EARS, Inc. Blog

We dropped Kerry at the workshop this morning and Saeed and I went to look at computers. EARS will purchase two laptops for the group. However it turns out that after going to 4 stores, none of them take credit cards. It means I need to get cash to pay for them. This is difficult as we are charged $5 per atm transaction, plus the limits on those for daily withdrawals and the Embassy only being able to cash a certain limit each week.  We went to the Moka bakery to pick up snacks for the break. Saeed’s tooth is still bothering him. He will go to the hospital to have it out today. Class was good and we ended the first week with a lot more to do but good spirit in the group. I think we have had 3 people drop but it is unclear. One person want to start today, but really it is too late, they may audit.  Saeed took us home with one stop where he and Kerry bought some things. Kerry and I relaxed the rest of the day and end by watching 2 episodes of Dexter.

Both Kerry and I skipped breakfast this morning. I was having some tummy issues. He hadn’t slept. Saeed was in pain from a bad tooth ache. We arrived and the morning went expected. One of the groups (the one with most of the leaders of the net radio sation) was having real group problems, after our break I spoke to them about leadership. They seemed to rally but we will see, we may only come out of this with three dramas not four.

We had a good acting class after the writing and Kerry and I both felt pretty good after class. Lots of pages for Ibrahim to translate.  We got back and did our own thing, mine being updating my personal website and setting up voicesofyemenyouth.com.

We had dinner together early in my room and watched 2 episodes of Dexter. Early evening.

Up early. Breakfast at 7:15. Saeed picked us up and dropped me by the Embassy and took Kerry into class. Saeed returned and picked me up we stopped for the mid morning snacks, and then went to the class. The groups were more focused today, although one group was having some issues. They seemed to be coming along better. We played some acting games, did a few improvs and ended well. There is still a long way to go.

The first day of writing at the workshop. Kerry lead off by discussing process and then they worked in thier groups for 2.5 hours. They were to come up with thier intent and a very basic outline. Afterwards, I took the class and we did some improvs. They weren’t the best today. We left and stopped to buy pomagranents and then back to the hotel. Saeed took the written work to Ibrahim to translate. I worked on my own and rested. Kerry spent the afternoon alone. The written material arrived via e-mail around 6 and it was clear it was a meager beginning and lacked specificity. We had dinner together and watched the second episode of Dexter.

The first day of the week…Saturday…The breakfast buffet has fruits including mango, watermelon, grapefruit and orange slices, sometimes other melon, kiwi, fruit salad (usually apples and watermelon in orange juice, can peaches, pineapple, mixed fruit and more.

There are a host of breads, there are cereals, juices, coffees, teas, an omelette bar, pancakes, beans, sausage (which are really hotdogs) boiled eggs. I will include a picture soon.

We ate and went into Shabab studios, Bart and Adam (from the Embassy) met us there. They are going to check the potential live broadcast place. Many issues about that still to be worked out. I lead a small vocal warm up regarding primarily breath and voice. The English vowel chart (as I know no other) as a basis for warming up.  Bart came back to capture some of the discussion about the subjects they want to write about. The following broad issues came out of the 2 hour discussion: Terrorism, Youth Idleness, Poor Education, National Identity.

While these topics at the moment are very broad, they will have to do the work to narrow down the subject and to target our audience of youth 13-25.

On the way back to the hotel, Saeed took us to an ATM then a  super market where we bought teas and I got toothpaste and a few munchies for the room. Then he took us to the hotel.

I did some online work, budget work, reviewed some acting notes, and around six thirty Kerry and I ordered dinner and watched the first episode of Dexter…what a weird show…:)

It’s our Sunday. I slept in and had a late breakfast with Kerry. Spent lots of time on my own, catching up, releaxing. At 1pm Kerry and I had a planning meeting and lite lunch. More taking it easy in the afternoon and then we watched Watchman and had dinner together. Then to bed. Odd to be on a different week, but I’m beginning to feel adjusted.

Awoke once more at 5am. Breakfast with Kerry and then off to the workshop. We played, theater games, did some vocal work and improvs regarding character. Kerry took over after break, and Saeed and I went out so I could buy a small digital camera. We returned for the end of the workshop, and then back to the hotel. Saeed picked us up at 4pm and we went to get Kerry a cell phone and for both of us, headsets for Skype.  On the way home we got almost got stuck in the car next to a street fight that was going on, Saeed got us out of there fast. A knife was drawn and cars were sitting around around watching. Kerry sat with me while I had lunch at the hotel and he had a cup of coffee, then I went up and did some computer work, read, set up his phone. We were going to meet at the Chinese restaurant for dinner, but I lost track of time and was late. Kerry waited while I finished. We met in my room to do some planning for tomorrow’s class.

Up again at 5am. Planning class. Feeling a little better adjusted. The altitude is around 7,250 feet or something like that, it has it’s effect, one of which can be to be disruptive to the sleep pattern. I have not been sleeping great. Kerry and I had breakfast together, then he went to the workshop and I met Bart to cash a check at the Embassy. However just before Bart and I left I discovered I had left the checks in my folder at the workshop location. I went with Bart to the embassy in anycase to get my own security clearance badge so that Saeed could drop me off sometime to get a check, and Bart doesn’t have to play chauffer all the time. I arrived at the workshop at 11am and the break was finishing. Kerry said he would teach for another hour, so I went out with Saeed to an ATM and then to market to get little cakes, which had been missing for the break.

When I came back Ibrahim had sent Kerry some written translation and I had that printed out for him.  I taught for about 45 minutes, and the workshop ended. As we left there were lots of energized conversations going on. I was hungry when we got back to the hotel and had lunch. It was a great buffet, Kerry went to his room as he is trying to do only 2 meals a day. I then went to my room and did some banking things via skype, accounting things, e-mailing things. Some reading. Watched a little tv and then joined Kerry in his room for dinner. Kerry has had bad luck with room service. He called when I was still on skype and I didn’t answer the phone. When I called him back he had ordered his dinner. He asked if I wanted something I said yes and I would be down in a minute. He called my order in. When dinner arrived, it was my dinner and the didn’t bring his. When they did bring his they forgot his beverage. That was the second night in a row they forgot his beverage.  We had an animated discussion and then parted. I came up finished up with some accounting things got in bed and read.  Tomorrow is our Thursday, even though it’s only Tuesday. Two more days to the work week.