Dolorosa

I’m still a VERY amateur player, but a while back I joined a local all-accordion band. We’ve played shows at the veteran’s hospital, in the park, at the library and also at a regional accordion convention! Through this instrument I’ve come into contact with many wonderful people (as well as some strange characters). I’m mainly interested in Eastern European folk music and hope to expand my repertoire in that genre…

I participated in an archaeological dig in Israel. I was only there for one week (of a 4-week dig), but it was awesome and I learned so much. Our group excavated a supposed Byzantine-era monastery—just one part of a giant complex of ancient structures on a tel halfway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. After one week of digging in the dirt for pottery shards and old bones, I spent the rest of my vacation traveling around the country. This experience truly enriched my perspective of history and also the politics of Israel (past and present). Worth doing!!

So most of my pieces looked like flaky lumps, but yes, I LEARNED TO MAKE POTTERY! I enjoyed going to class and creating things with my hands. Pottery is harder than it looks, but even if you’re terrible at it (as I am!) it’s great fun. Especially handbuilding!