SPRING!

It seems that spring has finally arrived in Lima. It has been sunny, warm, and beautiful the past few days, which is a huge difference from the cold, damp weather we have been suffering through since I got back in July. And the nice weather has come at just the right time. I had a very anti-Lima weekend - lots of little annoyances and frustrations that added up to make me ready to get on the next plane for anywhere but Lima. But now the sun is shining and all of a sudden Lima, and life here, looks better.

It has been a busy month at school: my symphonic band performed at a competition in the city and made it to the finals (I don't really believe in band competitions, but they did really play amazingly well and deserved to get to the finals); the orchestra had their first performance of the year, and my first performance with them as their conductor, at a festival at another school and did well; and both groups played at a lunchtime, outdoor concert at school (I'm trying to build up interest in the performing groups and get more people to come to our concerts). In addition to all the performing committments, my IB music classes have been keeping me busy - my 12th graders are working on a couple of big projects for class that are time and labor intensive, and the 11th graders are working their way through music history and theory. All in all, it has been a great start to the school year and I am so pleased with how everything is going. I've let the school know that I am planning on coming back for next year and it is nice to be able to plan ahead and look forward to another year in this job I love.