Tuesday, January 27, 2015

     Gina picked me up this morning about 7:45 so we could drive to the music school and practice with the piano and in the venue where the recital will be held on February 26.  Like most moms, she had all her kids with her and had several errands to run while we were “out and about” including taking her husband’s forgotten lunch to him and the Seminary and Institute Building across from the University. 

Her oldest daughter just turned 13 and her next daughter turns 10 next week.  Here, when children reach the seventh grade, they are required to have a blood test every year before school starts to test for some disease that I can’t remember.  Since school starts up again next week, we stopped first at a pharmacy for the blood test (30 minutes) put gas in the car, and then proceeded on the 30-40-minute drive to the music school. 

After the fifth grade, students decide where to continue their schooling.  Those who choose the music school will keep up with their studies of math, science, language arts, etc., and add a concentrated music curriculum designed to prepare them for university studies after high school graduation.  All of their practicing has to be done at the school because they have homework in academic subjects every night and most can’t afford their own instruments.  Rebecca is attending school here.  The recital will only include a handful of performers and the audience will be made up of the music school students and a few teachers.

It was a fairly quiet day in the temple, but Glade and I were able to do our usual session together and also some sealings together.  It was a great day.

Hope you are all well and happy and striving toward your goals.

This is a picture of our temple presidency that was taken at yesterday's farewell dinner.
From left--Pres. and Sister Valle, Pres. and Sister Ocampa, Pres. and Sister Amado .

This is the whole group again

This is the grand piano at the music school where we practiced today.

The auditorium, which is in a building by itself, is quite small.

A tree designed with rows of small metal squares.

A building of classrooms 

The outside of the recital hall

The "crew" getting ready to head home about 11:15

The audience point of view.