Part 1: “Lost in Translation”

Good grief, where to even begin?! I’ve been posting many updates along the way to Facebook in the hopes that when it came to blog time, I’d have a more concise report. No such luck.

I was thinking back to my first few nights and how there is something comforting about airports and everyone being out of their element and often far from home together. There is the same sense of communal up-rootedness here at this workshop. It’s exciting! At first I was confused by the students that chose to hang out with the others from their home country or those who spoke their native tongue because I was really excited to mingle and meet people from all over and learn as much as I could. However, as time has passed, I’ve found myself drawn to the other Americans too and felt like a bit of a hypocrite. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my friends from all over! More on that later. It’s just nice to remember how to use English slang and discuss familiar pop-culture once in a while!

Welcome party! Left to Right: Alida (Greece), Gwendoline (Belgium), Vivra (Finland), Nili (coordinator from Israel), Gabi (Cali), Me, Helena (Brazil) 🙂 

Lost in translation….indeed. I already have so many great stories of miscommunications and mispronunciations; it keeps me entertained though the pain of 8 hours of dancing every day.

Sometimes conversation is painful, I have a roommate that only speaks Italian. No English. We’ve gotten to be good at interpreting gestures and Google translate’s bad grammar. My other roommate is from California and the two of us have naturally clicked. It’s hard that it feels like we’re leaving the other out because she doesn’t understand. Meals can be this way too when there are enough students at one table that speak one language and the others don’t understand. Luckily everyone is kind and inclusive. A smile goes a long way.
On a lighter note, one of my ballet teachers has a thick Russian accent. So far, my favorite things that he says are “battement” (ballet step pronounced in French like “bot-mah” – a large kick) which sounds like Batman when he says it. And “center” sounds like Santa, as in Santa Clause. Please stand on Santa. 🙂

This brings me to another story. My Belgian friend who speaks French was asking my roommate and me who we had danced with during pas de deux (ballet partnering) class. She wanted to know if we had danced with “Oht-man”. I questioned, “Hot, man?” She replied, “Yeah! Oht-man.” In confusion I inquired, “Which one is the hot one?” Her response, “Oht-man!!” Eventually we came to conclude that it was a Spaniard named Ottman not a hot man. So many laughs!

However, my partner was Tuomas from Finland:

This picture is actually kind of embarrassing but I wanted to provide a visual of pas de deux class. I’m in motion and therefore not in a proper position……excuses….

While I’m on the topic of amusing people, Gabi (my Californian roommate) and I have grown to be friends with two boys from Finland (home of Santa Clause….) that are our age. We went to visit them and the other guys on their floor on Tuesday night and played the most unique game of pool I have ever experienced. It was backwards you see. Whoever retrieves the most balls stuck inside the broken table wins….almost…it was a group effort. What makes this even better is the muscular male ballet dancers lifted and tilted the table to roll the balls to arms reach and of course, this was done with perfect turn out in a 2^nd grand plié position (ballet squat). So graceful!

The boys lifting the table in grand plie. Not shown is our job to reach into the pockets and retrieve the balls or peer through the crack to direct the table tipping.

Anyway, Finland has become a fascinating topic of conversation in the evenings. Did you know the Fins love saunas? A few of us have invented a new Olympic sport known as sauna hopping. This involves 3 saunas in a triangle and one must make the most creative snow angels in the fastest time between saunas. Their Independence Day from Russia is December 6^th 1917 and the amount ticketed for speeding depends on annual income. I’m learning more than choreography! Another fun fact is that instead of saying “Excuse me” or “sorry” when bumping into one another for example, the phrase used is “Oho” which translates to “oops”. Apparently small talk is also less common. Who knew the Fins were deep conversationalists! Perhaps one of my favorite parts about talking with them is that their English is quite good and has a slight British accent, which adds to my amusement. J

Tuomas and Joni 🙂 (The girls and I in the background) I also learned that Fins don’t have much small talk. We tease them about their deep conversations!

Part 2: “I will survive”

I’ve noticed that things are smaller (such as dishes and portions) as well as quieter. I went to what would be the equivalent of Portland’s Saturday Market along the river in the city. The street was so packed that every step you bumped into at least two people, yet is was so quiet you didn’t need to raise your voice! Now I know how to spot American tourists/how not to be one! Oh yes, and on the topic of differences, the metric system – what a headache. I’m hoping it gets easier. I’m also hoping that I’ll start believing Euros are real money and stop feeling like it’s all just pretend.

About surviving…of course the need to repeat that phrase (see title) to myself is usually only during the last rehearsal of the day and/or when presented with really unappetizing looking food. This makes me sound ungrateful and unhappy, so let me just say, my cheeks currently quite sore from smiling so much and my abs hurt from laughing. Actually in addition, my whole body has that satisfying day old soreness-from-a-really-good-work-out feeling.

I haven’t talked a lot about the dancing aspect – the main reason for this part of my trip. Somehow it’s been slightly over shadowed by the people I’ve met. Incredible dancers I’ve met, mind you.
So last Saturday night I was so nervous for Day 1’s audition I was making myself sick. Just by talking to the other dancers and sort of seeing people stretch out plane ride stiffness was intimidating. This was close to the most nervous I’ve been about dancing in my life. It seems so silly in hindsight. That night and a bit on Sunday morning (my time) I was able to talk to some friends from home and other girls I’ve danced with before. This helped a bit; their encouragement and good wishes calmed me some. I was also calmed by the other dancers here, some of which were as nervous as I was. At least we were all in the same boat. The audition went really well and I was placed in the more advanced of the two groups we were split into with a few of the friends I’d made already. I was so surprised it took me a full day to realize I could be proud of that accomplishment!

Pointe class. I’m the one in all black. Three beautiful dancers/friends in front of me!

Since then class and rehearsal have gone well. Each day includes ballet class, usually pointe class, rehearsal for the ballet show and rehearsal for the modern piece and jazz. Evenings include showers, stretching and messaging. Oh and chocolate. It’s exhausting and several of my injuries have caused me grief but I’m just happy I got through week 1! I’m not used to classes like these; it’s a different style of ballet but such good experience. I also get distracted by some of the incredible dancers I have the privilege of sharing a studio with and motivated by some of the hardest working dancers I’ve ever met! I repeat: hardest working dancers. It’s inspiring to see their passion and drive.

Coppelia rehearsal (I’m far left).

Surviving food. Those of you who know me, already are familiar with my eating habits. “Are you a vegetarian?” …no…. “So why aren’t you eating the meat?”, “Why do you have your salad on a separate plate?” It’s hard to explain. I’m picky and particular and prefer things a specific way. I proudly report, that I am making huge strides in overcoming these ridiculous personal problems. I’m trying new things and gladly eating stuff I may not have considered looking at in the States. And ordering things somewhat blindly from menus and not freaking out when all my food gets mixed. May seem petty to you, but it’s (sadly) a pretty big deal for me! I just hope that I form new, less picky habits that come home with me.

The incredible chocolate that waits for me at the end of the day. To die for. Or rather, to dance for!

Here goes week 2! Good friends by my side. Pile of clean laundry and chocolate in my closet. Smile on my sore face. <3

Emily