Stray dogs are dangerous. So is playing Rachmaninoff.

Last night we performed in Buenos Aires and were then invited to the Brazilian embassy for a party. That´s what we thought. Actually, we were invited to the Brazilian ambassador´s residence, which meant an 1860s mansion with the most beautiful murals, painted ceilings, and ornate decorations in all of Argentina. Who knew? Let´s just say I was glad I never changed out of my nice concert clothes. We were served dinner around midnight and champaign and wine were offered to us until well into the morning. The whole orchestra was there. The orchestra´s mariachi band performed for the diplomats, and they were so delighted they started singing along and dancing.

It´s now 2:30 AM and we are in Rosario, Argentina. We had our last concert tonight with our favorite maestro, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and we are going to Uruguay tomorrow by boat. We celebrated tonight by going to a dance hall near the concert hall. I´ve been hanging out with my new best friend Xiomara, an oboist from Puerto Rico, and we are fending off the various aggressive Argentine men with sticks. And we were almost eaten by stray dogs on the street today. But that´s another story for another day.

Playing with the orchestra is now about as comfortable as it can be. We are a family now. Everyone knows what to expect from their neighbors, and we are able to respond accordingly. The relationship between the orchestra and Maestro Prieto is very special: I don´t think I´ve ever played in an orchestra before where there is so much love between the conductor and the orchestra. It makes playing very easy, and very fun.

How can I describe the attitude of the wonderful people I´m with every day? They are free, easy, and eager to talk to strangers. They are always on the verge of singing and dancing. Some speak three languages very well. We stay up all night, sleep for a few hours on the bus, have a reshearsal, perform, and then celebrate some more.