Speechless... But Here Are Some Thoughts Anyway
June 14, 2010
It has been hard for me to collect my thoughts from the last few days. I am in Boston now, and still haven't completely gotten over the incredible experience I had. I didn't think it could get any better than Thursday's session. Georgia, Jess, and I were calling it "our best day so far." We had two amazing groups with excellent participation, and I was filmed, interviewed, and played in a feature on the Grad Cayman 6 o'clock news. Were were lucky to catch one of the special Olympics events (basketball) that was happening that night, and it was amazing. I have never had an opportunity to be apart of anything like that, so I was extremely fortunate. Right when we got back from the basketball events, we caught our music therapy feature on the news, and it was so cool to see!
When checking in with Christine (our supervisor/mentor from the states) Friday, I was speechless. Friday was extremely emotional. We saw our first group, and had some great moments. We practiced a song that we were going to perform together at the special Olympics closing ceremony that night, and were prepared to have a larger second group. We ended up including every person who was at the center in the main room for a giant music group. I led Don't Worry Be Happy and was amazed at the feeling of leading so many people. The giant group was amazing, and I could see progress made in so many areas from so many people that we have been seeing, and I was totally moved. The group members increased social interaction through sharing, independence through risk taking, eye contact, expressive and receptive communication, fine and gross motor skills, short and long term memory, and participation in general. We were only there for a week! I can only imagine how many goals would be reached over a span of months or years! We ended with an extremely emotional I Believe I Can Fly. I cannot describe my feelings during that song. We donated the instruments that we had been using all week to the center, hoping that they will continue to use music to reach these amazing people because it works so well. We were thanked beautifully with gifts, speeches, hugs, high fives, potatoes (that fist bump thing), and I was given a special gift from a very musical group member. I was a teary-eyed wreck when I was given a hand-made bracelet, just big enough for two or three of my fingers. We sang with group members from Sunrise at the special Olympics closing ceremony, and it went very well! It was a great way to end the week.
We had a chance to celebrate by dancing Friday night, and going to the beach Saturday and Sunday morning. Although I am a red lobster right now, I feel amazing, and am already missing the island. I am so happy that I was able to go on this trip. I lived in a house with some of my favorite people in the world, and was able to grow and learn with them as friends and as colleagues. I will never forget my experience at the Sunrise Centre. I learned so much about myself and my style of leading, about working with different types of people, and about the power of music. I think I still need time to reflect on my experience. Thanks for reading along!
When checking in with Christine (our supervisor/mentor from the states) Friday, I was speechless. Friday was extremely emotional. We saw our first group, and had some great moments. We practiced a song that we were going to perform together at the special Olympics closing ceremony that night, and were prepared to have a larger second group. We ended up including every person who was at the center in the main room for a giant music group. I led Don't Worry Be Happy and was amazed at the feeling of leading so many people. The giant group was amazing, and I could see progress made in so many areas from so many people that we have been seeing, and I was totally moved. The group members increased social interaction through sharing, independence through risk taking, eye contact, expressive and receptive communication, fine and gross motor skills, short and long term memory, and participation in general. We were only there for a week! I can only imagine how many goals would be reached over a span of months or years! We ended with an extremely emotional I Believe I Can Fly. I cannot describe my feelings during that song. We donated the instruments that we had been using all week to the center, hoping that they will continue to use music to reach these amazing people because it works so well. We were thanked beautifully with gifts, speeches, hugs, high fives, potatoes (that fist bump thing), and I was given a special gift from a very musical group member. I was a teary-eyed wreck when I was given a hand-made bracelet, just big enough for two or three of my fingers. We sang with group members from Sunrise at the special Olympics closing ceremony, and it went very well! It was a great way to end the week.
We had a chance to celebrate by dancing Friday night, and going to the beach Saturday and Sunday morning. Although I am a red lobster right now, I feel amazing, and am already missing the island. I am so happy that I was able to go on this trip. I lived in a house with some of my favorite people in the world, and was able to grow and learn with them as friends and as colleagues. I will never forget my experience at the Sunrise Centre. I learned so much about myself and my style of leading, about working with different types of people, and about the power of music. I think I still need time to reflect on my experience. Thanks for reading along!
Posted by Team Cayman
Hello! My name is Eddie, and I'm Music Therapy Student at Berklee College of Music, going into Practicum 4 (psychiatric population) in the fall. My principal instrument is the guitar, and I perform, write, and record in a rock band when I am not studying and working on music therapy. I look forward to gathering much from our service trip to GCI!
