Touring in Dresden - arrival in Berlin

We said good-bye to the Chezk Republic today and headed west and north to Berlin. 

Mid morning:  Stop at the Teresienstaldt Memorial, where our students had the opportunity to pay their respects to the thousands who lost their lives in this region during the Holocaust.  

Mid day:  Our primary touring stop today was Dresden.  Oh my, what a beautiful city!  I have studied the history of Dresden (specifically related to a composition by Daniel Bukivich: Symphony No. 1 - In Memoriam Dresden, which depicts the Allied bombing at the end of WWII and the firestorm that destroyed/leveled the city).  To see the reconstruction that has taken place in the past decade (since the reunification of Germany) was absolutely astounding.  

Evening:  Arrival and check-in at Hotel Kolumbus in Berlin.  Great dinner.  Looking forward to a final two days of sightseeing in Berlin - and our final concert in Wittenburg tomorrow evening.

Prague.... hmmm

Leaving our host families was depressing to say the least, and I can say that I was a little homesick for my German family. The host families were so sad to see us go that some of the kids held a sit-down protest. Yes! they actually sat in front of the buses to stop them from leaving. When we got to Prague, the feeling was worse because the Hotel Dum mattresses were not as comfortable as our host family. But that was only a minor thing. The city of Prague was beautiful. It was so cool to experience the city and its shops. A lot of the shops were touristy, but the street vendors were the best. I had my first experience in haggling prices. It was a successful trip. One of the most bizarre things were the Czech currency called Crowns. The exchange rate from yesterday was around 16 crows per US dollars. I felt rich! The food at the restaurant was pretty good especially the nonalcoholic eggnog filled ho-hos (yum!). Well we are in Berlin now, and everyone seems happy to be back in Germany. I got a message from my host family that says they miss me and to have fun on the rest of the trip! By the way, Germany won their fußball match yesterday 1-0!

Ciao for now

Ben Tullis

(photos added to post - B. Teague)

Caitlyn Reports on Prague!

Sorry I haven't posted sooner...the computer service in Prague was costly and not very good. So...here is everything that has happened since I last posted.

Friday: We spent the morning at the school in Bietigheim, where the jazz band held a concert for the students there. In the afternoon, my host family took us to an indoor water park in Bietigheim that had a whirlpool and a water slide. Then we had our concert in Freudental, which seemed to go very well.

Saturday: Yay for long bus rides! We made a stop in Pilzen, whose main feature is a giant brewery that makes one of the more famous beers in the world. We had lunch there, went on a tour, and I bought my dad a present for Father's day. Then we went to Prague, and went to a restaurant called Koliba. I had sauerkraut and LIKED IT! Our hotel was very nice, because we all had separate beds and an AWESOME view of the city from our window.

Sunday: Today was mainly a touring day...we started out by going to Vysoka, the town where composer Antonin Dvorak used to stay. It was SO PRETTY, especially the Rusalka (Mermaid) Lake! Afterwards, we made a stop in Prague's Old Town, where we had lunch. My group found a restaurant that sold chicken gyros for a pretty cheap price...which was helpful, because I then had to buy a disposable camera for 500 Czech crowns. In the afternoon, we went to Prague Castle, and go to visit Saint Vitus Cathedral. I really wish that I'd been able to take more pictures, because the cathedral was so beautiful! There were so many intricate stained glass windows and side rooms and...I wish that we'd had more time there, since the visiting time ended while we were still in there. Afterwards, we walked down a very large hill and went down to the Jewish Quarter, where we saw a lot of old synagogues and a Jewish cemetery that was so small, the citizens used to bury their dead in layers of ground and build the head stones up from underneath! Then we had dinner at Kolliba again -- fairly uneventful, except that the restaurant accidentally served liquor in our desert. (I think the liquor was cooked, though, so there was no alcohol in it.)

Monday: We made a quick stop at a Mozart museum in the city. The exhibition hall was small, but it had beautiful vintage instruments and there was a nice garden in the back. We went to the English International School -- I think it was for British children -- and had a concert there. Afterwards, one of the administrators told us about how the school had been thinking about adding its own music program, and that our concert had showed them how important such a program would be. SWEET! We then drove back to the Old Town to do some souvenir shopping. I bought this tan pashminka (Indian-made cashmere scarf) from a shop, and some new earrings. We had Kolliba for dinner again, but took take-out instead. I think it was some kind of fried pork sandwich, but I didn't eat that much of it because my group had gone to a Subway earlier in the day.

Today: Sadly, the tour guide we've traveled with in Prague had to stay behind and work with another group...our new tour guide came with us to Terezin, a Czech town that was used as a concentration camp in World War II. The main attraction was a cemetery where the people who died at the concentration camp were buried...it was very reverent, and beautiful. We went to Dresden for lunch and a walking tour. The group I went with for lunch found a hot dog stand where the food was good and extremely cheap! After Dresden, it was a long drive here to our hotel in Berlin. We have bunk beds at this hotel, and eight people (in two bedrooms) have to share two bathrooms...okaaay. However, the buffet dinner they served us was superb!

I hope that's everything...it was a lengthy time away from the computer! I can't wait to start touring in Berlin tomorrow!

Sharing Music

This afternoon we had the wonderful opportunity to share our music with students of all ages at the English International School of Prague. Thank you to Mr. David Forrest (Music Director), Mr. Phillip Keech (Asst. Principal) and Mr. Adam Stewart (Auditorium Supervisor) for everything they did to facilitate our stay. From the moment we walked in the doors of this beautiful school we felt welcome! And a thank you as well to Principal Paul Brewster for lunch!

The youngest students of the school did not come to the concert (the teachers were afraid the music might be too loud for them). So we took the music to them! Thanks to the quick thinking of Mr. Williams, an "Instrument Petting Zoo" was quickly coordinated, and we had several students demonstrating instruments to the youngest of the school. I think our students got a BIG kick out of it, and the laughter and smiles of the students here in Prague was an indication that they really enjoyed it.

Ah, Kids...

Yesterday was Fathers Day. Maybe one of the hardest days of the trip for me, actually... We're having a great time, of course, but being away from my daughter for over a week is the longest I've ever been away from her. Not being able to video conference with her as I was in Bi-Bi made it frustrating, taking 10 minutes to figure out how to make my calling card work in the Old Town section of Prague just about put me over the edge... At least I could hear her voice for a minute or two! (Look at me taking technology for granted... not so many years ago a phone call wasn't even a sure thing!)

Today I'm blogging to you from the English International School of Prague. I peered into the gymnasium and saw a little blonde girl with pig-tails doing the shuttle run. That's probably exactly what my daughter will look like in just a few more years. Then, during lunch we noticed the art projects based on the book, The Rainbow Fish, one of the favorites in her library. Even though I can't be with Sydney, this trip keeps sending me reminders (like I need to be reminded)!

Lesson learned? Kids are kids. They have the same joy for life, same imagination, same energy, same love to share... all over the world. Parents are parents. I've seen parents here and in Germany dealing with the same joys and challenges we do at home (although some of their strollers are MUCH cooler than our...)

So... Parents of our band students - Your students DO miss you too. They talk about home and you in the middle of all the other "oos" and "ahs". (They won't admit it, but they do). I also imagine I'll feel just like you when I send my future student(s) off on a trip without me...

Ok, off to do our concert for the students. We're playing our "lighter" stuff... except for Godzilla... Hope that doesn't scare the little ones. It's a little tougher than The Rainbow Fish.

FOUR THOUSAND WORDS

Views of Prague from yesterday. Nuff said.

Glenn Williams

THE REAL INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

The following post does not represent the thoughts or beliefs of every student, director or chaperone on the District 99 European Tour.

I am, and always have been, an omnivore. I don't just like any food, I like all food. Even as a musician, I wonder to what level does food connect us all. It is truly the real international language.

The above photograph shows what is available for a breakfast choice at our deluxe accomodations in Praga. I am truly in my happy place - little mini-hot dogs and various types of cheeses are legal food for breakfast. I love this place!!!!!!!

More later,

Glenn Williams

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!

Picture of the Day

Kyle S. and a new friend near the Dvorak museum this morning.

"Photo Ops" Abound

Today was a wonderful day for photos, and I think our students and staff took full advantage. Mr. Wilson told me at dinner that he took over 600 today alone.

This us my first time in Prague, and I find it to be an absolutely fascinating mixture of culture. The beautiful architecture of the old city stands in stark contrast to more modern (and modest) buildings that remind us that it wasn't very long ago that this area was under
communist rule.

Cathedral of Prague Castle

Prague - Old City Center

We have just finished lunch in the historic city center, and are on
our way to the Prague Castle.

Happy Father's Day

This post goes out to all the "Dads" back home. Kristen and I did an iChat with our children from our Bietigheim host family's house on Friday night. Because they didn't know if we would have Net access in Prague, they shared a card with me 'virtually.' We send our warmest wishes for a Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers of students on tour with us!

We are in Prague

A quick update: we have arrived in Prague, and checked into our hotel.

Our day has been one of transitions as we said good-bye to our amazing host families. I so wish I had a computer Net connection tonight so I could post pictures from our Bietogheim send-off. It was amazing and emotional. More later ...

I'm posting from my phone tonight. I suspect student posts will fall off considerably this week as technology is not nearly as easy to find.

JOY IN FREUDENTAL

Guten morgen:

This post is directed to parents reading the blog. A random audience goer on Tuesday night. A bus driver. The mayor last night. Multiple parents involved in the homestays here in Bi-Bi. This is just a short list of the people who have shared with me that your students are nothing short of SUPERSTARS, both on and off the concert stage. Your children are being ambassadors to an amazing extent. Their wonderful actions are speaking so loudly, words are not needed.

This photo of Rania E. singing last night presents the emotion and feeling of the concert last night far better than these meager words. Enjoy.

Tschus,

Glenn Williams

Thank you to our Bietigheim hosts!

Dear wonderful host families:

I know I speak for our entire band when I say how much we appreciate all you have done for us over the past week. Staying with you in Bietigheim-Bissingen (and surrounding communities) has been a truly amazing experience. You have welcomed us into your beautiful homes with open arms. You have provided an appreciative and enthusiastic audience for our student musicians. Most importantly, you have reinforced for us all that - despite the distance between our countries - we are all very similar, and all seek a common peace in the world.

Today is filled with a certain sense of sadness, as we must say 'good-bye.' But I think that sadness is a sign that the exchange was very successful, and that all of our students have had a wonderful time here in Germany. We hope we have been good guests.

We truly value your friendship, and look forward to extending open arms to the student musicians of the Musikschule many times over in future years. We are honored and humbled by the opportunity to participate in this unique exchange.

Danke!

I left my heart in Heidleberg (or Sachseheim)

I cannot believe that I have to leave my host family tomorrow morning. They have become such an amazing part of my life and I feel incomplete without them. My sister, Mirja, is one of the nicest, funniest people I have ever met. My mother is so kind and caring and she always talks to me even when it is hard to speak in English. My father is always helpful and is very funny. When we went to Hieldleberg yesterday, my mother told me there is a song that says, ``I left my heart in Hieldleberg.´´ And now that I have been with my family for several days, I feel that I am leaving part of my heart in Sachseheim, where they live. I have made so many new friendships and strengthened others from last year. Tomorrow morning will be very sad for me. I have been on two other international trips with school, and I have noticed that on these trips I always remember things that are different between my life at home and my life abroad. But this week I really realized that we are not different at all. Sure, there are little differences between Mirja´s life in Germany and my life in the US, but at the core, we are the same. I am very comforted by this thought. Somehow even though we live on two different continents, we are the same.

On new and old friendships and leaving home

So when I first left home last Saturday, I was really unsure of the whole idea of staying a week in another persons house. It was strange to think that for a whole week, I would for all intents and purposes have a new family. I initially thought that it would be awkward and that I would miss my home and my family. And while I have missed my home and family, my (host) family here in Germany has been extraordinary. I have felt like I belong from the moment I first crossed the threshold into their house. From everything to laundry to planning events, they have been kind and helpful, and it has really helped me to see what life in Germany is like. Viktor (my host brother) has also introduced me to various German fußball (soccer for all the Americans) songs.

Throughout the the trip I have seen many old friendships that have become stronger, but the thing that is the coolest for me is the new friendships that have formed across North and South. I have met people with interests similar to mine, even within the flute section! I have also seen sections become closer and play better just because of the experience of being in Germany.

As a final thought, the first Jazz Concert today was amazing and the crowd was even more excited than at the Band Concert. Well for now I will have to go and prepare for tonights concert and pack for tomorrow. I am sad to be leaving my host family, and would like to spend more time here. Tomorrow we leave for the Czech Republic. Peace All.

A weeks reflections...

Everything I have to say about the places we've visited so far, just restates what others have been saying in their blogs. This place is amazing in everyway!

This trip is really something that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life.

I know I'm going to have plenty of stories by the time the trip is done. I already have several handfuls! Like hearing kids speak with a slight German accent or while sitting in the park playing the HaHa game and German civilians walking by giving us a few weird looks. Or someone talking to us in German and then we have to explain we don't understand or trying new food or just stories about the host family or things that teenagers do.

The places are so beautiful and even this little town is great. I love just going for walks around the house and seeing the houses and the gardens that every single one has. It's so different from back home but I'm loving every minute of it.

I'm also going to remember all the people I've met too. Not only my magnificent host family, who have taken care of me this past week and have been so kind to me and wonderful in everyway, but also the North kids. Coming into this, I thought we were going to be separate. The South kids and the North kids...but that's not true at all. We Are The District 99 Honors Band. We've taken care of each other during this trip and will continue to do so. I know everyone is thinking the same thing as I am when I say to all of you back home that you don't have to worry about your world traveler here in Germany because we've got each other's back! We're more than a band...we're a big, happy, hilarious band family!

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Guten tag:

Forgive my silent voice in the last few days - the pace has been wonderfully frenetic. I left my laptop at in Downers Grove for my kids to use while we are in Germay. There are times I don't miss it at all, and there are times I wish it was here. Alas, I forge ahead on a German keyboard!

The photo above is a panorama view from the top of the castle in Heidelberg. I hope it is worth 1,000 words for those of you experiencing our trip through the blog. Being here is still so surreal for me. Terri W. (my wife) and I keep thinking that eventually we will walk to the parking lot and return home or to our hotel. I have to remind myself this is not Walt Disney World, but a real town with real people.

To me, the people are the essence of this exchange. I watch our students learn that people are people no matter where they live. As people, we are designed to be in community with one another. This exchange allows that sense of community to thrive across cultures and across generations. It is remarkable to experience first hand.

The post-blog photo is Terri W. on the square in Stuggart - again, the photo tells far more on the spirit of the exchange and of the trip that I could ever hope to write - especially on this German keyboard!

Tschus,

Glenn Williams