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SABBATICAL DISCOVERIES


Highlights from the week of Sept 7 (about week 3 of school, I think…)
This has felt like a normal week. I have a routine. There are some things I really like and some things that are not my favorite. My...
aspears120
Sep 15, 20223 min read


The Afahye Festival and listening to live music
So I’ve had the opportunity to go to one of the days of the Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival (people say “A-fa-shay”). This is a week-long...
aspears120
Sep 8, 20224 min read


Week 2 of school - LOTS of musical experiences!
It was another week of ups and downs. It started with a couple of amazing experiences. I had my first private lesson on drums with...
aspears120
Sep 4, 20225 min read


Musings about the first week of school
So last week (starting on Aug 22) we started classes, for the most part. It felt very chaotic to me because I thought we were starting on...
aspears120
Sep 3, 20222 min read


Saturday's DrumGhana Performance
Saturday I was in my first performance with DrumGhana! There was a final celebration for the 40th anniversary of the Twerammpon...
aspears120
Sep 2, 20222 min read


My Official Initiation into DrumGhana
I have gone to all of DrumGhana’s practices this week which were Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. And we have a performance...
aspears120
Sep 1, 20222 min read


A Concert at Cape Coast Castle
This also happened this past week. After practice on Monday evening, Antoinette invited me to go to a concert that was being held at Cape...
aspears120
Aug 27, 20221 min read


Drumming by the beach with DrumGhana!
Friday August 26 This week has been filled with lots of experiences again! I went to my first drum Ghana drumming practice with...
aspears120
Aug 27, 20222 min read


Coming home from Accra
Friday morning, August 19 Wow, yesterday was a roller coaster. After I lounged around in my hotel room for a bit, I texted Michelle and...
aspears120
Aug 21, 20224 min read


A Day in Accra
Thursday morning August 18 Yesterday was a great day! John and I left Cape Coast at 3:30am to come to Accra. The goal of today was to...
aspears120
Aug 21, 20223 min read


Meetings, drums, and new friends
Wednesday morning August 17 Monday I got to go to the first music faculty meeting of the year and meet my colleagues! That was pretty...
aspears120
Aug 19, 20222 min read
The second weekend: ups and downs
This is a bit out of order due to the way I took notes, so bear with me. Sunday morning Aug 14 Well I woke up this morning and my power...
aspears120
Aug 16, 20224 min read


This week: getting into a routine
I have gone into the office every day this week for probably about four hours each day. I really enjoy it. It allows me to get out of my...
aspears120
Aug 12, 20222 min read


Aug 6: Cape Coast Castle and errands and fun times
Today I went to Cape Coast Castle which is one of the main castles where Africans brought other Africans to sell to Europeans to take to...
aspears120
Aug 11, 20223 min read


Saturday morning August 6
My days go between very exciting outings and boredom/anxiety while sitting at home by myself. Yesterday was probably the highlight of my...
aspears120
Aug 10, 20222 min read


Friday morning August 5
Yesterday was a day of lounging around. I feel a bit more like myself because I got a good night of sleep finally. Slept in, listened to...
aspears120
Aug 9, 20222 min read


Wed August 3
Today was a long, full day of new experiences. We did a lot of errands today which was very helpful. John, one of my new colleagues who...
aspears120
Aug 9, 20223 min read


Mon and Tues August 1 and 2: travel days
I flew from Omaha to Atlanta to Paris to Accra. Larry and Gerise dropped me off at the airport after we had a lovely lunch. All my...
aspears120
Aug 9, 20222 min read


Have ukulele, will travel.
Hi friends! This is the space where I will post about my travels while I'm on sabbatical in Cape Coast, Ghana this fall. For those who...
aspears120
Aug 8, 20221 min read
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