We have had so much fun this week here in Puli! Thursday was spent rehearsing and preparing our school presentation, and seeing some sights in Puli. Friday morning we gave a workshop at a local middle school. Initially we weren't sure how responsive the kids would be, but they were incredibly attentive and got very excited about interacting with us! A cellist in the audience even jumped up to try cuing us as a first violinist! (Pictured above. He was great!) Ther were some giggles when I tried to introduce myself in Chinese, but hopefully that was just because it was the last thing they expected to come out of my mouth... At the end of our session we got to hear the school's only string quartet play and work with them a little. We couldn't leave without lots of autographs and a few photos, of course. We felt like we were really able to connect with the kids at this school.
Friday night we rehearsed with the Butterfly Orchestra, run by MuChen's parents, for their concert tonight (Sunday). Even though I often couldn't tell what was being said, jokes were flying between orchestra members and their conductor, and it was clear that everyone was there to have fun with each other playing music.
- Seth
Puli from above