The 2-hour drive took longer than necessary because of Lani’s desire to stop at Visitor Centers for free maps. This one had a lot of information, though, and we got some coupons and other things for Virginia Beach.  It was a good stop.  They even had a picture opportunity:

Upon arriving at our hotel, The Cavalier, my brother-in-law, Jim, & I unloaded my van while the females were making their way there.  We checked in and took a load of stuff to our rooms.

Our rooms. *sigh*

Upon each of us entering our own rooms, we dropped the luggage and walked back out and looked at each other.  There was a queen bed with not much room beyond it.  We each had 4 people.  We went back to the desk.  When Jim gave them the ol’ what-for, we got an upgrade, but we were going to be paying for it. I guess it is going to be offset by the hotel gift card and gas card we are getting.

Both rooms were not ready right then, so we put all of our luggage in the other family’s room. Everyone else got ready for some beach time and left while I waited for our room to be ready. When I got the call that it was ready, I moved all of luggage to our room and then proceeded to the beach.

The hotel is gorgeous.  I definitely recommend it if you like them from the 1920′s & 30′s. Nice, manicured lawns, good food, and a nice staff are the norm here.

Lobby of the Cavalier

I am not a big fan of travelling far away to sit somewhere and do nothing. I can (and do) do that at home much more easily and comfortably. Oh well. I will get more say in next year’s trip. To mitigate this, I took my iPhone to the beach. I messed around on it a little bit and as is my habit, I put it away in my left pocket.  What is unfortunate, is I had on my swimsuit. They shouldn’t have pockets on those things. Anyway, I went out to play with the kids in the ocean.

Electronics do not like salt water apparently. I had a few problems after this unholy mating. It would act like there was always a headset plugged in and give me a pop up stating that the device wasn’t compatible with the iPhone.  There was no device connected. Twenty-four hours later, I regained use of the earpiece.  By the time we were back in Cincinnati, the pop-ups were pretty much gone. Whew!

There was another family of four that Jim & Annette know from Cincinnati we were meeting there.  They arrived during that afternoon and we made plans for dinner. They come to Virginia Beach fairly often, so they knew where was good to eat, so we went with their recommendation:  Rudee’s on the Inlet.

The food there is excellent…except for the crabcakes. Order anything BUT those.  I had the crabcakes. Everyone else’s dinners were great.  Those were crap.

Afterwards, we had dessert & drinks at their little place across from the parking lot with swinging  tables & benches. I don’t think I could eat a whole meal at those and keep all of the food down, but dessert & drinks were fine.

It was then time for bed, so we headed back to the hotel.

We had come up with a game plan that you will find as we go through this post.

We wanted to see some Civil War stuff.  First was the White House of the Confederacy.  After following Parker’s questionable map skills for awhile, we arrived.  It was closed.

We were off to a great start.

I knew the American Civil War Museum opened at 9am, so we headed there.  This place was great.  We learned a lot.  There were actually to places: a Civil War Museum encompassing the whole of the Civil War and an old iron factory (Tredegar) where they made the Confederacy’s cannons. The latter was actually a National Park. This was cool.  I have been to National Parks before, but I didn’t know about the passport program. This is where you go to National Parks and collect cancellation stamps, etc.  I bought four of them for the family.  When the park’s ranger(?) asked if I wanted them all stamped, I said, “No. Just two of them. The others aren’t here.”

They also had something for kids where they got a free booklet that led them through the exhibits by doing different activities.  Parker ripped through those and earned himself a badge for his efforts. After this was over, we had to get to our next activity.

Before leaving Kansas City, I had checked all of the soccer schedules for various teams and leagues to see what I was going to be able to watch and what I had to try to record. With Parker’s and my defection from King’s Dominion, we were going to  be able to watch the US Women’s National Team play in the Women’s World Cup Final. Before, when the US Men played in KC, I had joined the American Outlaws, a US Soccer supporters group.  I used my connections there and got on Twitter to contact the chapter in Richmond and arranged to join their watch party at Gus’.

This was fun and at times fairly wild.

Even though the women lost in penalty kicks, we had a great time eating, celebrating, bemoaning, and generally having fun. There were points in the celebrating that people were throwing water (I was worried for a bit that I was going to bring Parker back smelling like beer). The end result of our time at Gus’? A fantastic time with some really good people. If you are there, stop by and catch a game or just meet them.

After their heart-breaking loss, we headed out from the bar. I had a charging cord for my iPhone that was breaking, so I found an Apple Store and got a new one and Parker got a new case for his iPod Touch.  We headed back to our hotel to chill after filling up the Cosgroves’ car. We were driving that so they could use the van since they had 6 people.

Shortly after getting back, we started thinking about dinner and ended up ordering pizza since the others had quit the park early.  I would tell you about their day, but I don’t know about it.  Rides, I guess.  Dinner, showers for the kids, beer, tv, and bed were what was left for the day.

This post was longer, but more had happened.  If any of them feel like contributing their activities I may update.

***************************************************************************************

Our trip is consisting of Cincinnati, Ricmond, VA, & Virginia Beach.  After a restless night, Lani & I decided to just get up and leave.  We woke the kids up, finished packing the van, and headed out at about 3:30am.  It usually takes about 10 hours to get to Cincinnati, and that’s with stops.  This time, it took just a little over 11 hours.  We were tired and traded drivers just a little more often than normal.

We arrived at Lani’s sister’s house in time for dinner.  The kids got to play with their cousins for the rest of the day and the next.  The others packed on Friday, and we headed out for Richmond on Saturday at about 6:30am.

Self-sufficient McDonalds

It was a two car caravan:  their Camry and our Sienna.  We traded drivers fairly often.  More people (especially little kids) more stops to pee are needed.  No one took me up on the suggestion of using the bottles of Gatorade & water they keep chugging down.  I thought it would be fitting.

We arrived at Embassy Suites in Richmond pretty easily. Happy hour, dinner at a Dave’s BBQ that was next to the hotel, and then some tv was the plan for the rest of the evening.

We decided to save some money and put all eight of us in one room.  Not too difficult considering their rooms are pretty big.  Between that, my brother-in-law, Jim’s,  discount, and the pretty good free breakfast each morning, we came out pretty good.  They all like staying there for the free booze during happy hour if you’re a guest.

Not a long post, but I am going to try to keep them from just being one super long one and fairly cohesive.

A nice view on the drive.

Well, we’re unwillingly back to school today. We have the Festival Concert on Wednesday with both HS Bands, the MS Band, the HS choirs, & SWECC’s band. Friday is State Large Group Contest.

No rest.

I just wanted to post some final observations.  All of the posts from China will be updated during the week as I am able to post pictures here. My phone seemed unwilling to cooperate in that department while we were there.

Our Guides

Our guides, handlers, caretakers, and I think we all hope that after awhile, friends, were absolutely fantastic.

FANTASTIC!

Bus 1 (my bus) had Zhudan, who went by the “American” name of Jessica. Bus 2 (Martz’s) had Mr. Le and Chatty Kathy.

All were well-versed in the English language and used it to give us every tidbit of information about the history and culture of every place we visited.

Simply put, they were amazing.

Drinks/Beverages/Water

Water from the tap is a no-no there…including for them. Their filtration/treatment facilities have not kept pace with the waste being produced from increased manufacturing. This means bottled water at all times.

As for meals, you were given one tiny juice glass of beverage as well as hot tea. A refill would cost you 5 Yuan (about $0.75). I started taking my own drink into the restaurants.

Food

Good. Plentiful. Not much really strange except for the one night with the entire chicken (head, feet, and everything else) cooked and on a plate. Do I need to go to a Chinese restaurant anytime soon?

No. And I mean that sincerely.

Every meal was served on a “lazy susan”. Well, every meal except for breakfast, which was buffet style.

The food got better as we went along. The worst meal, and by that I mean the only one that was less than good in my opinion, was the lunch on the first day. It was a buffet of questionable quality. I believe I referred to it as their version of a Hometown Buffet. I don’t think I was too far off the mark with that.

Hotels

The hotels were of high quality, although everyone preferred the newly built Grand Noble in Xi’an of the SuperHouse International in Beijing. The basic consensus was to take the showers in Beijing and put them in the Grand Noble’s building and rooms.

I concur wholeheartedly.

Whatever the preference, they were great places to stay…well, mainly crash into unconsciousness. We were two to a room where we would normally be four. Wake up calls were already established, hotel workers were helpful, and the buffet breakfasts were good to great.

Buses/Traffic

Crazy. The buses were your typical charter style buses. We weren’t ever on them for more than an hour. Those hours were interesting, though. From the  information being fed to us by our guides to the time spent watching the buses, cars, scooters, and bikes navigate the streets of Beijing and Xi’an, we were never left for entertainment.

Again, posts will be updated with pics as the week goes along.  If I think of more, I will update each post. You will know by the [Updated: Date] at the beginning of the section.

Until next time…

It’s been a wild ride both figuratively (general travel issues) and literally (I can’t express the fear & adrenaline laced bus rides well enough).

7:18 pm 3/17/2011 CST – 8:18 pm 3/18/2011 local
Beijing Railway Station

We have arrived back in Beijing on time. I was pretty surprised considering we had to switch engines in the middle of the night.

Many are unhappy that we are not stopping at the hotel first to clean up. If we do, we wind up not fitting everything into the day. The guides are also in the same boat, so I don’t feel like complaining.

We head off to breakfast at a nearby hotel (not ours) and then depart for the Summer Palace.

9 pm 3/17/2011 CST – 10 am 3/18/2011 local
The Summer Palace

We have arrived at the Summer Palace. This place involves the same story about the Dragon Lady and the baby dumplings from the night before. It is quite beautiful.

Other highlights include:
• A persistent young boy trying to either sell postcards or pick everyone’s pockets (unsuccessfully). Either way he also enjoyed making fun of…

• …Malcolm, who got handed some non-Chinese money as change. Malcolm was obviously upset, but took it in stride. At least the money wasn’t that much.

• The world’s largest corridor

• Lunch

1 am CST – 2 pm Local
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City

Pictures. Keep walking. No stopping. More pictures. Keep walking. No stopping.

Thus were our instructions from our guide, Lee.

Ancient, beautiful, steeped in history (both good and bad), and more. The vastness of Tiananman Square with its modern, pervasive surveillance is in stark contrast to the colorful ornateness of the Forbidden City with it’s almost palpable sense of ghosts of the past, in spite of the hordes of tourists of various nationalities.

When I visit both modern and ancient places with a huge history, I tend to imagine the people that tread there before me. It can be overwhelming at times.

4:15 am CST – 5:15 pm local
Flying Acrobatics Show

Before dinner, we attended an acrobatics show. Flexibility, strength, and balance were all on display.

I hope my video turned out so I can post it here.

6 am CST – 7 pm local
Peking Roast Duck

Peking Duck is an old name. It is actually now called Beijing Duck. I don’t particularly care for duck, but this was delicious. The kids enjoyed it also, although I am sure yearnings for burgers and fries is becoming overwhelming.

From here, we left for the hotel…and showers. Sweet, blissful showers. Check-in bags down to the lobby by 10:30 pm and then to bed for the 3:30 am wake up call.

6:30 pm CST – 7:30 am local
Wake up calls

Every morning, Music Celebrations International makes sure every room gets a wake up call. From what I understand, it is just a call they don’t understand. I say “they” because I have never been in the room for one. I am usually up and about for at least an hour beforehand.

Anyway, it is nice not to have to do that ourselves.

Luggage had to be down and ready to go to the train (packed, locked, etc.) back to Beijing by 8 am with a 9 am departure by bus. Breakfast also had to be eaten by then at the hotel’s buffet.

8:30 pm CST 3/16/2011 – 9:30 am local 3/17/20
Terra-cotta Warriors & Horses Museum

Before we actually get to go see where the Terra-cotta soldiers were buried, we get to see how they make the replicas, both large and small. After seeing this, we have a chance to…wait for it…

…relieve us of our oh-so-heavy money.

11pm 3/16/2011 CST – 12 pm 3/17/2901 local
Lunch

A local place. I may be able to get a name off of a picture that I took. Again, better than the last with a couple of new dishes.

I will take a moment to note the use of chopsticks.

I can’t.

I have attempted to no avail. Others can. They make me mad with their air of superiority and little looks and smirks as others and myself make use of the forks provided. I wish I had a knife to whittle the and of one so I could simply stab the food and go all caveman on it…or use it on one of their hands when they smirk at me one…more…time.

Uh-oh. After that last comment I think I need a nap.

12:30 am CST – 1:30 pm local
Terra-cotta Warriors & Horses Museum

This is something I have been excited about ever since finding out we were headed to China. We get to see the real ones now.
*******************
These things are amazing. Simply the amount of work that went into making them over years and years is awe inspiring. I will post some pics here when I get home.

It is also a beautiful day today. Sunny and in the 60′s. Most aren’t wearing coats. I think Chris Jones may have taken a nap on a bench.

3:30 am CST – 4:30 pm local
Dumpling Feast

As we got to the restaurant I am reminded just how good our bus drivers are. They seem to fit into any space to park or to drive through. I bet I could put a dime on the ground and they could make the bus do tricks all while keeping one tire on the dime.

I keep asking, but they won’t let me drive. I also think that if the bus drivers had an uprising and started taking out pedestrians, China would no longer need the “one child policy”. Actually, if they did, I would be fearful. There are A LOT of buses here.

Anyway. The Dumpling Feast.

Delicious.

That’s all. I’m done.

Actually, no I’m not. It never seemed to end. Spicy pork, chicken & mushroom, pork & mushroom, and many other varieties and combinations kept being brought out in a veritable never-ending, gluttonous orgy of small delectable pieces that even I could properly pick up with chopsticks, culminating in a state of blissful fullness only tempered by the knowledge of having to endure another train ride this evening.

At the end of the meal we were given soup and a story about the Dragon Lady and baby dumplings. I won’t relate the whole story (ask your kids and see if they were paying attention), but 9 baby dumplings were placed in the roiling soup before being ladled into our bowls. If we received any number of dumplings other than 4, it meant some sort of good luck. While we have an unlucky number of 13, theirs is 4.

All told, a very enjoyable meal.

6:30 am CST – 7:30 pm local
Xi’an Railway Station

Another train ride. Once asleep, these aren’t bad since we have sleeper compartments. Until the sweet blissfulness of unconsciousness, though, they can be hot and cramped.

They were an interesting experience for a first time train ride for many of us. Not necessarily horrible, but definitely interesting.

More later.

6:45 pm CST – 7:45 am local
Arrival at Grand Noble Hotel

We arrived ahead of our checked bags and had breakfast at what most considered a superior buffet to our last hotel. I would say it edged it out a little by having syrup for the French toast and also having hashbrowns.

All told, everyone had a little over an hour to eat, take a shower, and get back down ready for the day. Apparently, this was not doable.

9 pm CST – 10 am local
Grand Noble Hotel

We had a couple of students who couldn’t be on time (20 minutes late) and many others who just didn’t bother to shower. This cut into our time at the Temple of Heaven. You know us: “On time is late.”

I guess this part should read 20 minutes later.

9:40 pm CST – 10:40 am local
Temple of Heaven

After a short drive, we arrived at the Temple of Heaven. This is a beautiful place & I wish whatever is keeping me from posting pics here would go away. After a very short lecture on the history of the place, we get chance to walk around and sight-see. As always, there are shops for us to spend more money. The kids can sure buy some stupid stuff. Some of you, though, are getting dome nice things.

Those kids probably just love their parents more.

We meet up at 11:30 am local time at a building here at the temple for a presentation on Chinese character writing (their language) and artwork. It is interesting and the kids in my group were attentive and respectful.

Where did these kids come from?

After this, came another opportunity to make room in their bags by removing some of that pesky money they keep carrying around. I can’t believe I was able to avoid doing so.

Side note: I have had to step in and remove a student from an annoying (not dangerous) situation where a vendor will follow them for blocks trying to get a sale. I find it quite amusing. I just look at them, say no, and walk.

They don’t follow.

11:15 pm 3/15/2011 CST – 12:15 pm 3/16/2011 local
(This is starting to hurt my head to figure out)
Noodle restaurant

This was a pretty cool place. If you so chose, you could stand in line for a cup of freshly made noodles with your choice of sauce. When I say freshly made, I mean you stood there as a guy kneaded, rolled, stretched, cut, & boiled them. Then a woman put them in a bowl with sauce and you got to shovel them into your face as fast as you could because they were so delicious. I, of course, did not eat them like that. I am much too dignified.

They also had a buffet. Some of the kids are starting to complain about eating so much Chinese food and keep asking why. My reply? “Because they just call it ‘food’.”

12:15 am CST – 1:15 pm local
Xi’an Conservatory of Music

Rehearsal time. It went about the same as Monday: a long time setting up and quick hits on the important parts. Then we left our instruments in their rehearsal room and went on our way.

2:30 am CST – 3:30 pm local
Xi’an City Wall

Xi’an was the original capital of China. It was for about six dynasties or so. Around the inner, older, original part of the city, there is a wall and a moat. You read that right, a moat.

We got to walk the wall a little bit, take some pictures, and basically just hang out. I was able to get some video of the crazy traffic here. I will post it when I am able to.

3:30 am CST – 4:30 pm local
Back to the hotel

Everyone had two hours to get changed for the concert, eat, and whatever else. What is amazing is they were able to handle it this time.

On time!

5:15 am CST – 6:15 pm local

Depart for concert.

6:30 am CST – 7:30 pm local
Concert at Xi’an Conservatory of Music

Oh what a concert.

At first, it started out as any other here, or at home. We showed up, played well, we were done. Except we apparently weren’t done. There seems to be a custom here that if they audience enjoys it, you play an encore.

They really enjoyed it. In fact, shortly after the concert started, it became standing room only. Not just late and too lazy to find a seat, but actual standing room.

Needless to say, we didn’t have any extra pieces ready. They ended up playing Hands Across the Sea again after Martz suggested Bravado (I really hope he was joking).

Even more applause that time around.

Mr. Butler and I got up thinking it was time to strike the stage since the audience was up and filing out as they were still clapping.

The applause got louder. Apparently, it was time for “Bieber” Butler and I to take our turn at an encore to again even more thunderous applause.

Finally the kids left to put away their instruments and the percussion was being struck. That left Butler, Martz, & I (in that order) to fend off the hordes of adoring fans desiring pictures and autographs with & from us.

Thankfully, the kids came down fairly soon and they were able to take most of the “papparazi” abuse.

*sigh* The life of a celebrity (in my own mind).

9 am CST – 10pm local
Hotel

We are back a little late simply due to our own awesomeness. (Pleas. No comments. That was TOTALLY tongue in cheek…sort of.) The kids had some down time at the hotel that was well deserved.

Me, too. I was also able to get the FaceTime to work between my phone & my son’s iPod Touch. No lag. That was pretty cool.

Wake up time. With their schedules off, this wasn’t really a problem. For me, either. I was up at 3:30ish and took a walk. It is going to be a cool one today. We are checking our bags in for transport to the train station this morning. We won’t be back to this hotel before Friday.

Breakfast had some excellent spring rolls instead of chicken nights today.

10 pm CST – 11 am local
The freaking Great Wall!!!

Legs. Are. Jelly. Wait. I will start at the beginning.

We had to take equipment up stairs we weren’t planning due to a parking lot being closed. The kids were troopers and Mr. Bill has those percussionists working like a well-oiled machine. Setting up was…problematic. Wow, I’m really good at understatement.

The wind. If I could slap it, I would. I will have to just use the next student to complain about it. They seem to think we can control it. Right. That’s why Martz’s score flew away.

Anyway. After the first 126 complaints & us trying to decide whether to move the performance or cancel it, the kids decided they wanted to play and say they did on the Great Wall. We played 2 pieces with all adults (and I mean all of us) in amongst the band holding the easily blown wire stands and music.

A lot of laughing during that gig. At least it’s over.

10:20 pm CST – 11:30 local
The Really, Really tall Great Wall

Butler and I got a head start in the wall. We needed it. He’s next to wheezing & I am looking for a defibulator for him just in case. I ache and am slightly nauseous. We are at the first tower. I see our kids: Andy R., Addison, Gilberto, Malcolm lying on the edge waiting to fall off, Chevy taking them two at a time,….

I beat them there, but I wave goodbye to them as they move on and I sit here wondering how fast I will roll back down. After having climbed Diamond head on Oahu about 5 years ago, I know that going down is harder for balance and leg control.
………….

Back down to the shops. I have not been able to find soccer jerseys for the family like I wanted. In fact, everyone here laugh’s about their Men’s Team just like the rest of the world does. So…I have given up. I have gotten my son & wife gifts from here.

Time to herd the cats for lunch. No exaggeration about that.

12:am CST – 1 pm local
Restaurant & Jade factory

Forks! Yes! Diet is officially over.

The food here is much better. The kids enjoyed it more and many ordered seconds. On a side note, all of the lunches and dinners are served family-style with everything on a lazy Susan in the middle of the table.

After lunch, we went into the adjoining jade factory and shop. All about the selling us stuff. Still, very interesting and the kids were happy to have real toilets here. There’s a lot of waiting “to go” going on.

The things they do to carve are unreal. Carving balls within balls with balls. All without removing anything.

I hope all of you & my daughter like jade. Just sayin’.

2:30 am CST – 3:30 pm local
Buses

We have pictures of the Water Cube from the 2008 Olympics. We will get the Bird’s Nest on Friday.

After that 5 minute picture stop, we did something not on the itinerary: a silk shop demonstration and money relieving opportunity. We were shown how silk is harvested and made into various items. There was then a place to buy items made of silk. Many of the students had wished they had waited to buy gifts.

Me, too. I am having to avoid just buying for myself now. I think that nighty would look good on me. Wait, I meant that tie. Yes, that tie, definitely.

4:15 am CST – 5:15 pm local
Restaurant

Food here is excellent again. Some different dishes. Some are the same. I will mention that the drinking glasses here are small. Smaller than our juice glasses. At home I like to use 32oz glasses. I need to remember to bring my water in with me.

6:00 am CST – 7:00 pm local
Beijing Railway Station

Huddled masses?

Wow. Very crowded here. This is honestly what I always pictured Ellis Island to look like during its time of operation.

We get sleeper cars! Whew. It’s going to be almost 12 hours on this thing so that will be good.

Hey! That’s my bed!

Good ni….zzzzz.

The breakfast is great. My kids would love it. Chicken nuggets for breakfast!

6:45 pm CST – 7:45 am local
Superhouse International Hotel

I have taken to the hotel lobby as my base of operations. Many are just getting moving due to our late arrival and later start time for the day. I just want to make sure we don’t have any “world explorers” that I am not aware of.

I have exchanged some currency so I can now tell everyone what to do. We also have to have everything for our concert since well not he getting back to our hotel beforehand.

7:45 pm CST – 8:45 am local
Same

We have discovered cheap bottled water at a little shop next door. A liter for 5 RNBs (Yuan). with the exchange rate at 6.5 for 1 US Dollar, this is a good deal. I think we have now bought them out.

8:30 pm CST – 9:30 am local

We are now all here and are loading the bu…WAIT!!! We weren’t all here! I mentioned yesterday that we had a “problem” and that it had been “resolved”. Well, it hadn’t been resolved favorably. A student (that for privacy purposes we shall call “Andrea”) had lost “her” passport before going throughout customs. After much cajoling, begging, dealing, and more begging, “Andrea” was refused admittance to the country after American Airlines said they searched the plane for it to no avail. “Andrea’s” parents are on the trip with us and were also powerless to stop this. In fact, they were even refused the opportunity to stay with their child to go back with “her”.

After an evening spent contacting others, and after “Andrea” was already on a US-bound plane, AND after much more than my thumbs will willingly type here, “Andrea’s” passport was found. “Her” dad got his child through customs, and through our hotel doors just in time to load the bus at 10 am.

Problem resolved differently…better, if you will.

9:45 pm CST – 10:45 am local
Temple of Heaven

I am just going to describe this with one picture:

Not much more can be said without making this an entire treatise on its history. I will probably update this when I can use all of my fingers to type.

I will say it was awe-inspiring and everyone, kids and adults alike, were duly impressed.

11:30 pm 3/13/2011 CST – 12:30 pm 3/14/2011 local
(that took some thinking)
Beijing, China

We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant. It was…interesting. It was not a fancy, gourmet restaurant. I would equate it to a Hometown Buffet in KC except with a different “hometown”. Most everything adequate, with some things better than others while, again, some were more interesting.

Most of the kids were adventurous with their choice of cuisine. I am not sure if anyone decided to try the intestines. I did not.

1 am 3/14 CST – 2 pm local
Hutong, Beijing, China

We took a rickshaw (bicycle with rear passenger cart) tour through an older location of Beijing. Again, more will be added once full hand faculties key be utilized. Suffice it to say, older, more set-in-their-ways people populate this area.

The students enjoyed the tour and the ride. Mr. Butler’s and my driver did not. He got a larger tip for carrying the two of us.

2:45 am CST – 3:45 pm local
Music School of Central Conservatory

We had a rehearsal in the concert hall we will be performing in. We were late getting there & then it took awhile to set up, so we went long, also.

There are definite rough spots. I know some of the kids haven’t slept since the plane (on which most of them slept most of the time).

4:45 am CST – 5:45 pm local.
Local restaurant

We had dinner with the school group we will be sharing our concert with. The took issue with their giggling an hesitancy with talking with them. They don’t understand that those are their defense mechanisms for their shyness. They really need to start listening to our guides more.

We mixed groups at each table. The directors ate together. I sat next to their flute teacher, who also seems to he their assistant director. He is an older gentleman. The director is a woman who I would guess to be in her mid 40′s. We had to have my bus’s guide interpret during the meal since the adults did not speak English.

Dinner was definitely better than lunch. No forks were available at all.

I guess I am on a diet now.

6:30 am CST – 7:30 pm local
Conservatory

Concert time.

Their group is clean, balanced, in tune, and technically proficient. Their musicality is above average. I think they tried to play some music they did not connect with and other pieces they did. Don’t get me wrong, all of it was very good. Some just didn’t have the all of the emotion the others did.

Our group was just over half of the size of theirs, but about twice the intensity. Some of this, of course, is music selection. Either way, your children overcame sleep deprivation and brought it. There are, of course, instances the children will complain about, but you know them. Never happy.

The concert hall was different than ours. It was very live with stone and wood being the primary building materials. It was like ours in one aspect: It hasn’t been fully maintained.

Back to the hotel to crash.

Good night.