As I mentioned in a previous post, my life is in a state of transition right now. I have been back in Minnesota for more than a month and I am deeply entrenched in the world of job-seeking. I have come across some very exciting prospects, so keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted!
Since returning to Minnesota, I have also returned to my orchestra. Despite two major orchestra lockouts, the Twin Cities still has a love of classical music and my orchestra put on a concert before Thanksgiving for a very strong audience. It was wonderful to be rehearsing and performing again and I look forward to getting back to more of that after our holiday break. In the meantime, I decided to take lessons again and really work on my technique to become a better violist and reach some specific goals I've set for myself, musically.
I have also secured myself yet another non-paying job since returning home. Yes, it is frustrating to work hard for the past several months, both in Utah and Minnesota, without getting paid. However, this current job is paying me with large sums of experience gained. I am a Policy Associate for Minnesota 2020 (mn2020.org), a progressive public policy think tank in St. Paul. I brainstorm, research, and write articles on health and education policies in MN. The work environment is different from anything I've experienced in the past and my learning curve has been huge. I've not only been learning about policy issues, but I've learned more about writing for an organization, deadlines, word counts, editing, and promoting articles via social media than I could ever have learned in a classroom. It is keeping me busy and adding to my skill set while I continue to seek a full-time job.
The most important thing I look for in a career is how I will be contributing to the world each day. Can I go to work and feel like I've done good for somebody? Have I advocated for someone, given someone a voice, educated someone? Ultimately, have I helped? I feel great about my work at Minnesota 2020 and the careers I'm pursuing all share the helping aspect. I know that my own personal happiness rests in part on how I feel about my work each day. If I enjoy it and come home feeling like I made a difference somehow, I have a wonderful sense of gratitude and contentment. I learned that from working at Best Friends. I am excited to see where I end up next!
Best wishes and safe travels to everyone during this holiday season!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Musical Variety
I am a violist. You can tell as many viola jokes as you want, but I will back my instrument as one of the most beautiful instruments ever created until the day I die. It's been great getting to play it again, now that I've been back in Minnesota for two weeks. My orchestra has a concert coming up in several weeks and we're playing Ravel's Rhapsodie Espagnole and Lalo's Concerto in D Minor for cello (another of the most beautiful instruments ever created). The Lalo concerto is especially fun for me to play because I heard it so often when my older sister would practice her cello when we were young.
During my time spent living in Kanab, Utah, I heard plenty of music, but none of it was classical. I missed the beauty of orchestral music, but I did gain an appreciation for the types of music I did hear: mostly country-type stuff. I know that's vague, but it's so unfamiliar to me, that I don't even know how to classify all of what I heard. All I know is that I was lucky enough to live with and listen to an incredibly talented couple play guitar and sing together and it brought me to tears nearly every time. Their voices are perfect complements to one another and they are both passionate about music. It made me really want to play guitar!
Since I've been home, I have had a fair amount of time on my hands. My future is so up in the air that, aside from applying for jobs, I don't really know where I'm headed. But I know music is always going to be a part of my life. I've started playing the piano again just for fun. I'm trying to work on some non-classical songs, and I'm attempting to sing and play at the same time. That is something everyone I met in Utah who played guitar could do and something I've never been able to do. I feel like it's hard enough to play an instrument, but to be able to sing at the same time? That takes major brain power if you ask me. So I'm starting with an instrument I already know (piano), and trying to add in singing along. It's not going very well yet. I'll keep at it and be glad that no one is home to have to suffer through my experiment!
I was talking on the phone last night to my host family from back in Kanab and it got me itching to play guitar again. Today I remembered that my dad has one here at the house, so I found it, along with a book about teaching yourself to play guitar. So far I'm just learning the strings and single notes, but eventually the book gets to reading guitar tabs and playing chords, improvising, and strumming techniques. It's a totally different world of music for me. I've never been good at improvising and I've never been good at singing while I play. I'm a classical musician: these are things I just never have to do! But I actually think it's going to do wonders for my viola playing. It's pushing me to re-learn some music theory, spend lots of time thinking about chords, and try coordinating many things at once. I want to be able to apply the flexibility and knowledge that I gain on other instruments to the viola. Maybe some day, I'll break out of my strictly orchestral shell and be able to improvise with a band on viola! You just never know where life will lead you, musically!
To me, orchestral music is still the most passionate genre and the one with which I feel the deepest connection. There's no way to really describe the feeling I get when I relate to a piece of music that I really love. I literally feel it in my body. It's an experience unlike anything else I've ever felt, a connection so strong that I am actually part of the music and the music is part of me, and there's no tearing us apart. I feel like the music understands me. I feel the dissonance and resolutions in my heart and in my muscles. It truly is a full-body, visceral, cerebral experience. I know I'm lucky to have something that I feel so passionate about and that fulfills me so much. I know that not every orchestral musician feels that same level of intensity when they play, nor do I feel it every single time I play. I certainly don't feel warm and fuzzy when I'm practicing scales and etudes! But I do know there are other people out there who get that feeling that I'm trying to describe. Music touches something in them too. I just usually thought of these people as classical musicians. I mean, could anybody actually get that intense of a feeling from listening to today's Top 40 pop music? Maybe that just makes me sound like a music snob. And maybe I am, a little bit. But I'm becoming less of one, because I realized in Utah that the people I was listening to were feeling very deeply the songs they were playing. I could hear the emotion in the tone of the guitar or the ache in the voice.
It was incredibly moving for me to be surrounded by a different kind of music. Though it may sound as far from classical music as you might imagine, it has the same effect on different people. It evokes passion. It picks up where words leave off. There are just some things in life that can't be described, but can only be felt with the right music, and when that happens, it's a very special moment. So as I broaden my musical horizons, struggle to sing and play at once, and fumble through my first piece of music on the guitar (of course it was the theme from Ode to Joy, a Beethoven composition!), I just want to pay respect to musicians of all kinds. The ones who "get it." The ones who feel so deeply about music that they just can't describe it. We are very lucky to feel that, no matter what our instrument or genre happens to be.
During my time spent living in Kanab, Utah, I heard plenty of music, but none of it was classical. I missed the beauty of orchestral music, but I did gain an appreciation for the types of music I did hear: mostly country-type stuff. I know that's vague, but it's so unfamiliar to me, that I don't even know how to classify all of what I heard. All I know is that I was lucky enough to live with and listen to an incredibly talented couple play guitar and sing together and it brought me to tears nearly every time. Their voices are perfect complements to one another and they are both passionate about music. It made me really want to play guitar!
Since I've been home, I have had a fair amount of time on my hands. My future is so up in the air that, aside from applying for jobs, I don't really know where I'm headed. But I know music is always going to be a part of my life. I've started playing the piano again just for fun. I'm trying to work on some non-classical songs, and I'm attempting to sing and play at the same time. That is something everyone I met in Utah who played guitar could do and something I've never been able to do. I feel like it's hard enough to play an instrument, but to be able to sing at the same time? That takes major brain power if you ask me. So I'm starting with an instrument I already know (piano), and trying to add in singing along. It's not going very well yet. I'll keep at it and be glad that no one is home to have to suffer through my experiment!
I was talking on the phone last night to my host family from back in Kanab and it got me itching to play guitar again. Today I remembered that my dad has one here at the house, so I found it, along with a book about teaching yourself to play guitar. So far I'm just learning the strings and single notes, but eventually the book gets to reading guitar tabs and playing chords, improvising, and strumming techniques. It's a totally different world of music for me. I've never been good at improvising and I've never been good at singing while I play. I'm a classical musician: these are things I just never have to do! But I actually think it's going to do wonders for my viola playing. It's pushing me to re-learn some music theory, spend lots of time thinking about chords, and try coordinating many things at once. I want to be able to apply the flexibility and knowledge that I gain on other instruments to the viola. Maybe some day, I'll break out of my strictly orchestral shell and be able to improvise with a band on viola! You just never know where life will lead you, musically!
To me, orchestral music is still the most passionate genre and the one with which I feel the deepest connection. There's no way to really describe the feeling I get when I relate to a piece of music that I really love. I literally feel it in my body. It's an experience unlike anything else I've ever felt, a connection so strong that I am actually part of the music and the music is part of me, and there's no tearing us apart. I feel like the music understands me. I feel the dissonance and resolutions in my heart and in my muscles. It truly is a full-body, visceral, cerebral experience. I know I'm lucky to have something that I feel so passionate about and that fulfills me so much. I know that not every orchestral musician feels that same level of intensity when they play, nor do I feel it every single time I play. I certainly don't feel warm and fuzzy when I'm practicing scales and etudes! But I do know there are other people out there who get that feeling that I'm trying to describe. Music touches something in them too. I just usually thought of these people as classical musicians. I mean, could anybody actually get that intense of a feeling from listening to today's Top 40 pop music? Maybe that just makes me sound like a music snob. And maybe I am, a little bit. But I'm becoming less of one, because I realized in Utah that the people I was listening to were feeling very deeply the songs they were playing. I could hear the emotion in the tone of the guitar or the ache in the voice.
It was incredibly moving for me to be surrounded by a different kind of music. Though it may sound as far from classical music as you might imagine, it has the same effect on different people. It evokes passion. It picks up where words leave off. There are just some things in life that can't be described, but can only be felt with the right music, and when that happens, it's a very special moment. So as I broaden my musical horizons, struggle to sing and play at once, and fumble through my first piece of music on the guitar (of course it was the theme from Ode to Joy, a Beethoven composition!), I just want to pay respect to musicians of all kinds. The ones who "get it." The ones who feel so deeply about music that they just can't describe it. We are very lucky to feel that, no matter what our instrument or genre happens to be.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Minnesota Orchestra Lock Out: Best Concert Ever
While I was away in Utah, the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra were trying to negotiate with their management to avoid a lock out, an unfortunate situation that has befallen several of America's great orchestras. I was deeply saddened to hear that no agreement was reached and the musicians were in fact locked out. But the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra are not easily shut down. One of the things that makes this orchestra so special is the passion the musicians feel for performing music. And so, on Thursday night, they played on. They put on a concert by pooling their own resources, relying on volunteers and community support, and getting the word out throughout the Twin Cities. It was the best concert I've ever attended.
I'm one of those people who thinks that standing ovations are overdone these days. It seems that every performance is followed by one, which leaves me feeling that they are less meaningful than they used to be. It's not to say that I'm not grateful for audience support, it's just that there's really something special about an audience letting performers know that they not only performed as expected, but well beyond. At the gala concert last Thursday, there were no fewer than six standing ovations given, several of them before a single note had even been played. But every single one of those ovations was absolutely deserved. The orchestra walked out on stage together as a unified force and the sold-out audience jumped to their feet, myself included, to applaud the orchestra. There was screaming and cheering so loud, you may have thought walked into a rock concert. I felt that I couldn't clap loud enough. I wanted to show the musicians how much I support them and how much I appreciated that they were performing even though they are going through awful circumstances. I only wanted to applaud more as I could see the gratitude and emotion on the faces of the musicians as many of them were overwhelmed by the giant showing of support.
The conductor, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, a former conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, received the next standing ovation as he walked on stage. The fact that he was willing to conduct this concert, and do so with such passion and disregard for its potential implications with management, was beautiful. The audience was clearly welcoming an old friend back to the podium with gratitude and respect. The orchestra played our national anthem, which chokes me up every single time I hear it, no matter what. As 2,100 people sang along to the standing orchestra, my heart was in my throat. I felt so proud to be an American, where there is freedom of artistry, a Minnesotan, where one of the best orchestras in the world resides, and an audience member in what I felt was the most emotionally loaded concert I've seen in over a decade.
The first piece on the concert was Dvorak's cello concerto, played expertly by the amazing principle cellist of the orchestra, Anthony Ross. I've seen Mr. Ross perform several concertos and I am always amazed at his talent and the emotion that he puts into each performance. I've met many musicians like Mr. Ross: they have all the musical talent in the world and they've been playing with orchestras and as soloists for many years. But here's the difference between many of the musicians I've met and Mr. Ross: he is not jaded and bored. I have never understood the jaded orchestral musician, and yet I've met so many of them in my life, many of whom play for the best orchestras in the world. They've played all the music a million times, they do the same thing each night, they're underpaid, the weary from travel. Fine. But do they realize how many musicians would kill to have their position? Do they know how many of us would love to play the same pieces over and over again because they're fresh and new every single time? The jaded and bored musicians have lost sight of this. Anthony Ross has not. I can't speak for him, but his performance spoke volumes. I've heard the Dvorak concerto hundreds of times, ever since I was little and growing up with an older sister who is a cellist. But Mr. Ross's version woke me up and proverbially smacked me in the face with emotion. His cello was merely an extension of his body, pouring out the beauty, sorrow, angst, and many more emotions reflected in the concerto. The fact that he performed like this, not because he was getting paid the big bucks, but because it is what he loves to do, made his performance incredibly worthy of the standing ovation he received. It was honestly one of the longest ovations I've experienced for a soloist in quite some time, and every second of it was well-deserved.
During intermission, I got to witness another of my favorite aspects of the Minnesota Orchestra Musicians: they interacted with their audience. In some circles this may be deemed "unprofessional," but in Thursday night's performance, it couldn't have been more appropriate. Musicians were hugging members of the audience from the stage, and Anthony Ross, fresh off his performance came out to hang out in front of the stage and chat with people. A musician of his caliber, Mr. Ross has the right to be a standoffish God of Cellists, but he's one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people with whom I've come into contact. I stopped to congratulate him during intermission on his phenomenal performance, and though he'd only met me once before when he gave a master class to a chamber music program I was in, he talked to me like he would talk to a friend. He was humble and respectful and greeted all of his fans in the same manner.
That brings me to one of the most important points about the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra: they are not just fantastic on stage. They go out into the community and share their talent, intelligence, humor, and musicality. Being a musician myself, I have had the opportunity to work with several of the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. One of them is the conductor of the orchestra in which I play. Others have been my teachers or coaches, and still others have led master classes. At times I've had the honor of sharing the stage with them as they perform as soloists. These are special musicians. These are not the jaded, bored musicians I've met in other cities. They love what they do and they use that passion to enrich the entire community both with their performances and with their time outside of work. They are some of the best teachers and conductors I have ever had, and my musical life in Minnesota would be severely lacking without them. We don't just need high-caliber musicians in our city, we need these high-caliber musicians. I've lived in a lot of places, and what we have here with these musicians is very special.
As the orchestra began to tune for the second half of the concert, and Anthony Ross finished up signing a few autographs from his chair on stage, I anxiously awaited the second half of the concert: Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. The musicians could not have chosen a more appropriate symphony. It is one of my all-time favorites. There is so much angst and dissonance in the symphony that reflects the current times, and yet, there is resolution and triumph in spades. This particular piece never fails to take me on an emotional roller-coaster such that I have to remind myself to breathe. The musicians played this piece with the technical prowess that we have come to expect from them, but they also played with more emotion than I've felt in a long time. I was sitting close enough that I could see the players faces. I could see their hands - either steady and soft, or flying with precision. Their bows could eke out the quietest, most pure pianissimos, or tremolo in the loudest of fortissimos. Their faces and body language said it all. But even with my eyes closed, I felt the power and emotion behind the notes.
I have always felt that superstars of all kinds (musicians, sports figures, actors) are overpaid, and that it is the people in true helping professions (nurses, firefighters, social workers) who should be making the big bucks. I still feel this way, except that I classify musicians, such as those from the Minnesota Orchestra, as being in a helping profession. They deserve the money they make, the benefits they receive, and so much more. They provide an escape from daily life and they provide the musical balm that heals individual, invisible wounds of audience members seeking refuge in the concert hall. For someone like me, listening to a heart-felt rendition of a certain piece of music can be the best therapy in the world. It can change my mood, my swirling thoughts, or even my direction in life as I sit and alternatively get shoved deeper into my thoughts by the music, or am completely carried away from them by the notes. That's how I felt on Thursday night with the powerful performance of Shostakovich's symphony.
I took a class in college called "Constraints and Creativity," from which I learned that sometimes when we are under the greatest of constraints we are at our most creative. My final presentation for this class focused on Shostakovich's 5th Symphony and how constrained he was by the necessity that it be well-liked by certain authorities. In my opinion, he came up with his most brilliant symphony under those harsh constraints. The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra played on Thursday under the constraints of facing unemployment and lack of funds, and they delivered one of their best performances to date. That single performance alone should be enough to end the lock out.
Many measures before the end of the symphony, audience members began to stand, unable to stay seated any longer, ready to applaud. I know based on the reaction from the crowd that I am not alone in thinking Thursday was an especially powerful experience. The musicians came through for us, and we came through for them. Now if only management could do the same.
I'm one of those people who thinks that standing ovations are overdone these days. It seems that every performance is followed by one, which leaves me feeling that they are less meaningful than they used to be. It's not to say that I'm not grateful for audience support, it's just that there's really something special about an audience letting performers know that they not only performed as expected, but well beyond. At the gala concert last Thursday, there were no fewer than six standing ovations given, several of them before a single note had even been played. But every single one of those ovations was absolutely deserved. The orchestra walked out on stage together as a unified force and the sold-out audience jumped to their feet, myself included, to applaud the orchestra. There was screaming and cheering so loud, you may have thought walked into a rock concert. I felt that I couldn't clap loud enough. I wanted to show the musicians how much I support them and how much I appreciated that they were performing even though they are going through awful circumstances. I only wanted to applaud more as I could see the gratitude and emotion on the faces of the musicians as many of them were overwhelmed by the giant showing of support.
The conductor, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, a former conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, received the next standing ovation as he walked on stage. The fact that he was willing to conduct this concert, and do so with such passion and disregard for its potential implications with management, was beautiful. The audience was clearly welcoming an old friend back to the podium with gratitude and respect. The orchestra played our national anthem, which chokes me up every single time I hear it, no matter what. As 2,100 people sang along to the standing orchestra, my heart was in my throat. I felt so proud to be an American, where there is freedom of artistry, a Minnesotan, where one of the best orchestras in the world resides, and an audience member in what I felt was the most emotionally loaded concert I've seen in over a decade.
The first piece on the concert was Dvorak's cello concerto, played expertly by the amazing principle cellist of the orchestra, Anthony Ross. I've seen Mr. Ross perform several concertos and I am always amazed at his talent and the emotion that he puts into each performance. I've met many musicians like Mr. Ross: they have all the musical talent in the world and they've been playing with orchestras and as soloists for many years. But here's the difference between many of the musicians I've met and Mr. Ross: he is not jaded and bored. I have never understood the jaded orchestral musician, and yet I've met so many of them in my life, many of whom play for the best orchestras in the world. They've played all the music a million times, they do the same thing each night, they're underpaid, the weary from travel. Fine. But do they realize how many musicians would kill to have their position? Do they know how many of us would love to play the same pieces over and over again because they're fresh and new every single time? The jaded and bored musicians have lost sight of this. Anthony Ross has not. I can't speak for him, but his performance spoke volumes. I've heard the Dvorak concerto hundreds of times, ever since I was little and growing up with an older sister who is a cellist. But Mr. Ross's version woke me up and proverbially smacked me in the face with emotion. His cello was merely an extension of his body, pouring out the beauty, sorrow, angst, and many more emotions reflected in the concerto. The fact that he performed like this, not because he was getting paid the big bucks, but because it is what he loves to do, made his performance incredibly worthy of the standing ovation he received. It was honestly one of the longest ovations I've experienced for a soloist in quite some time, and every second of it was well-deserved.
During intermission, I got to witness another of my favorite aspects of the Minnesota Orchestra Musicians: they interacted with their audience. In some circles this may be deemed "unprofessional," but in Thursday night's performance, it couldn't have been more appropriate. Musicians were hugging members of the audience from the stage, and Anthony Ross, fresh off his performance came out to hang out in front of the stage and chat with people. A musician of his caliber, Mr. Ross has the right to be a standoffish God of Cellists, but he's one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people with whom I've come into contact. I stopped to congratulate him during intermission on his phenomenal performance, and though he'd only met me once before when he gave a master class to a chamber music program I was in, he talked to me like he would talk to a friend. He was humble and respectful and greeted all of his fans in the same manner.
That brings me to one of the most important points about the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra: they are not just fantastic on stage. They go out into the community and share their talent, intelligence, humor, and musicality. Being a musician myself, I have had the opportunity to work with several of the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. One of them is the conductor of the orchestra in which I play. Others have been my teachers or coaches, and still others have led master classes. At times I've had the honor of sharing the stage with them as they perform as soloists. These are special musicians. These are not the jaded, bored musicians I've met in other cities. They love what they do and they use that passion to enrich the entire community both with their performances and with their time outside of work. They are some of the best teachers and conductors I have ever had, and my musical life in Minnesota would be severely lacking without them. We don't just need high-caliber musicians in our city, we need these high-caliber musicians. I've lived in a lot of places, and what we have here with these musicians is very special.
As the orchestra began to tune for the second half of the concert, and Anthony Ross finished up signing a few autographs from his chair on stage, I anxiously awaited the second half of the concert: Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. The musicians could not have chosen a more appropriate symphony. It is one of my all-time favorites. There is so much angst and dissonance in the symphony that reflects the current times, and yet, there is resolution and triumph in spades. This particular piece never fails to take me on an emotional roller-coaster such that I have to remind myself to breathe. The musicians played this piece with the technical prowess that we have come to expect from them, but they also played with more emotion than I've felt in a long time. I was sitting close enough that I could see the players faces. I could see their hands - either steady and soft, or flying with precision. Their bows could eke out the quietest, most pure pianissimos, or tremolo in the loudest of fortissimos. Their faces and body language said it all. But even with my eyes closed, I felt the power and emotion behind the notes.
I have always felt that superstars of all kinds (musicians, sports figures, actors) are overpaid, and that it is the people in true helping professions (nurses, firefighters, social workers) who should be making the big bucks. I still feel this way, except that I classify musicians, such as those from the Minnesota Orchestra, as being in a helping profession. They deserve the money they make, the benefits they receive, and so much more. They provide an escape from daily life and they provide the musical balm that heals individual, invisible wounds of audience members seeking refuge in the concert hall. For someone like me, listening to a heart-felt rendition of a certain piece of music can be the best therapy in the world. It can change my mood, my swirling thoughts, or even my direction in life as I sit and alternatively get shoved deeper into my thoughts by the music, or am completely carried away from them by the notes. That's how I felt on Thursday night with the powerful performance of Shostakovich's symphony.
I took a class in college called "Constraints and Creativity," from which I learned that sometimes when we are under the greatest of constraints we are at our most creative. My final presentation for this class focused on Shostakovich's 5th Symphony and how constrained he was by the necessity that it be well-liked by certain authorities. In my opinion, he came up with his most brilliant symphony under those harsh constraints. The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra played on Thursday under the constraints of facing unemployment and lack of funds, and they delivered one of their best performances to date. That single performance alone should be enough to end the lock out.
Many measures before the end of the symphony, audience members began to stand, unable to stay seated any longer, ready to applaud. I know based on the reaction from the crowd that I am not alone in thinking Thursday was an especially powerful experience. The musicians came through for us, and we came through for them. Now if only management could do the same.
The Future of the Blog...
To my surprise, people actually read my blog. I knew my family read it, and a few friends, but that was all I ever expected. Since I've been home, I can't tell you how many people have told me they have kept up with my blog and enjoyed it. What an amazing feeling! Thanks, readers! I have really enjoyed blogging my experience at Best Friends. I love to write, especially when I get to write about something for which I have immense passion.
So I've decided to continue the blog. I'm not 100% sure of the direction it will take, but I do know that I will continue to blog about my passion for animals and also start including my passion for music as well. Other than that, we'll see where it leads!
My life is in a huge state of transition right now. I couldn't even tell you what I'll be doing or where I'll be living in a month. So with that in mind, my blog will stay in transition with me. I'll keep you updated on what's going on in my life and what's important to me, and most importantly, where I end up headed next in life!
Thanks for reading!
So I've decided to continue the blog. I'm not 100% sure of the direction it will take, but I do know that I will continue to blog about my passion for animals and also start including my passion for music as well. Other than that, we'll see where it leads!
My life is in a huge state of transition right now. I couldn't even tell you what I'll be doing or where I'll be living in a month. So with that in mind, my blog will stay in transition with me. I'll keep you updated on what's going on in my life and what's important to me, and most importantly, where I end up headed next in life!
Thanks for reading!
Advice for future Best Friends Interns
Well, I've been home from Utah exactly one week now. It has a been a long and difficult week of transition. I immersed myself so fully in my experience in Utah that in just five and a half weeks, Kanab felt like home, my friends felt like we'd known each other for way longer than 5 weeks, the family I stayed with felt like true family, and my internship felt like my job. The remoteness of Kanab had become a way of life, as had going to national parks on a regular basis. Suddenly, the city of Minneapolis seems like a giant metropolis! This is, of course, the exact opposite of how I felt when I first moved to Minneapolis from New York City!
After a week of reflecting on my experience at Best Friends, I have some advice that I would give to any prospective intern.
1. Live with a person/family who works at Best Friends. I was hesitant to do this at first because I thought I wanted my own space, and it was hard to conceive of living with a complete stranger for 5 weeks. But it is very helpful to have someone who knows the area, knows the sanctuary, and can answer your questions. I happened to completely luck out on who I stayed with. They treated me like family from the moment I arrived, and I left knowing I have a life-long relationship with an entire family that I didn't have before. Simply getting to know these wonderful people made the trip entirely worth it.
2. Pack lots of clothing layers. My internship was in the fall, so I assume it's a little different for everybody depending on what time of year you are in Kanab. However, I will say that there was often a 40 degree difference in temperature from the time I started work to the time I finished work. I would start out wearing a tank top, long sleeved shirt, fleece, and a jacket in the mornings and I'd still be cold! But as the beautiful high desert sun breaks through and starts to warm the day, I'd shed my layers until I was sweating in just jeans and a tank top. The work you do can be very physical, or you might be just sitting with an animal working on socialization, so you never know how cold or hot you might get through your work. Just bring lots of layers and check the weather each day!
3. Disconnect. Best Friends is a complete bubble. It's heaven for animal lovers, and it's so far removed from the rest of the world (despite the fact that the rest of the world flocks to it to volunteer and visit). Most of us live in a world where we're constantly on our computers, smart phones, tablets, etc. I would suggest embracing the bubble, throwing yourself entirely into the experience, and disconnecting somewhat from the digital age. Your cell phone probably won't get reception most places anyway, and you may or may not have internet access where you live. I found that because blogging became part of my experience, simply logging onto the computer once a day to write my blog and check for urgent e-mails was all I needed to do. I didn't watch one single second of television and I didn't miss it a bit. I did keep in touch with my loved ones on the phone, but not as much as I expected to, given that I usually talk to them everyday. I was so busy with the internship and living in the bubble, that I managed to talk to people maybe a couple times a week if I was lucky. I was okay with that because I had such amazing support where I was living and my loved ones were very understanding.
4. Connect. As you disconnect from the digital world, I cannot recommend enough that you connect with the people and environment around you. I was lucky enough to have the best possible group of interns working with me during my session. Make friends with your fellow interns! You all have at least one thing in common: a love of animals, and you will find that you have more and more in common as you get to know them and more and more that you can learn from them. I have so much respect for all my fellow interns. A great way to connect is to get together for lunches at the cafeteria during the week and head out for adventures during the weekends. Each week, I went to some amazing new place to hike with my intern friends and those are memories I will cherish forever. I feel equally connected to the family I stayed with during my internship, so I know that I now have relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime because of their unique circumstances.
5. Along the same lines as my last point, be sure to connect with nature. Hiking has not been a huge part of my life, but it is a huge part of life in Kanab. You will be within an hour or two of several incredible national parks and hidden gems. Get out there! Even if you do short hikes, or just stop by and sit in nature for a while, your mind, body, and soul with thank you for that connection to the earth that many of us just don't get often enough.
6. Keep an open mind. The first two weeks of the internship, you'll be rotating through all the different animal areas. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep an open mind as you experience what it is like to care for different species. I went in to the internship assuming I'd focus my time in DogTown, but luckily I kept an open mind. I ended up being so enthralled with so many of the species, that I spread my focus for the final three weeks across several areas. One of the areas in which I spent the most time was at Rescue Village working with rabbits. I never in a million years would have thought that's where I would end up. But I learned so much about that species, I loved the staff, and I found a way that I could really make an impact in my short time at the sanctuary by working in rabbits.
7. The internship is what you make of it. The first two weeks are very structured and you don't have a lot of input into your schedule. However, you will soon have complete freedom to design your own schedule. Think about what you really want to get out of this internship and make it happen. The entire sanctuary seems aligned in wanting to make volunteers and interns have the best experiences they possibly can. Leesa, the intern coordinator is especially helpful and will do everything in her power to help you get the most out of your internship. All you have to do is ask. One of the areas I'm very interested in is studying animal behavior. I found out there was a vet working at Best Friends who does exactly that. I took the initiative to schedule myself to work in his building when he'd be around and talked to several people about wanting to work with him. We set up a meeting and I spent my last three weeks basically doing my dream job of helping with animal behavior research. If I hadn't asked, it wouldn't have happened. Pursue your interests and everyone at Best Friends will do their best to make it happen for you!
8. Prepare for tough transitions. Arriving in Kanab, I was excited and nervous. I also got a massive case of altitude sickness. If you live at sea level or you are prone to altitude sickness, I suggest getting to Kanab several days before your internship starts so that you have time to let your body adjust. And drink lots of water! I felt miserable my first few days in Kanab due to the altitude and homesickness. I considered going back to Minnesota before my internship even began. Now, I know about myself that I personally have trouble with transitions, probably more so than most people. But, it is a tough adjustment no matter where you're coming from just because life there is so different than most places. After giving myself time to transition, I had one of the best experiences of my life. And then, before I knew it, it was over. Time for another transition back home. I had grown so close to the animals, people, and even the lifestyle in Kanab, that transitioning back home has been incredibly difficult. My advice is to plan some things that you love to do and people you want to see for when you get back. Seeing my friends and going to my orchestra rehearsals has grounded me back in my life at home, helping me realize that I can also be happy outside the bubble of Best Friends.
There's so much more I feel I could tell a potential intern, but part of the fun is figuring it all out by yourself as you go. Plus, this is getting to be a really long blog post! So, go out there, immerse yourself, and have an amazing experience! This goes for people who are going out just for a few days or weeks to volunteer as well. Same advice applies!
Thank you, Best Friends, for a life-changing experience. I'll be back one way or another!
After a week of reflecting on my experience at Best Friends, I have some advice that I would give to any prospective intern.
1. Live with a person/family who works at Best Friends. I was hesitant to do this at first because I thought I wanted my own space, and it was hard to conceive of living with a complete stranger for 5 weeks. But it is very helpful to have someone who knows the area, knows the sanctuary, and can answer your questions. I happened to completely luck out on who I stayed with. They treated me like family from the moment I arrived, and I left knowing I have a life-long relationship with an entire family that I didn't have before. Simply getting to know these wonderful people made the trip entirely worth it.
2. Pack lots of clothing layers. My internship was in the fall, so I assume it's a little different for everybody depending on what time of year you are in Kanab. However, I will say that there was often a 40 degree difference in temperature from the time I started work to the time I finished work. I would start out wearing a tank top, long sleeved shirt, fleece, and a jacket in the mornings and I'd still be cold! But as the beautiful high desert sun breaks through and starts to warm the day, I'd shed my layers until I was sweating in just jeans and a tank top. The work you do can be very physical, or you might be just sitting with an animal working on socialization, so you never know how cold or hot you might get through your work. Just bring lots of layers and check the weather each day!
3. Disconnect. Best Friends is a complete bubble. It's heaven for animal lovers, and it's so far removed from the rest of the world (despite the fact that the rest of the world flocks to it to volunteer and visit). Most of us live in a world where we're constantly on our computers, smart phones, tablets, etc. I would suggest embracing the bubble, throwing yourself entirely into the experience, and disconnecting somewhat from the digital age. Your cell phone probably won't get reception most places anyway, and you may or may not have internet access where you live. I found that because blogging became part of my experience, simply logging onto the computer once a day to write my blog and check for urgent e-mails was all I needed to do. I didn't watch one single second of television and I didn't miss it a bit. I did keep in touch with my loved ones on the phone, but not as much as I expected to, given that I usually talk to them everyday. I was so busy with the internship and living in the bubble, that I managed to talk to people maybe a couple times a week if I was lucky. I was okay with that because I had such amazing support where I was living and my loved ones were very understanding.
4. Connect. As you disconnect from the digital world, I cannot recommend enough that you connect with the people and environment around you. I was lucky enough to have the best possible group of interns working with me during my session. Make friends with your fellow interns! You all have at least one thing in common: a love of animals, and you will find that you have more and more in common as you get to know them and more and more that you can learn from them. I have so much respect for all my fellow interns. A great way to connect is to get together for lunches at the cafeteria during the week and head out for adventures during the weekends. Each week, I went to some amazing new place to hike with my intern friends and those are memories I will cherish forever. I feel equally connected to the family I stayed with during my internship, so I know that I now have relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime because of their unique circumstances.
5. Along the same lines as my last point, be sure to connect with nature. Hiking has not been a huge part of my life, but it is a huge part of life in Kanab. You will be within an hour or two of several incredible national parks and hidden gems. Get out there! Even if you do short hikes, or just stop by and sit in nature for a while, your mind, body, and soul with thank you for that connection to the earth that many of us just don't get often enough.
6. Keep an open mind. The first two weeks of the internship, you'll be rotating through all the different animal areas. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep an open mind as you experience what it is like to care for different species. I went in to the internship assuming I'd focus my time in DogTown, but luckily I kept an open mind. I ended up being so enthralled with so many of the species, that I spread my focus for the final three weeks across several areas. One of the areas in which I spent the most time was at Rescue Village working with rabbits. I never in a million years would have thought that's where I would end up. But I learned so much about that species, I loved the staff, and I found a way that I could really make an impact in my short time at the sanctuary by working in rabbits.
7. The internship is what you make of it. The first two weeks are very structured and you don't have a lot of input into your schedule. However, you will soon have complete freedom to design your own schedule. Think about what you really want to get out of this internship and make it happen. The entire sanctuary seems aligned in wanting to make volunteers and interns have the best experiences they possibly can. Leesa, the intern coordinator is especially helpful and will do everything in her power to help you get the most out of your internship. All you have to do is ask. One of the areas I'm very interested in is studying animal behavior. I found out there was a vet working at Best Friends who does exactly that. I took the initiative to schedule myself to work in his building when he'd be around and talked to several people about wanting to work with him. We set up a meeting and I spent my last three weeks basically doing my dream job of helping with animal behavior research. If I hadn't asked, it wouldn't have happened. Pursue your interests and everyone at Best Friends will do their best to make it happen for you!
8. Prepare for tough transitions. Arriving in Kanab, I was excited and nervous. I also got a massive case of altitude sickness. If you live at sea level or you are prone to altitude sickness, I suggest getting to Kanab several days before your internship starts so that you have time to let your body adjust. And drink lots of water! I felt miserable my first few days in Kanab due to the altitude and homesickness. I considered going back to Minnesota before my internship even began. Now, I know about myself that I personally have trouble with transitions, probably more so than most people. But, it is a tough adjustment no matter where you're coming from just because life there is so different than most places. After giving myself time to transition, I had one of the best experiences of my life. And then, before I knew it, it was over. Time for another transition back home. I had grown so close to the animals, people, and even the lifestyle in Kanab, that transitioning back home has been incredibly difficult. My advice is to plan some things that you love to do and people you want to see for when you get back. Seeing my friends and going to my orchestra rehearsals has grounded me back in my life at home, helping me realize that I can also be happy outside the bubble of Best Friends.
There's so much more I feel I could tell a potential intern, but part of the fun is figuring it all out by yourself as you go. Plus, this is getting to be a really long blog post! So, go out there, immerse yourself, and have an amazing experience! This goes for people who are going out just for a few days or weeks to volunteer as well. Same advice applies!
Thank you, Best Friends, for a life-changing experience. I'll be back one way or another!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Week 5, Days 4 & 5: Is it really over?!
I cannot believe the internship is over. Everyone said it would go by so fast and they were absolutely right. The final couple days were pretty tough. I spent a lot of my time outside of work working on my projects. In the end, I ended up doing research for Dr. Frank, bonding rabbits, making a pamphlet about bonding rabbits, and making a silly little video of bonding rabbits. It was definitely a rush to get it all finished in time!
On Thursday morning, I actually was quite sick, so I had to call in to work and let them know I couldn't make it. I was so disappointed because I was scheduled to work in an area that I love. I was feeling a bit better by afternoon, but mostly I felt that I just had to go in to work because it was Pepsi's last training class and I didn't want him to miss it. He was a really good boy, despite the rain and construction noise in Tara's Run. He even did his new trick (spin) with a lure. I was so proud of him. He's come so far in 5 weeks and our bond is unlike any I've had with another dog.
On Friday, I worked from home doing research for Dr. Frank. I'm really excited that I was allowed to do this through my internship because it is basically my dream job. Dr. Frank is amazing to work with and his studies are really interesting. I'm sure I'll continue to do a little more work here and there for the project just because I keep receiving e-mails about it!
The interns had a pizza lunch and I think for a lot of us it was starting to slowly hit us that this was the end. We only had one more shift left!
For my last shift, I took Pepsi on an outing. He was a bit stressed and distracted, probably due to a major change in weather. Mostly, he just wanted to sit on my lap. That was fine with me. I hugged him a lot, told him repeatedly how much I loved him, and then had the hardest time in the world bringing him back to his run. His caretaker said she'll keep me posted on his status and I really hope that my goodbye to him was not an actual goodbye, but a see you later. I miss you, Pepsi!
We ended the afternoon by gathering in the conference room and each intern presented their projects and some of their reflections and thoughts on the internship. The general consensus was that it was absolutely amazing, life changing, and tough to leave. I think we probably had the best possible group of people in our internship session and it was really hard to say goodbye to all the friends who I'd shared this amazing experience with.
I'll write some further reflections later, but I want to give it a little space as I transition back to my life in Minnesota. Plus, I'm too sad to write about it right now because I miss everything and everyone so much!
On Thursday morning, I actually was quite sick, so I had to call in to work and let them know I couldn't make it. I was so disappointed because I was scheduled to work in an area that I love. I was feeling a bit better by afternoon, but mostly I felt that I just had to go in to work because it was Pepsi's last training class and I didn't want him to miss it. He was a really good boy, despite the rain and construction noise in Tara's Run. He even did his new trick (spin) with a lure. I was so proud of him. He's come so far in 5 weeks and our bond is unlike any I've had with another dog.
On Friday, I worked from home doing research for Dr. Frank. I'm really excited that I was allowed to do this through my internship because it is basically my dream job. Dr. Frank is amazing to work with and his studies are really interesting. I'm sure I'll continue to do a little more work here and there for the project just because I keep receiving e-mails about it!
The interns had a pizza lunch and I think for a lot of us it was starting to slowly hit us that this was the end. We only had one more shift left!
For my last shift, I took Pepsi on an outing. He was a bit stressed and distracted, probably due to a major change in weather. Mostly, he just wanted to sit on my lap. That was fine with me. I hugged him a lot, told him repeatedly how much I loved him, and then had the hardest time in the world bringing him back to his run. His caretaker said she'll keep me posted on his status and I really hope that my goodbye to him was not an actual goodbye, but a see you later. I miss you, Pepsi!
We ended the afternoon by gathering in the conference room and each intern presented their projects and some of their reflections and thoughts on the internship. The general consensus was that it was absolutely amazing, life changing, and tough to leave. I think we probably had the best possible group of people in our internship session and it was really hard to say goodbye to all the friends who I'd shared this amazing experience with.
I'll write some further reflections later, but I want to give it a little space as I transition back to my life in Minnesota. Plus, I'm too sad to write about it right now because I miss everything and everyone so much!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Week 5, Days 1-3: Oh my heck!
This post is entitled "Oh my heck!" because that's my favorite saying around here in Southern Utah. And, oh my heck, have I ever been busy lately! So you're getting three days in one blog post...
Monday
On Monday, I had my last shift in Horse Haven. I am sad that I won't be working there anymore, but I had a fantastic last day there. I got to say good morning to Squeaky the office pig:
And then I headed out to help muck the pastures. This pretty much sums up life in Horse Haven:
The best part of the day was when I got left in charge of the volunteers and got to drive Ruby (the 4-wheeler-type thing) from pasture to pasture! It was a bit of a rough ride for my poor passengers at first, but I got the hang of it:
We also got to go on an amazing tour of the canyons, where I saw my first petroglyphs. It was just a wonderful morning.
I spent my afternoon in Rescue Village, bonding rabbits and working on my project, finalizing my informational pamphlet on rabbit bonding. It was a productive afternoon.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning was spent working from home on my research for Dr. Frank. I'm still so thrilled that I have the opportunity to assist on the exact type of research I've always wanted to do. I'm getting a really good response from my work so far, so I'll be spending Friday morning working on that as well. I headed into Rescue Village after lunch and bonded rabbits again. The fab four, as I liked to call them, were doing great at bonding in their small indoor pen, but that changed a bit today, which I'll get to in a moment. If you ever wonder what I do at work, I spend hours sitting in rabbit pens:
Wednesday
Today was a really great day. My morning shift was an outing with Pepsi. He's seriously the sweetest, cutest dog on the planet! Everyone loves him, and once again, I couldn't make it through town without getting stopped a few times because of his celebrity status. We had a really great time and I started teaching him his trick for tomorrow's obedience class. I decided on "spin" because he follows the lure of a treat really well. He had a gift for me when I got there today, which was the sweetest thing ever: he gave me a t-shirt with his big ol' head printed on it! Pepsi and I had a great morning and did a variety of things. Here he is fishing in the pond by the Welcome Center and then trying to eat his entire bag of treats!
This afternoon, I spent my final shift at Rescue Village. I have really come to love the animals and staff there, so it was a difficult goodbye. The day was rather eventful as I took my four rabbits that I'm trying to bond outside for the first time into a bigger pen. It did not go well. At all. There were so many fights I couldn't keep track of it. I was disappointed that they all couldn't get along, but we were able to keep two of them out to see if they could bond together without the others. In order to assist in the bonding, I stressed them by placing them in a crate and driving them around on a motorized cart around the parking lot. They bond over their shared experience when that happens. Here they are in their cart:
Even though I didn't love the thought of stressing them, I have to say they were nearly letter perfect after that! I took them back to the indoor bonding area and they relaxed together. Luckily the rest of the afternoon was uneventful!
I can't believe I only have two days of work left before I leave here. I love it so much and I've met the most incredible people. I truly feel like I have family here now and I've been really enjoying my work and spending time with my Kanab family and friends after work. That makes keeping up a blog pretty tough, but I'll do my best for the final few days here. I'll have plenty of time to catch up on the plane ride home if I get behind again...
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