Zheng of the Ozarks

The halfway point to our travels was Eureka Springs, AR. It’s a little out of the way, in that you’d really have to search to find this place. But I knew it would be right up Zheng’s alley, and so we went there. It’s also not particularly expensive, if you plan it right (one hotel night was $49.99, for example) so it fit our budget pretty well. 

The Ozarks are the closest thing that America has to the Swiss Alps. That is, if the Swiss Alps had motorcycles.

I spent two summers (’09 and ’10) as a vocal coach at Opera in the Ozarks. I did pay a quick visit back to “campus,” held at a place outside of the town called “Inspiration Point." Many things have changed since I was last there (new Executive and Artistic Director).

Time and hindsight has proven my two summers, especially the first one, very fruitful. The first summer was the one that helped me discern whether to start a doctorate and “what was I supposed to do with my life.” Long walks on a nearby hill, and lengths of time drinking coffee on the “slab” helped solidify what would be an eventual plunge into the Eastman DMA program. This summer was two summers before I would really have a life-changing spiritual experience in Hungary, but now, I see my time in Arkansas as a prelude to some long rambles through Europe (summers of 2011 and 2012).

Zheng was fascinated by the Old Western feel, the shopping, the individuality of the place, and restaurants, and of course, finding Jesus. The “Christ of the Ozarks” statue is, of many things, unforgettable. 

PHOTOS: From Eureka Springs and Inspiration Point.