The longer I’m here in South Asia, the more I am taken by how much of life here is no different than in America. For years I’ve used the phrase “the other side of the world” to convey novelty; exotic, untested waters. Now that I’m here, I cannot use the phrase the same way.
One event strikingly similar to home is church choir practice. Rehearsals are held in the sanctuary. Here’s a clip from my first night. (No, I did not in any way look suspicious panning the room with my iPhone from the middle of the soprano section.)
One difference here from choir practice at home is the added chai break. Midway through each rehearsal church assistants bring in chai in small clay cups, accompanied by a hot baked snack. Everyone breaks for about ten minutes, milling around and catching up.
During my first chai break I was approached by an older man in the choir. He asked me if I sang gospel music. I could hardly believe my ears. “Gospel like the modern progression of spirituals?” I asked. “Oh yes,” he said. “We love to sing negro spirituals.” Really?! Really. Barely containing my glee, I told him that I was familiar with the genre. He told me that he was part of a three-man gospel group that was looking for a female to round out a quartet. I told him he’d found her.
A few days later I attended my first Asian gospel quartet rehearsal. It was swell. More to come on that front.
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