Thursday day and Friday morning

Thursday started out rough for a lot of us as we ended up sleeping on the floor of the bus. If you never have done this...DONT! The kids were great and kept it quiet. As we drove through the night a lot of parents could not sleep and kept an eye on the bus driver seemed like he was sleepy and we switched drivers about 10pm and the next guy was not any better.

As soon as we pulled into NYC the kids started to get a bit more fired up, seeing the skyline and the people made us wake up. We went right to the Lincoln Center and got set up outside. It was amazing to see how many people stopped by to watch us play. Several people came up to the parents and asked us where we were from. One french man came and talked to Mr. Dobbs and asked him to play Figaro, we had to decline. The weather was great and the sun was shining. Standing in front of the MET I thought of all the famous people who have been there, how many people have performed there. What an amazing experience.

We then went on to the United Nations. My group got separated from the others and we had to wait an additional 30 min to get a guide. Once we started on the tour one of the first things our tour guide told us was about the new "modern UN" meetings that were taking place. There were kids the same age as ours right down there in the in the chambers meeting and talking to each other and learning about different countries. All this in the hopes that this would start a new way of thinking, a new world that includes talking to each other as a way to avoid war. Knowledge I think is the best tool. This gave me so much hope for the future. We went through all the 8 initiatives for the UN council. I can not remember them all but they are the building blocks to making a better world for us all including equal human rights, woman's rights, the economy, peace, feeding the hungry. Our tour guide emphasised the importance of understanding that we are ALL humans and are equal in what we need to survive on this planet.

From the UN we were off back to the Lincoln Center for a tour. Here my group had the best tour guide. We were running late right from the beginning and we only had a few minutes but she let us sneak behind the scene and see a performance of a Scottish group and see the bagpipes play Amazing Grace. We got to see the inside of the MET, the red velvet seating and walls to the gold leaf on the ceiling. All the wood is from red wood trees and the chandeliers are from Austrian crystal.

The next wonderful experience was walking around China Town. Tiny Tupy, Rose Neibaugher, LeAnn Thomas and group ended up accidentally getting locked in a basement store. Of course they got right out but imagine how they felt when the door locked behind them! Hilarious. That was not the end of the adventure, the food was authentic Chinese and a lot of the kids had never experience. We have a lot of great pictures of the kids trying this food and trying to use the chop sticks. The real tiredness really set in after we ate and we could not wait to get to the hotel.

On the bus and off to the Raddison. We checked everyone in and went to our rooms and made sure everyone was safe and sound. The first round of chaperone's set up for their rounds, I know they were struggling to have to see us go to bed and know they had to stay up for yet another hour. The chaperone's that had the "middle shift" I think had it worse because they could sleep for one hour and then take over and be up til 2 and then the 4-6 am parents I felt for too. We just all needed some real sleep and we knew we weren't going to see any for the entire trip...man we love our kids!

Off to sleep......

Friday morning after the shower I still felt like I did not sleep. One of my poor room mates Cindy Frana was up at 330 to go do her shift in the halls. When she came back at 530 it felt like we did not sleep at all.

Back on the road and strait to the bus and off to the Statue of Liberty. The road trip there was scenic and we took in the traffic, the people and the skyline. The Statue was smaller than I thought it was but still so impressive. As we were on the ferry and we came to Ellis Island it brought to mind all the people that came upon this statue after weeks of harried travel. How they felt knowing that coming to my country was the realization of a dream. I wondered how I could convey to the kids with me how lucky we are to live here, born with the right to freedom.

The rest of the day was a rush to their dance and music clinics in a building right in New York. The parents sat in the waiting area as they learned their dance routine and their music.

Now we are off to Sabarro for Pizza and then to the Broadway showing of Phantom Of The Opera. More tomorrow..if I am lucky to have Gerry's laptop!

Wednesday- The day of departure- 08:43

Wednesday 4-8-09 08:43

First lets start with a big thank you to all the parents! YAY PARENTS! This took a lot of time and effort and all parents involved, at home and here at the school.

We have had so much going on with school board meetings, teachers jobs on the line and P.E waivers (lets not forget that is still hanging in the air), Solo Ensamble and Jazz Spotlight. We have been working our butts off! But we love our kids and are excited to see them perform.

Today is the big day and you can feel it in the air. The kids are excited and yet a little apprehensive of the 24 hr bus ride. I for one am just looking forward to a lot of fun and the pride we will have playing at the Lincoln Center on Thursday. I will be hard because we have to be "on" right after we pull in to NYC. At first I was a little upset about that, but now that I think of it, it is a good thing. It leaves us with a lot more time to check out NYC!

Last night was baggage check in and everyone seemed to be packed and ready. To see the parents just as excited as the kids was great! We really are a great bunch of people I must say! (smile).

Ill be back later to add more. I hope I can blog from the bus. (thanks to Gerry Freidhoff) I will put our itinerary below when I get settled.