing that I can't compare myself to others so much and I need to work at a pace that is right for me. Either way, I am really happy with my progress on violin so far since I have come here- my teacher and I already see a lot of things getting better, and of course I have a long way to go, but I am on the right track!

Anyhow, here are some recent pictures!! (click on any picture to enlarge it)


Eating on Banana Leaves in Little India!


This picture has quite a story behind it. As part of being a student at YST Conservatory, all string players get to pick out an instrument from the Rin Collection from the Rin's home (aka mansion) in Singapore. It was a very Chinese evening, with little English spoken the whole time, but I appreciated their kindness and enjoyed my surroundings and the food, and of course, picking out my beautiful 1895 Cavani violin that I get to use for the next two years!


Some of the Turandot pit orchestra posing with cast members Pang and Pong!


Turandot Opera orch (plus my friend from Synagogue, Ashira) out at a jazz club for Zhang Yi (far left)' s birthday
The Esplanade and its surroundings at night


One last thing- I just realized only registered users were able to leave comments on my posts before. I changed the settings so that anyone can comment now! Thank you also to those of you who have emailed me, it's always nice to hear from you, and I try my best to respond in a timely fashion :)

Well now it is officially bedtime!

Until next time,
Leah