It has been raining all day. I know by now I should be used to this but I'm not. I hate it. I enjoy the rain as long as I don't have to go out. So today I have stayed inside finding things that I've been meaning/needing to do such as apply for an international drivers license, email various people, fill out my passenger information for my upcoming international flight, and oh yeah-write this blog. Never mind the other things I need to do like go to the bank or the shop, no because then I would get wet, and I am like a cat when it comes to that sort of thing(swimming, obviously, is excluded).
Lately I have been participating in a lot of theatre workshops. One of the projects my company is working on is using drama as a tool to help teach migrants to Ireland who are learning to speak English how to deal with financial matters. I have met women from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, South Africa and Eritrea. They are all here as refugees seeking asylum. Despite my own troubles with immigration and my jokes of seeking asylum working with these women have really given me a chance to reflect on my situation and have a better perspective. I am very fortunate to be able to travel freely all over the world. The women were very excited to meet an American. They told me that they went home and told their friends and family that they had meet a real American. To me this seems silly but I realise that Americans have a large presence in the world due to our power, military, money, and media. I could not help but wonder if these women meant it was a good thing to meet an American. I think they did but I know for others they may not have the same sentiment. This is why, when living or traveling abroad as an American, it can be intimidating representing a country whose reputation can either be positive or negative depending on who you meet.
The latest workshops I participated it was last Saturday, this one was based on the practices of Augusto Boal and is about developing an artistic piece for civic action. The second part of the workshop is this Saturday with a member of Combatants for Peace from Israel. I am really looking forward to it!
The community drama class I have been working with performed their piece for the second time last night. This time they were in a much larger theatre than before and had a bigger audience as a result. They have really come a long way since I fist met them almost a year and a half ago. (That's right, I've been here that long!)Their performance was part of a double bill and the second play was a comical adaptation of Macbeth performed by people with physical/mental disabilities. It was very inspiring to see them successfully tackle such a difficult play. It was also great to see that they were given access to the arts, as it is important that everyone who wants to experience art (more specifically theatre) should have every right to do so. Next week I am running the sound for a group of young adults with Down Syndrome who are performing a rendition of Moulin Rouge, I already saw the dress rehearsal and it's going to be spectacular, spectacular!
This evening I am going to be interviewed for a film that a woman I know is doing which includes some of the work that I have been doing in the acting ensemble workshop I have been doing (I have never done this before, I hope it goes well!) So many workshops to keep track of!
Alright, that's a pretty lengthy report. I will try and squeeze one more in before I head back to the US of A next week.
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