Learn what one retired high school teacher is doing to spread the word about international understanding in local New England schools.
By Randall Richards
When Frank Hammond, of New London New Hampshire, USA, becomes passionate about something, he gets involved with no reservations. A long-time contributor to various community projects, a popular and effective high school teacher, and former Executive Director of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, Hammond recently read the New York Times Bestseller Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, and was motivated to get the book in front school children in the region. One of the strategies, he mentions “is to teach kids empathy skills, i.e., listening to others and building healthy relationships both at home and abroad with foreign cultures.” Learn more by watching the interview below…
Editor’s Note: Frank Hammond was my 8th grade home-schoolroom teacher in Sunapee, NH. He was a great teacher, and left a big impression on my me, and I’m sure on my fellow classmates as well. If his Facebook “friends count” is any gauge, he’s still just as popular as ever with alumni. Thanks for the interview Frank!
R. Richards
Punyma Taha from Bhutan was a vendor recently at the 17th Vermont International Festival in Burlington, Vermont, USA. She shares a bit about her life in the USA and how she came to live in Vermont. Her booth was next to our Mountain Spirit Institute booth, and we had chatted a bit, so when we asked her if she would be willing to be interviewed for this blog, she gladly accepted the offer.
The main act for the Vermont International Festival a last week was the Kinobe from Uganda. I’ve had time to listen to their CD, and while I always prefer the live version of bands on stage compared to their CD, Kinobe’s CD warms the soul. Below is a clip of them playing on stage at the festival. If you check out their website you’ll be able to find their next performance, which will be most likely be, down country in NYC or the Boston area.
Live music is vital for the soul. In the old days, before there were CD’s, mp3’s, even television, when only the rich could afford a radio, neigbors and family would sit around the living room and play instruments for enjoyment, and to pass the time.
Stay tuned for an upcoming video clip of Ray Chesna who wrote a song about just that.
R. Richards interviews Women from Tibet, Indiaat Vermont International Festival
These two wonderful woman, one from Tibet and the other, from India were fellow vendors at the Vermont International Festival. Click on the video below to learn more about them.
Mountain Spirit Institute just attended the 17th Annual Vermont International Festival. Here’s a quick video overview, with some great music from Uganda. Stay tuned for some more video footage of the festival. Spread the word about this great event.
Guillermo Seminario, leader of Chimu Inka band in Cusco, and co- facilitator for Mountain Spirit Insitute’s cultural immersion program in Peru teaches a few participants on the Peru’09 program how to play zampoña. They three had been learning from Guillermo for a few days before this footage was taken. They did well. I hope they are still playing!
In a small hamlet, near the town of Ollantaytambo, a few hundred devotees hold festivals in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, known locally as Mamacha Carmen, patron saint of the mestizo population. The gathering, that raises the curtain on these days of celebrations is held in the main square, where troupes of musicians play their instruments while richly dressed choirs sing in Quechua. The setting gives way to a series of ingenious choreographies that portray events in Peruvian history. The main and much bigger celebration of Virgen Del Carmen is in the town of Paucartambo, about four hours from Cusco, Peru. Mountain Spirit Institute participants, guide Guillermo Seminario, and host Anna Sequeros are in this clip.
This second footage was taken right after the first, in Pisac, Peru on market day. Every Sunday local campasinos, Peruvians from the neighboring villages as well as tourists, students from all over the world pass the streets of Pisac to see items for sale. The paserbys were caught on tape during this impromptu filming while I was sitting in small cafe on one of the main streets leading to the market. A good study on a Sunday afternoon cross section on a street in Peru.
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