Pat Stegall, President-elect
Alabama Music Educators Association Aloha!
Yes, I visited Hawaii this summer. It is beautiful, interest- ing and very impressive. The thing that impressed me the most was the hospitality.
Somewhere, the people of
Hawaii have learned how to be gracious hosts. Every native Hawaiian that I encountered was kind, generous and helpful. Now I know that is part of the persona one must wear in the tourist business, but it was overwhelm- ing. I found myself getting caught up in the spirit of the place.
While visiting The Polynesian Cultural Center we met a young man who became our guide for the day. His name was Wuza and he was from New Zealand. I have never been treated so graciously by a stranger in my life. This young man offered information about the different islands and cultures that make up Polynesia with a great amount of expertise and passion. He was proud of who he was and where he came from. He glowed with enthusiasm for his culture. He welcomed us like we were his family. At the PCC they refer to everyone as "family" and "cousins". By the end of the experience, I felt like he was part of my family and that I was part of his.
During the days activities we visited areas of the center that conveyed how the life and culture was on the various islands and came to appreciate the differences. Wuza was
proud of each and every one of the islands. He told us of the differences that make each group unique, yet how they were all part of one whole. In the evening, the students that work at the PCC performed an elaborate show that spotlighted the culture of the different Polynesian Islands. These students, who had been our guides and instructors during the day, became the performers for the night. Wuza, who seemed to be quiet and reserved while guiding us through the center, became a vibrant dancer in the show. He had a way of sticking out his tongue that was supposed to strike fear in the opponents of his dance. You would have never suspected he had that in his personality, but he was passionate about performing the dance correct- ly so he could pass on part of his cultural background to us, the audience.
Passion for your culture…that is what the PCC was all about. We as Alabama Music Educators have the task of bringing culture to the children of Alabama. I am approaching my teaching with a new sense of duty. I want to make sure that my students understand the history and variety of our culture here in America, and learn to respect those cultures that are different from ours. Wuza, from New Zealand, inspired me to do a better job of using my passion for music to bring my students to a better under- standing of our culture. Join me, won't you…we need to pass it on!
Plan now to attend the
2008 AMEA In-Service Conference January 10-12, 2008
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa ala breve 9
From the President-elect...
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