News & Weather

Two and a half weeks on from the jubilee recital, it is now getting coverage on local papers and newsletters. Click on the above image to enlarge the photo and to read the article.

And now I am back in Montserrat after a blazingly quick week in London - only once more will I have to transit through the chaotic mess that is Antigua's airport! I always breathe a sigh of slight relief when the FlyMontserrat plane lifts off from Antigua's tarmac, leaving behind the throngs of American tourists and Boeing 777 jets, making the intrepid 20-minute flight across azure waters before Montserrat looms into view. Peaceful, relaxed, tranquil and everything it's been made out to be - all visible from the sky.

But this is it now - slightly less than three weeks left of paradise isle before it's back to the big smoke. On some good news, however - the job interview back in London was a success and I will be accepting the offer to start in St John's Prep School in September.

Montserrat is at it's hottest I've ever experienced so far, and with no A/C in my house the fan has become my closest friend and companion. The weather now is significantly hotter than what I first remembered when I got here in January, and I'm slightly surprised by how varied the temperature can get given this island's close proximity to the equator.

Things have slightly taken a lull at school as well, with exam period now in full swing. The end of term is nigh!

Radio interviews & Folk dancing

Last Wednesday, ZJB Radio Montserrat paid a visit to the music classrooms to catch a glimpse of some of the Form 1s in the midst of their music lessons, as well as to give some of my students and myself a quick interview. Students were asked about their impression of the music programme so far and what they hope to achieve from it. We talked briefly about my role on the island, what I have set out to achieve and whether there will be someone taking over when I leave in July (of which there will be someone).

A Form 1 student being interviewed.

Students sharing their thoughts.

Lesson activities written out in old-school chalk.

The radio interview was broadcast on the same day an hour later, which I unfortunately missed. In other news, my exploration and familiarization of Montserrat continues, and last week marked the first time I explored Lookout, a big housing 'village' project meant to relocate Montserratians after the last major eruption in 1995. Lookout has quite a young demographic of residents and is quite a hive of community bustle.

Marguerita Bay, adjacent to Lookout.

I have embarked on another community 'cultural' project, this time with Sujoe Davis - the governor's wife. She originally hails from China and is a well-travelled lady who has, along with her husband, served in many different diplomatic posts with the Foreign Office in many various countries around the world. She is also quite a linguist, who fluently speaks Japanese, Teochew, English, Mandarin, and a smattering of Arabic and Thai.

She has proposed that a Xinjiang folk dance be performed during the St Patrick's Day celebrations, with Cupid - the Director of Culture - singing in Mandarin whilst accompanied by a bevy of dancing ladies. Sujoe herself has choreographed the Chinese folk dance routine, and I have been arranging the music and accompanying rehearsals. So far they have been a good laugh, although sooner or later we'll have to buckle down if we want to get that pronunciation sorted out!

Cupid enjoying a wee tease.

Community-based ensembles such as Small Beginnings and Volpanics commence this month, having broken up for Christmas. Workload will certainly increase, and this, however, has not been placated by a somewhat frustrating lack of logistical and administrative support from the school. I am now considering trying to run after-school activities through a more 'community'-based channel through the Ministry of Culture (of which Cupid does a fantastic job in leading it), instead of trying to run them through the school and, indirectly, via the Ministry of Education.