The last week has been such a blur, the days are so full, yet things seem to fly to because we are so busy! We did three concerts S
unday, Monday, Tuesday were rehearsal and then driving to Des Moines, wednesday we got up at 3:45, went to the airport, where the adventure began. I tell ya, trucking 26 kids around the airport is crazy! First, we had to get thier bags checked, so the guy called each person individually. The first girl went up, and someone said, oh go ahead and put it on the scale, so she sat down, complete with her bag on on the scale... because the kids are all dressed alike and are in such a huge group, everyone would stop and look, make thier comment either something like "oh, you've got your hands full," or mumble, "man, bad timing to get in line." However, most people love the kids. We took several trips to the bathroom, ordered 32 sandwiches from Quiznos, got the kids through security, and on to one plane, and then another! Phew, and although we had already been working for 9 hours, it was only noon when we got to Philli so the day had just begun! Naps for the kids, work for the adults followed. And then dinner at the park, another glorious KFC and a ride on the carasoul, and park:)
Concert Day: In the morning, we took them over for a rehearsal at the constitution center, where a lot of VIP offical looking people were everywhere, looking stressed, giving way too much of thier own opinions, so us chaperones just sorta sat back and watched... I kept laughing at them because one lady was very concerned the boys were going to kick the drums off the stage. What people often forget is that these kids know what they are doing:) and we know what we are doing, yet it seems at every place we go, there's a whole set of people with thier own agenda, and at this thing, it was that times a million:) also, i learned quickly the huge power of my little plastic tag that i wear as a necklace. It says choir
unday, Monday, Tuesday were rehearsal and then driving to Des Moines, wednesday we got up at 3:45, went to the airport, where the adventure began. I tell ya, trucking 26 kids around the airport is crazy! First, we had to get thier bags checked, so the guy called each person individually. The first girl went up, and someone said, oh go ahead and put it on the scale, so she sat down, complete with her bag on on the scale... because the kids are all dressed alike and are in such a huge group, everyone would stop and look, make thier comment either something like "oh, you've got your hands full," or mumble, "man, bad timing to get in line." However, most people love the kids. We took several trips to the bathroom, ordered 32 sandwiches from Quiznos, got the kids through security, and on to one plane, and then another! Phew, and although we had already been working for 9 hours, it was only noon when we got to Philli so the day had just begun! Naps for the kids, work for the adults followed. And then dinner at the park, another glorious KFC and a ride on the carasoul, and park:)Concert Day: In the morning, we took them over for a rehearsal at the constitution center, where a lot of VIP offical looking people were everywhere, looking stressed, giving way too much of thier own opinions, so us chaperones just sorta sat back and watched... I kept laughing at them because one lady was very concerned the boys were going to kick the drums off the stage. What people often forget is that these kids know what they are doing:) and we know what we are doing, yet it seems at every place we go, there's a whole set of people with thier own agenda, and at this thing, it was that times a million:) also, i learned quickly the huge power of my little plastic tag that i wear as a necklace. It says choir
chaperone, has my picture, and my name... woo:) but... When i walked in, they looked at that, and didn't even question me. It was wierd, all that day and the next, i felt like a little girl playing dressup who was pretending to be official. However, that little tag gave me lots of power, it was funny. After the rehearsal, we went to see the liberty bell, where several nosy Asians ran up and kept getting in our pictures, and wanting a picture with "that one." referring to one of my kids... i tell you the next time someone calls my girls boys, or asks me if thier triplets, i'm gonna take him out:)
Then home for naps for the kids, and ironing 26 uniforms and our own uniforms for the adults! Next was dinner, which was supposed to be left over sandwiches, but our boss wouldn't stand for it, and politelty asked for hamburgers... then we got the kids ready for thier performance! it was quite exciting, although i must say the first part of the event was so cheesy, some dumb guy read a corny poem, they even sang parts, and kids are much cuter singing then adults are. we waited anxiously for our turn to help the kids on stage, watching on the TV screen as Bono and George Bush Sr. talked. (none of us knew until the day before that it was in fact, George Bush Senior and not the current president) then, they let us out, and i got to see Bono, and hear him speak. I also could see Bush, and he smiled a few times at the kids. The kids definitly were the star of the show:) no biases and sang well. they sang one african piece, with drums, and this little light of mine. it was neat because bush and bono were both singing along:) Bono really likes the African Children's Choir. After thier performance which was a huge success, we rushed out, and i saw Bono, and was about 10 ft from him! :) he didn't end up hugging the kids, but it was still really cool! Afterwards people wanted to talk to the kids, congragulate them, and all we wanted to do was get them home to bed, we were all tired.. (at least the adults:) but it was really fun!
Then home for naps for the kids, and ironing 26 uniforms and our own uniforms for the adults! Next was dinner, which was supposed to be left over sandwiches, but our boss wouldn't stand for it, and politelty asked for hamburgers... then we got the kids ready for thier performance! it was quite exciting, although i must say the first part of the event was so cheesy, some dumb guy read a corny poem, they even sang parts, and kids are much cuter singing then adults are. we waited anxiously for our turn to help the kids on stage, watching on the TV screen as Bono and George Bush Sr. talked. (none of us knew until the day before that it was in fact, George Bush Senior and not the current president) then, they let us out, and i got to see Bono, and hear him speak. I also could see Bush, and he smiled a few times at the kids. The kids definitly were the star of the show:) no biases and sang well. they sang one african piece, with drums, and this little light of mine. it was neat because bush and bono were both singing along:) Bono really likes the African Children's Choir. After thier performance which was a huge success, we rushed out, and i saw Bono, and was about 10 ft from him! :) he didn't end up hugging the kids, but it was still really cool! Afterwards people wanted to talk to the kids, congragulate them, and all we wanted to do was get them home to bed, we were all tired.. (at least the adults:) but it was really fun!
you all should watch, because it's going to be really sweet! It will be Thursday Sept.27, at 7pmEST (4pm pacific time) onWPVI tv 6abc and webcast 6abc.
sk!:) For example, today, we had hot dogs for lunch with the kids, and it was funny because one of the other chaperones told the kids at breakfast we were eating hot dogs, and they all started yelling ewwww! (hehe, they eat dogs in Kenya) so they were expecting hot dogs for lunch, and we didn't tell them:) so at lunch, i had to convince about 10 kids that the meat was actually beef and not dog:) it was fun! because these kids are experiencing so many new things, they say the funniest things! we make them clean thier plates, and poor kids, one had to eat about 3 pieces of onion, and broccoli, two foods which i refure to ever eat! oops, i just don't tell them that:) showering the kids is always a task, this is the first time they've ever taken showers.... by the time my shower duty night was over, there was about a foot of water on the floor, random girls clothes lying everywhere, and one sobbing 7 year old, who "couldn't find her panties or her shirt) and was terrified she was going to get in trouble for it! (i took her around, and in about 5 minutes, we found said missing items, but it was still a bit of a drama for her!)
