Hey, it's been a while.
The production of West Side Story went smoothly. Ultimately, the choir director conducted the performances, and I think that was the best route for everyone involved. I was able to learn much of the score in a short time, and rehearsed the pit to the best of my ability, but there were still a lot of nuances and details that I wasn't fully in control of (it IS freakin' West Side Story, after all). I enjoyed being a part of the experience and I'm looking forward to doing it again one day when I have ample time to prepare.
With the musical ending, I've been able to focus more on the other aspects of my job, and while some parts have been good, others have been seriously overwhelming. There's so much that goes into being a high school orchestra director and teaching at three schools to begin with, and to come in mid-year in a new district in a new state the way I did puts me at a huge disadvantage. There's a lot that goes on that is new and unusual to me. I feel like I've been using my support systems to the best of my ability, but at times it can difficult to know of whom to ask which question. But I'm keeping afloat...for now, enough complaining.
I was observed by my supervisor and principal; both had good things to say. I'm settled into my home here and I'm becoming more and more familiar with the area. I've had opportunities to get out and hike and I recently used meetup.com to, well, meet up with some peeps in Portland to play Ultimate Frisbee. I do feel lonely at times, but not in a depressed way, just that I could use more company. I'm working on reaching out to friends I've made and making an effort to make new ones.
It's amazing how fast the time is going. Four months ago I accepted the job. In four more months I'll be back in New York.
