The trip bears all the hallmarks of a typical LSF event: a pile of work awaiting, forgotten tools, lovely people showing us stunning hospitality, instruments drooping in the tropical heat and humidity (something I myself seem to thrive on -- it certainly beats Minnesota winters!), and an element of surprise. The surprise, this time, comes in the form of endless, persistent, very annoying mosquitos. Both Anna's and my legs look like we have the measles.
Still, when we aren't swatting at them with a large, racquet-like electronic zapper (or, indeed, our hands, tools, or the occasional violin) we are getting a lot of work done. This is because this week, we are working from the home of one of the local music teachers, so there are relatively few interruptions. Next week will be dedicated to teaching four students set-up and bow work -- I have been busy writing a "how-to" manual and preparing sets of templates.
As usual, the reality of baggage allowances has imposed restrictions on how many tools we could bring. So we have to get creative. Yesterday's newspaper, lovingly tossed over the fence and onto the trampoline in the backyard, makes some fine clamping pads when appropriately taped; a yoga strap can, and does, stand in as a bass clamp in a pinch. I wish I had brought my larger needle files, but I found out it is possible to wrap sandpaper around the handle of my smallest soundpost mirror, which works as well. Well, almost.
A big problem is that it is hard to bring a decent work lamp -- I have been experimenting with small, battery-powered LED lights, but still: when the sun goes down, we pretty much have to wrap it up. Still, we don't want to work ourselves out of a job here too soon ...