And So It Goes

Friday, November 25, 2005

The Differences

I think I should write about this before I never get to. The thing is that the day before the music festival (see a blog before this), I had another presentation at one of the student conferences. It was the very first time in a few years that I get to do an English presentation (of course, about my thesis) to English-speaking audience.

It wasn't until the presentation was over that I totally realized the differences from when I gave presentation in Japanese. I was more relaxed and could speak in a so-me style. The most important thing was that I could convey all that I intended to say and that my audience understood me and could give me related feedback. I really felt the effectiveness in the communication when both parties understand the same language. To me, it was like I could get everything out of my chest and I felt really really good.

At that point, I realized how much effort being put everytime I had to do the presentation in Japanese! No wonder why I slept through the other day and that Jill thought I was lying there dead! haha.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

International Student Music Festival

The first time in the history here (at least from what I heard) that Thai students joined this International Student Music Festival. Today, 6 of us (pPum~, Mai, Yam, n'Gib, n'Joy and n'Fon) brought with us our Thai traditional instruments to perform on stage along with 78 students from 13 countries (20 shows) for the International Student Music Festival (留学生音楽会）

It was indeed a good experience and I would say it was our great accomplishment too. A lot of us haven't touched our instruments for a really long time. One even started fresh from scratch. I still hardly believe how we ended up in quite a big band like this?!?!

Coming to thing of all this, it was so much of the coincidence for us to be on stage today. First of all, I never heard of this music festival at all before. One day when a few friends and I walked around campus talking in Thai. We were stopped by a group of Japanese students (apparently being this event staff) and asked if we would be interested to join. A few friends said why don't I dance for the event? I just simply declined that and thought it would be much better going in group of Traditional Music Band.

The mere reason why I thought so was only because I know pPum is very familiar with her instrument and always performed (and still performs) on stage once in a while. We teasingly said quite a long time ago about forming our little Kyoto traditional music band. But we never came close to making it real. When I went back to Bangkok this past summer, I decided to bring along my 'sor sam sai' instrument simply because it'd probably be more chance to use it while in Kyoto than to leave it unnoticed in the closet at home like I have done for years. Little did I know that the chance would come this soon.

After talking to pPum about this event, we talked to a lot more people and finally got this many people to join. One way or another, we managed to get the instruments in hands and got it on the run. It was another coincidence because half of the band members just arrived Kyoto a few months before. [we realized that we actually have more players than this, but sad enough to say noone carries those instruments around here (-.-;)]

We sent in an application thinking it'd probably be just a small event that we can be there for fun. Turned out that there was an audition to go on stage, that there would be event pamphlet that we need to contribute some information, etc., etc., etc. We didn't even know until today how many people are performing nor that they would provide professional hair stylists and make-up artist for us!!!

Anyways, there we went. And I'm truly satisfied, I have to say. All the credits go to pPum~, our band leader. I know there are rooms to improve in a lot of things (smilling for one! =P), which we will keep for our future references -- meaning all comments are still welcome. :) I think our intention, will and sweat paid off already right there on stage. To me, the most important thing was that we spent good times together and had fun (all the rehearsals included), and also getting a chance to do something we don't get to do that often! I hope our audience felt the same way too. Thanks sooooooo very much for those who came to see and support us. Those who missed it -- that's alright! Special thanks to pChoi who took care of the tickets! Our family members for shipping us our instruments. And "nong nong" for making pah~ pah~'s dream comes true!! (<-- doesn't it sound like that on CD covers???) ^^ ie.. ie..