Offline...

So part of the reason I haven't recently posted is due to my current lack of internet at the dorms. You see, we only paid up to six months, because they told us it would be cheaper than paying for a year, but now those six months are up and we have to reorder. That has been accomplished, but someone from the company has to come and install the the hardware in the room (this will supposedly happen sometime this week). So until then, I am online when I am at various coffee shops...

In other news, the last week and a half have been extremely busy. I have hit the ground sprinting. Last week, I had three hour rehearsals for orchestra every night before the concert on Saturday. In the midst of that all, my piano trio started and I had a lesson (which means hardcore practicing has to start again). This culminates in the fact of me playing the violin for 8+ hours everyday after having barely done two everyday at home...uh oh. 

The concert on Saturday was wonderful. Rehearsals were interesting, to say they least. On the second day of rehearsal, our conductor stopped, looked straight at me and said, in English, "Where are you from?" I answered and he asked a few other questions about Oregon, my exchange, etc. It was extremely awkward as it was in front of the entire orchestra, roughly 99 other students, all Chinese (except me). But in the end it was a really great concert. It was the 50th Anniversary of the Butterfly Lovers' Concerto, being performed by the woman who premiered it 50 years ago...so that was actually quite amazing. 

In other news, I have a ton to do. Today I have to move my stuff over from one room to another and I have a lesson at 5. It also happens to be Joanna's birthday, so some form of celebration will be required. Fancy massage anyone? I vote yes. 

I am off to practice! I will update when I actually have internet in my room again!

OH! And I joined a professional orchestra. It is called the Shanghai Sinfonietta, conducted by Xu Zhong. I will be in my first concert with them on Friday the 20th! Yay!