Final Thoughts

Hello! Or rather goodbye...

It is our last night in Germany and while all of us will be sad to go, we are at the same time ready to leave. As tiredness has started to kick in, our minds have drifted more and more to the things and people we miss. The top of the list right now is torn between family, friends, home-cooked meals and shower heads that are actually mounted on the wall.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that these two weeks have been one amazing and unforgettable experience after another. The people, the music, and the rich history have combined to give all of us memories and friends we will have for the rest of our lives. Thank you to all parents, band directors, and others that made this trip a reality. We all owe you so much that my words cannot be adequate. Thank you from the bottom of my heart - your hard work is appreciated.

Much love from Deutschland and congrats to the futball team for making it into the semifinals! We will see you tomorrow!

Welcome to Prague!

Thanks to Jackie H for letting me use her phone to connect to the internet!
We had our first day of touring Prague and it was quite the adventure. Both tour guides on our buses are very sweet, informative, and extremely chatty. The city itself is a study in contrasts. There is a lot of beautiful architecture and at the same time many of the same pretty buildings are covered in spraypaint and other forms of vandalism. We didn't have much time to shop, but the food was approved of by students and directors alike.
The tour today started at Antonin Dvorak's summer home/museum where we learned about his music and his life. We also got to see Prague Castle and the original Jewish Ghetto - the area of the city that all Jews living in Prague had to live inside under the Empress Maria Theresa. We finished with dinner at a Czech restaurant and had a bit of a dessert adventure.
The hotel is different than what we are used to in the US, but is overall a lot better than many people were expecting.
I would like to end with a shoutout to all fathers out there - especially those with children on the trip. Enjoy your day!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!

The futball/soccer game today was a bit of a disappointment - we ended up losing 11-1. Kudos, however, to Kyle L for scoring our only goal! It was hard fought on both sides, and I was glad to see even afterwards people from both teams interacting with each other and just having a good time kicking the ball around. That's what this trip is all about anyway - not just winning or losing.

Stuttgart was, like most everything else here, very old and very beautiful. The Mercedes-Benz Museum was very interesting and we were able to learn about everything from the first power engine, to decorated buses in Buenos Aires, to truck racing with the aid of our audio headsets. Much shopping was to be had by some, others just wandered around the town enjoying the old building and the people watching. I am also happy to report that everyone was where they were supposed to be at the correct times today...and some were even early!

Quite a few different groups are planning to go to the discotheque tonight - hopefully someone who does will be able to report on that later. I, on the other hand, am going with my German friend Nici to a party that her English class is having. She said she has a friend that spent a year in America who is going to be there tonight and really wants to meet me. Hopefully I don't disappoint!

Germany Adventure Day 1

Guten Tag! Or maybe it is really more appropriate to say Guten Nacht ~ the time change has left most of us a little out of sorts. Other than that, the first day here has been amazing. All of the families were there to welcome us straight off the buses, so no one felt left out. They seemed so genuinely excited that it helped a lot of us feel more comfortable and less nervous about meeting our new family. Bietinghiem is beautiful - and so historic! The unique architecture and quaint little shops have caused many group members to already start filling up space on their camera's memory cards. My host family has been nothing but kind and welcoming, and have already started trying to fatten me up by feeding me lots of kuchen (cakes). So far, the trip has been an incredible experience - and we've only been here for 24 hours! I can't wait to see what types of adventure, learning, and opportunities for musical and cultural growth await us in the next two weeks! I especially look forward to seeing Neuschwanstein Castle and the Ulm Cathedral tomorrow - the sightseeing, architecure, and history promise an interesting trip. And really, what girl hasn't dreamed about living in the Magic Kingdom's castle - or any castle for that matter! Bye for now...