Day 4, 5, and 6: Making Waves
June 13, 2010
I've been so busy that there just hasn't been time to blog, so I will give you a recap of the last few days.
Thursday was another day of great sessions, and in the afternoon we gave our in-service presentation. It went well - I feel like we made a difference during our time at the school and I think the staff noticed a change also. It has been so great working at the school, and everyone has been so welcoming to us. Then during the evening we caught the last of the Special Olympics events before the closing ceremony, which was basketball. I was really glad to be there, and I was really moved seeing the effort and joy of everyone who participated.
Friday was our last day at the school. It was a great last session with the first group, and I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone. We have seen such a difference, in both groups, in these five days, that it has been incredible. Unfortunately during the second group a lot of the children weren't present, so we didn't get to say goodbye. They have certainly all changed my life, and I hope in some way we also changed theirs. During the evening we went to the closing ceremony for the Special Olympics, and performed the song "Go Do" that Mike adapted for the event. It went really well, and it was really great to be there with everyone.
Today we went shopping at a local crafts place called Pure Art. Everything there was amazing, and I think it's safe to say that I got all of my shopping done :) Then in the afternoon we went to Rum Point, which is a beach on another part of the island. It was BEAUTIFUL, the water was amazingly clear blue, and the water was super shallow even far from the shore. We kneeled in the water (because it was so shallow) and took pictures. There were what I think were needle fish swimming around, and I saw about a dozen swimming in a school. There was also a stingray, but I didn't make it over to the group in time to see it. Then we went back to our home-base area and had a little team goodbye meeting. We each received a piece of paper with someone's name written on it and we anonymously wrote a positive message having to do with that person on this trip. Then we all switched notes and read them aloud, and then shared something that was positive for us about the trip. After that we watched a very VERY long slideshow, of all of our pictures of the trip. And tomorrow we will all fly home.
It's funny to think that when we get back to Boston we won't be living in a house together, or sleeping in rooms of three with approximately 6 inches between beds. I really feel like this has become a little family, and I will miss it. But I'm ready to go home now because I feel like I've accomplished what I needed to for myself. In the meantime I hope I brought something to the group and to the trip in general that would not have been here otherwise. I remember in my application for the trip we were supposed to say what we would bring to the group, and one of the things I had said was joyful optimism. I'd like to think I carried through on that.
The biggest thing that I have felt during this trip is hope. Hope from seeing how many amazing things the people we've been working with can do. Hope from seeing children make leaps and bounds beyond their disabilities through music. Hope from seeing people who don't give up, even when faced enormous challenges. Hope from seeing that in one week we could make waves in Grand Cayman. And at times it has been overwhelming, because I have been so moved and so inspired by what I see as small miracles. But this has been a life changing experience and I will never forget Grand Cayman, the children and staff of The Lighthouse School, and Team Cayman.
Much love,
April
Thursday was another day of great sessions, and in the afternoon we gave our in-service presentation. It went well - I feel like we made a difference during our time at the school and I think the staff noticed a change also. It has been so great working at the school, and everyone has been so welcoming to us. Then during the evening we caught the last of the Special Olympics events before the closing ceremony, which was basketball. I was really glad to be there, and I was really moved seeing the effort and joy of everyone who participated.
Friday was our last day at the school. It was a great last session with the first group, and I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone. We have seen such a difference, in both groups, in these five days, that it has been incredible. Unfortunately during the second group a lot of the children weren't present, so we didn't get to say goodbye. They have certainly all changed my life, and I hope in some way we also changed theirs. During the evening we went to the closing ceremony for the Special Olympics, and performed the song "Go Do" that Mike adapted for the event. It went really well, and it was really great to be there with everyone.
Today we went shopping at a local crafts place called Pure Art. Everything there was amazing, and I think it's safe to say that I got all of my shopping done :) Then in the afternoon we went to Rum Point, which is a beach on another part of the island. It was BEAUTIFUL, the water was amazingly clear blue, and the water was super shallow even far from the shore. We kneeled in the water (because it was so shallow) and took pictures. There were what I think were needle fish swimming around, and I saw about a dozen swimming in a school. There was also a stingray, but I didn't make it over to the group in time to see it. Then we went back to our home-base area and had a little team goodbye meeting. We each received a piece of paper with someone's name written on it and we anonymously wrote a positive message having to do with that person on this trip. Then we all switched notes and read them aloud, and then shared something that was positive for us about the trip. After that we watched a very VERY long slideshow, of all of our pictures of the trip. And tomorrow we will all fly home.
It's funny to think that when we get back to Boston we won't be living in a house together, or sleeping in rooms of three with approximately 6 inches between beds. I really feel like this has become a little family, and I will miss it. But I'm ready to go home now because I feel like I've accomplished what I needed to for myself. In the meantime I hope I brought something to the group and to the trip in general that would not have been here otherwise. I remember in my application for the trip we were supposed to say what we would bring to the group, and one of the things I had said was joyful optimism. I'd like to think I carried through on that.
The biggest thing that I have felt during this trip is hope. Hope from seeing how many amazing things the people we've been working with can do. Hope from seeing children make leaps and bounds beyond their disabilities through music. Hope from seeing people who don't give up, even when faced enormous challenges. Hope from seeing that in one week we could make waves in Grand Cayman. And at times it has been overwhelming, because I have been so moved and so inspired by what I see as small miracles. But this has been a life changing experience and I will never forget Grand Cayman, the children and staff of The Lighthouse School, and Team Cayman.
Much love,
April
Posted by Team Cayman
Hello world! My name is April Buscher and I just finished Practicum 3 in the Music Therapy program at Berklee College of Music. This summer I am taking time off from classes to do art, make music, and try to make the world a little brighter. First stop: Grand Cayman!
