DAY 11 (HAMAMATSU) August 13, 2024 (repost from KCR/ER1 Japan Tour 2024)

We started our first official day of the symposium with an early morning start. We ate breakfast quickly, because we only had 20 minutes to set up before the first piece of the symposium. Much to our dismay, the morning was packed with playing after playing, with one 10 minute break.

As the afternoon fell upon us, lunch relieved our hunger and fatigue. Lunch was provided by the symposium, and there were a couple options. Most consisted of rice, some greenery, and a protein. Most days we will be provided with lunch and this is a great place for us to mingle with the other ringers. Even though most people traded their gifts last night, people were still eager to trade during off time. Lunch was also a fantastic transition into our interactive workshops that were individually picked. After lunch, everybody went to the workshop that they had signed up for. Mine (Sam) was about Singapore, its history, and their bell programs there. Their cost of living is very high, and you have to bid for a license to be able to even buy a car, which can cost almost $70,000! Only about 10% of Singapore owns a car because of the cost and scarcity. Fun fact, Singapore is hosting the 2028 handbell symposium. This will be great for anyone going because Singapore has some great places to visit, and even better food. Everyone who grows up there also learns 2 languages: English, and whatever their “mother tongue” is. Your mother tongue is whatever language is spoken by your race, since most everybody there is Chinese, Malay, or Indian, and they want to keep everyone knowing whatever language is spoken in their country of origin.

For me (Issac), I learned all about Korean Culture and played many famous folk songs and hymns from all around Korea. It was a beautiful learning experience and I was fortunate enough to not only expand my understanding of the music, but the people as well. After workshops it was back to mass ringing. But this rehearsal was almost half as short, and had a lot more fun songs in my opinion. After the rehearsal, there was the first solo concert, with 14 different songs. Then we were all free to go and get dinner by ourselves or with others to end our day.

Sam & Isaac