7/11 Andalusian Dreamscape

Read comics in class today, as well as introduced the past tense. If I could just add a couple more verbs I feel like I would be able to finally survive ‘sans francaise’ here. I finished shearing my personal statement to fit TMDSAS today as well. O Happy Day!

Afternoon lecture was first a breakdown of our trip to Fes, and the village Brikshaw, our trip from Saturday to Wednesday. They call this ‘4 Dynasties in a weekend.’ At the village we will be mining salt and helping with chores, as well as any other community service we can think of. I’ll let you know how it turns out, n’sha allah.

We ended the day with a second music presentation at the CCCL. Andalusian music. It was absolutely delightful. Andalusian music is the equivalent of classical music here, except there is a vocalized portion to some of the songs, that is literally poetry. Farah read us the Arabic lyrics, and Katrina read the English ones. I felt quite accomplished while listening because I could actually read along in the lyrics at the speed (mostly) of the singer. Our performers were a group of five in traditional dress, with white cloth trimmed with lightly goldened lace. My favorite character was the drummer, whose silver drum reflected our atrium’s blue sky, while he parumpumpumpummed the soul of the poet’s song. Taking it all in, I caught Abdu al-Rahim dancing in the main office area - the music was definitely addicting. Everyone who wasn’t trying to steady a recording camera was tapping their foot to the pulse. I closed my eyes to listen and could see myself being pulled across a simpler time by the hand, while my best friend led me through an Arab neighborhood freshly built. The unchipped paint reflected glorious fun, as my imaginary friend and I ran through the dreamscape. I definitely have to grab a copy of this music.