South America

Journey to South America, Part III

The end of December was intended to be a total break from all things work. My parents and I were looking forward to quality time together to close out the year while enjoying exploring a new part of the world.

The three of us were passengers on a relatively large ship (over 2000 guests plus crew)...  but simply three in a crowd of folks from around the world.

But if I have learned anything from travels, if you are open to the world and people around you, the experiences and connections that you could never have planned for will find you!

Here are some reflections from the last leg of our journey:

The Gift of Music: My father is the only one in the family who isn’t a professional musician, yet he rivals us in the number of performances he gives per year. He isn’t a performer by profession (his background is political science and sociology), but he is most definitely a performer. He always speaks about music as a gift to share with others, and he especially likes making this gift a surprise. It’s convenient that his instrument of choice is the harmonica, and for travels, he has one that fits into the pocket of his vest. I might not think of waiting in long lines to get on/off the ship, traveling on a 50-passenger bus, or negotiating with the owner of a store as performance opportunities… but he did! He always has a set of songs from around the world to share, and it never fails to make people smile. It also reminds me that music is meant to be shared, given, communicated, and experienced together. 

During a conversation with the maitre’d at “Versailles” restaurant, my Dad mentioned that I’m a professional pianist, as he looked at the piano sitting quietly on a platform in the center of the room. It apparently took a little pulling of strings, but they agreed for me to “share some music.” From my experiences playing in such settings (e.g. wedding receptions), I knew that it would be most appreciated if I selected music that is relatively even-keeled, classic, and pleasant. Mozarts Sonata K545 and Beethoven’s Fur Elise are perfect (just don’t get too loud or dramatic!). I also know that it’s not always evident if people are listening, and that’s perfectly okay! But at the end of the hour, I stood up to an overwhelming ovation and a request for an encore (which I enjoyed pulling out all the stops for!). 

And then I was asked by the maitre’d: would you come back and play for us on Christmas? 

Over the next couple days, I wrote out a long list of holiday music from around the world that I knew, and did my best to “mentally practice” the arrangements (no piano available to practice on). I thought about the servers who we had met: many from other countries, and found music that would be familiar to them. 

On December 25, 7pm sharp, I started playing. It was so special to see moments of recognition from various groups spread out throughout, responding to carols from France, Italy, Poland, or Germany… and my Dad joined me for several of these on the harmonica! 

I left a couple surprises for the very end. The majority of the dining staff were from the Philippines and I had found two well-known Filipino tunes to share as a special musical gift to them. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect (and was hoping that the ones I picked were indeed ones that they would recognize!). I started playing the first one, and noticed that the hall became a bit quieter. A server walked towards me, and I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. The second piece is a lively dance, and as I reached the chorus, and entire CHOIR of voices surrounded me as the servers sang along (in Tagalo!). I’m sure anyone there who wasn’t Filipino was quite confused as to what this song is, and what was happening, but this will go down as one of my favorite moments in music, ever! Truly, this reminded me that music has the power to bring the world a little closer, and help us find “home” wherever we are.

(At the end of the evening, the maitre’d came over: “Can you please come back to play for New Year’s Eve?” (I did)). 

The Higher the Hair, the Closer to Heaven…

I think my last haircut before my December departure was in early July. Needless to say, when an opportunity presented itself for a mid-trip haircut I happily signed up. 

I suppose that some people are very particular about who maintains their hair and may not feel comfortable signing up for a haircut in a foreign country, but I’ve done it a few times and enjoy making it part of the travel experience (and a temporary souvenir!). At any rate, if it was too short or I otherwise didn’t like it, it would eventually grow out.

Just like piano lessons, haircuts are often as much about the human relationship as the intended service. Perhaps even more so: I often equate them with the opportunity to exchange stories and ideas.I have had many enjoyable and enriching conversations during cuts, but this one set a record. Suffice it to say, this was the first time I ever asked if I could start taking notes during the conversation!

Rich Lee was my stylist and originally hails from the Philippines. He asked what I do, I asked him about his career and how he made it to where he is, and suddenly… we were traveling down the rabbit hole of philosophy!

Here are my notes from the conversation (copied and pasted directly from my phone!):

  • Don't look at others and say, "I wish I could do that." Just do it!

  • Your goal in life is to spread love

  • Have the courage to be happy, and, know what makes you happy!

  • Remind yourself: I deserve peace of mind.

  • Everything happens for a reason, and every person has an impact on you.

  • Trust your instinct... it's powerful!

  • Accept. Embrace. Forgive. Move on. 

  • You are never in the same place. The world is round... it is spinning. 

  • In every situation there is a lesson. Enjoy the process.

  • If there is a problem today, fix it today. Otherwise it gets bigger and tomorrow you will have to address it still alongside tomorrow's problems

  • Be thankful, and take time to reflect on blessings (including small ones!)

  • Pray for guidance in actions; pray for wisdom in conversations

  • The greatest capital you can have is a dream

  • You can't copy authenticity 

Somehow, we started talking about mindset for performances, and especially, competitions. This is Rich’s advice to YOU:

  • Do you best, enjoy the moment, go into it with a clean heart... 

  • Don't do it because you want to prove yourself. 

  • If you don't enjoy the process you won't enjoy the prize. 

  • Fear is okay: it means you have the eagerness to learn! The more you're scared, and the more you are challenged, the more you'll learn!

Travel Souvenirs

When it comes to souvenirs, I don’t like to bring home “stuff.” Maybe it’s because my parents always did, and then on Saturday mornings we’d clean the house as a family… and dusting all the little trinkets got old really fast!. These days, I enjoy “collecting” experiences and ideas, photos, composing music based on my experiences (definitely thinking about some music based off this trip), and food!

My favorite take-home food from the trip is the Argentinian empanada. Here are a couple recipes that I have tried that do a good job recreating some of the best empanadas I had (at a little estancia in San Antonio, Argentina):

Conclusion

Over the last (almost) four decades, I have traveled a lot: 40 countries across 5 continents. Ironically, the more you travel, the larger the world becomes. In other words, when you think you’ve seen everything travels help you quickly realize that you haven’t even dipped your toes into the depths that this world has to offer! And though I am frequently on the road, I am constantly challenged to get out of my comfort zone in one way or another. And, that’s a good thing. It’s okay to be a “tourist” and to have to rely on the help and advice of locals. It’s okay to try new things, and be a complete beginner (and even “fail!”. Watching (or reading) the news will give you only a thin slice of the reality of a place, much less it’s people: go there and things are quite different. And strangers are friends we haven’t met yet!

Journey to South America, Part II

I am heading towards the "end of the world" - the southern tip of South America, and specifically, Cape Horn. My parents and I hopped on a ship that will travel down the coast of Argentina and then up through Patagonia, to San Antonio, Chile. We we are excited to see and experience some of the off-the-beaten-path ports of call along the way, and have at least a taste of Patagonia. This is an area of the world I have admired ever since my parents brought home a National Geographic video when I about 11. I never expected I would get to see it!

Fast facts:

-Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile (read more here: https://blogpatagonia.australis.com/8-important-facts-about-cape-horn/)

-The area around Cape Horn is legendary amongst sailors... in the past 400 years, over 800 ships have sunk here and 10,000 lives lost (FYI we're not planning to add to these numbers. Modern technology and an experienced crew mean that we feel very safe!). Why are the waters here known to be so treacherous?  The Southern, Pacific, and Atlantic 

Oceans "collide" here. Strong and gusty winds can create large waves.  We're 26 hours away but had waves that were 22 (nearly 23) feet today...  rough seas! Also amazing: the ocean floor rises from 4,020 meters (13,200 feet) to 100 meters (330 feet) within a few kilometers from shore

-Flying between Argentina and Uruguay we saw the Rio de la Plata river, which is one of the worlds widest rivers and has a lot of sediment in it - to the point that the water is brown (no joke). When it collides with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a stunning separation of colors between them!

Now, a few more reflections on music! Again, I'd like to share some observations from less formal settings.

(1) It was amazing to see people singing together in Buenos Aires to celebrate the Argentinian World Cup victory. People sharing a feeling together is one thing, but expressing it in song... amazing! The power of melody and rhythm to help unite and celebrate... it's real!

(2) We had an early flight a couple days ago and I spotted a piano at the airport. The lines for coffee were very (very) long and I saw so many sleepy faces, I figured a little music might be nice for everyone. I shared about 30 minutes of "soothing" selections with the intention of it being an early-morning gift to passerby. Music has many different purposes in addition to entertainment, and one of them can be contributing to the general mood of a place. I didn't really expect that anyone was actively listening (I didn't hear a change of the volume of chatter, and though my back was to the areas that people were seated, I didn't see anyone near me). I finished quietly and reached for my bag... and was treated to thunderous applause. About 200 people were standing behind me and had clearly been listening. I'm pretty sure my face turned bright red as I made my way to where my parents were sitting, but I was thrilled that it had been received well. Tip to students: it's good to have as much music as possible ready to play and share at any given moment. This is one of the major benefits of memorization - you are always ready to share your music with the world!

(3) I am enjoying learning about traditional music and dance in South America. In Argentina, I have learned about tango (note: there are many different sub-types) and the folk music of the gauchos. Music is such a timeless expression of culture and a way to quickly understand more about the people of the area you are visiting (along with food and conversation, of course!). If you have a chance, listen to tango music by Astor Piazzolla and Carlos Gardel, as well as the Zapateo (and look up demonstrations of these dances)!

With all best wishes for the holidays,

Elizabeth

Journey to South America, Part I

Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina! All is going well here - plenty of adventures while traveling but that's what it's all about, right? Amazing what a sense of humor, communicating through gestures (and Google Translate), embracing flexibility, smiling with your eyes and soul, and learning to be vulnerable (even when it's scary and you're a compulsive over-thinker/planner) can do! 

It has been a while since I've had a less regimented trip/tour like this, and I'm reminded that it's very humbling to be in the situation of not knowing a language and culture, or having the independence to figure things out with ease (no private car, and no internet access on my phone except when I have wifi access). It's not always easy (spent 2 hours trying to get a public transit card today!) but once you embrace the process of learning, your brain starts to awaken to what it means to learn new skills... and maybe a few new words. 

As always, I enjoy learning about the people, history, culture, and food, and there is much to absorb here. A highlight? Argentina is now in the finals of the FIFA World Cup. On my flight from JFK to Buenos Aires the entire aircraft (including a pilot) was watching the game at the gate. I swear they delayed our flight specifically so that they could continue to watch it. When the first goal was scored for Argentina, the cheers had so much resonance, I could feel the vibrations. When we were on the plane, waiting (and watching) another goal was scored, and the entire plane broke out into... song. What an interesting thing - to have sports AND music unite strangers together. Mid-flight, the pilot announced Argentina's victory, and again, after a round of applause, strangers singing together.

My mother and I have had one performance and a masterclass so far (more to come this weekend), and we are delighted to have this opportunity. It is also very special for me to spend time with my parents for this journey.

One quick story: yesterday, we were walking on a street and saw a music store. My Dad insisted that we go in. Those of you who have met him know that he has a strong personality, so it would be futile to disagree (not worth the effort!) and I figured that it's always interesting to see instruments. I spotted a row of electric pianos by Yamaha, Kawai, Korg, and Roland, and proceeded to try them (a chromatic scale on each to try their weight and tone). A sales associate came over to help and I explained that I was just curious to try them - he pointed me in the direction of the one that he considered the best, and so I walked over to give it a try. I tried a couple pieces and then thought I'd enjoy sharing a holiday favorite: George Winston's version of Carol of the Bells (which a few of my high school and adult students have played - Norwood and Manon are playing it this year!). As I played, a woman came closer and stood by me. When I finished, I looked up and she had tears streaming down her face. She didn't speak English at all and my Spanish (despite trying to cram in the few days here, lol) is pretty much nonexistent, so we used Google Translate. She shared with me that this musical performance was magical and meant so much to her. I thought of one more quick piece I could play, and selected "Adventure of the Planets" (a few of you have played this one as well!). I shared with her only the title and told her that it is my gift to her. I didn't dare look up until the end. At this point, she was sobbing. She asked for my phone. A moment later and it was returned to me with the text: "Hoy el universo me regalo parte de tu arte y estoy tan agradecida." ("Today the universe gave me part of your art and I am so grateful"). 

We are so lucky to pursue, share, explore, and live something so special. I am grateful to be part of each of your musical journeys, and I am grateful for your support as I continue to pursue mine!

With best wishes, greetings, and much love,

Elizabeth