Rachelle Ann’s Saigon Diaries: Learning Welsh, teaching Tagalog and working on my dancing skills!
It’s my second week of rehearsals for “Miss Saigon” and I feel at home already!
Looking to my cast mates as my family makes it easier for me not to feel too homesick.
I remember Ms. Lea Salonga telling me to make friends with people here.
Really shy
To tell you the truth, I was a bit scared coz I'm really shy. (Yes, it’s true! Haha!)
But everyone has been so nice.
I didn't have a hard time getting to know each and every one—from the cast members to the production staff to the entire Saigon team.
Pushing each other to do our best
We always encourage one another. And they’ve been especially supportive of my dancing skills, haha!!
Even if I find myself struggling to execute some dance routines, the cast and crew continue to push me.
So that's good—and I’m hoping na sana mabawasan na ang hiya ko!
Language lessons
We were also able to bond, from watching musicals, throwing a barbecue party, spending nights out, food tripping, shopping and going to church.
And, the cast helps me learn a new language every day—a little French one day, then Korean, Japanese, Mandarin or Dutch the next. My fellow actor Dale Evans teaches me Welsh every day!
In exchange, I teach them how to speak Tagalog, something that fills me with pride!
Another Pinoy Pride moment was when I cooked them adobo and had them try it. Well, they loved it! (Naks!!!)
Stopped feeling alone
I’m also thankful to the production people who are so warm, helpful and organized. They’re simply amazing!
Another thing that energizes me is having my alone time with God before and after rehearsals.
I have stopped feeling so alone because having Him by my side makes me feel safe...
Time will fly
So it’s been 2 weeks and I feel like I’ve been here for longer than that. I guess that's a good thing, right?
Being busy with work, having supportive people around me, and trusting God to be by my side have been such an amazing gift.
So I think that the next 14 months will simply fly by!
Read more Rachelle Ann: Welcome to the first week of my life-changing adventure!
Read more MUSIC stories
