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kareinaTen years ago, I visited Nordmark for the second time to attend the St. Cecelia’s music and dance themed event, and had no idea how that trip would change my life for the better. I had been living in Italy, and my first post-doc job contract was winding to a close, and, despite many applications, I hadn’t yet lined up a new job. I really didn’t want to go back to the US, and while I had a shiny new Australian Passport, I felt that I would rather go to somewhere with a better winter next. Therefore, I devised Plan A: travel around Scandinavia for the three months an Australian/American can be in Europe without applying for a visa and keep applying for jobs; perhaps something good will come up.
While at the event, I shared this plan with people there, and many of them said “I have crash space, come visit me”, but David said “I have crash space in the north”, which really got my attention. He and I then spent the next month talking over video call for 2 to 5 hours a day (and longer on weekends), and Plan A changed to “move to Luleå and live with David”, which brought about other changes as well.
At St. Cecelia’s I attended all of the dance classes, and tried one of the singing classes, but my inability to control my voice and change tone/pitch appropriately was a bit painful for poor Natfarí, who smiled and encouraged me, even as he winced (and was probably relieved that I could at least manage to remember the words and had good timing. But David sang in a student choir and the university which has only one entrance requirement “you must enjoy singing” and they welcomed me with open arms.
Ten years later my singing is still not up to professional performance levels, but I am singing regularly and often, my pitch/tone is far more reliable, and more often correct, and I have even gotten SCA awards for my bardic contribution. Thank you Natfarí, your event had much further reaching effects than could have been predicted in advance.
At that event, when the choir performed on the stairs I sat at their feet to sew to enjoy the sound. If we were to do it today I would be singing with them (though I might still be sewing as I did).
While at the event, I shared this plan with people there, and many of them said “I have crash space, come visit me”, but David said “I have crash space in the north”, which really got my attention. He and I then spent the next month talking over video call for 2 to 5 hours a day (and longer on weekends), and Plan A changed to “move to Luleå and live with David”, which brought about other changes as well.
At St. Cecelia’s I attended all of the dance classes, and tried one of the singing classes, but my inability to control my voice and change tone/pitch appropriately was a bit painful for poor Natfarí, who smiled and encouraged me, even as he winced (and was probably relieved that I could at least manage to remember the words and had good timing. But David sang in a student choir and the university which has only one entrance requirement “you must enjoy singing” and they welcomed me with open arms.
Ten years later my singing is still not up to professional performance levels, but I am singing regularly and often, my pitch/tone is far more reliable, and more often correct, and I have even gotten SCA awards for my bardic contribution. Thank you Natfarí, your event had much further reaching effects than could have been predicted in advance.
At that event, when the choir performed on the stairs I sat at their feet to sew to enjoy the sound. If we were to do it today I would be singing with them (though I might still be sewing as I did).