Dress Rehearsal

I have to write a word of gratitude to the chief of maintenance here at the University of Balikesir Hotel, named Hayri. This man has to be the kindest, most thoughtful, and sincerely self-less man I have ever met. Not only does he keep an eye on the needs and comfort of all 30-some people that are in this project, but he goes out of his way to buy us beer, cheer us up, and do every fathomable minor task we might request or even hint at.

Though he takes care of everyone thoroughly, he seems to have a special fondness for me and appreciation of my hard work and dedication to this project. He has gifted me hand-made paper roses, washed my laundry, given me license to drive the tractor, and today...and I'm not kidding...after dance rehearsal, he saw me washing my feet with a wet paper towel and insisted on doing it! The man has washed my feet.

On another topic, today I learned that there is a movie theater in Poland where, if you arrive with a lemon in your hand and eat the whole thing, you get in for free. You have to admit, that's pretty original.

On yet another and perhaps more important topic, tomorrow is the final performance of this program. We have to get up super early and go perform the first show at 10am. Then the 2nd show is around 12:30pm.

I am excited. We had dress rehearsal tonight and it looks good. I think and hope that once the audience is present, the magic will be there. It is a moving play. We spent the entire day rehearsing and I will be dancing in the final Bollywood number with the boys. I hope I remember all the steps! :) The girls' part is different than the boys' and one of the girls from Romania is a strong dancer and has memorized the sequence of the steps, so she can lead the girls and I can lead the boys!

I saw a preying mantis tonight on the walk back from dinner. I think it was a good omen.

That's all for now...goodnight!