Today we had to say goodbye to Jodi and Peter in the morning, and hop onto an eight hour bus ride to Grand Island. The bus ride actually felt very short. We left around 9am, and arrived in NE around 5pm. We had two speakers on our bus, and the front was battling the back. Needless to say, it was extremely loud, and I didn't get much sleep. I kept moving around the bus so that I could get some quiet, but the people with the speakers moved by me just to annoy me. It was actually a really fun time, and we only stopped once to get some lunch. When we arrived at the railroad station in Grand Island, I found out that Lydia was my new roommate. It's a coincidence because she was my next door neighbor in Denver, and my ride in the morning. Our host family code was Frog Eye Salad, and Ida and David were waiting for us with their sign. They are an older couple, and they just had their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They have a son who is married and has three kids. They also have 5 cats which is awesome because I really miss coming home to a cat. Lucy is so much like Piper and it's amazing. They took us to Subway for dinner, and then took us home. Lydia and I have this huge room that we share, and I have a great feeling about this week. Ida is so sweet, and reminds me of my own grandma.
8-27-18 Monday
Today the cast all met at a church in Nebraska and had a relaxing day while preparing for the entire week. We had a mock media workshop where we worked on the do's and don'ts of an interview. We learned how to properly represent Up with People throughout our time at the state fair. Then I was signed out to vocals and we basically just hung out and played games, while other members of the cast went to the state fair to set up our stage. When we got home, Lydia and I walked two blocks over to the neighbors and hung out with some people who are hosted close to us. It was a relaxing day, and it was really needed.
8-28-18 Tuesday
We had a school show today, and a backing track show today at the state fair. Throughout this entire week we will have six BTS shows, one school show, and one actual show. It's a crazy week of performing, but we are impacting the community with every song we perform. On the road, we have more free time, so we were able to look around the fair, and get some food. I feel myself getting a little cold, but I need to hang in there because we have a busy schedule every day. Our first show today was about 40 minutes long, and the second was about 30 minutes. I am so tired.
8-29-18 Wednesday
I got to be the crew leader today in our community action for the fair. We spent 5 hours at the culture fair spreading information about our countries to senior citizens. It was a very long day, but we were able to impact our community, and get some young kids to apply for Up with People. I had to lead the debrief, do the paperwork, and write a thank you to the fair grounds. I was also in charge of the entire culture fair, and it was so fun to be in that leadership position. Then the entire cast had free time to explore the fair. We went on rides, bought some food, and watched some shows. Then we went out for Chinese food!
8-30-18 Thursday
I got signed out for Career Day where I got to shadow a show choir director. His name was David Sackschewsky, and he was a very decorated choral director. Evelyn, Leah, Daschel, Kyler, and I visited Northwest High School and observed the day in the life of a big shot choir director. This school put so much value into the arts over sports, and it was shocking to see popular football guys dominate the choir. They could sing, dance, and perform extremely well. I was also impressed with how Mr. Sack commanded the room, and how attentive each student was in every activity. They showed us a little bit of their set for competition in November, and I could not believe how sharp the choreography was. I got inspired to become a great choir director that influences kids in need. One of the biggest things he said was that teaching is a service and a place to positively affect students in the community. I could clearly see how much his kids respected him, and how much he impacted them. Then he bought all of us lunch. He is a kind, humble, and genuine person with a passion for music excellence, and I can't wait to do that for my career. We had the opportunity to talk with him, his accompanist, the administration, and the super intendant, and that just shows how important their music program was to the entire school. When we got back to the fair, we had a Hot Topic meeting where we discussed Human Trafficking and its relevance in the Nebraska State Fair. It was so surprising to me to hear that this happens in such a small town, and it made me aware of what was going on around me. Then the cast had three BTS shows today so I watched them, and had some free time around the fair. It was a really awesome day!
8-31-18 Friday
I spent the day at Salvation Army in the food pantry. It was my second CA being a crew leader, and it was a very positive experience. Cloe (From Switzerland), Yui (From Japan), Demi (From the Netherlands), Matteo (From France) and I all spent 6 hours volunteering there. We made lunch for the homeless, toured the men's shelter, and helped people in need shop for free groceries. I met some guy named Ronny who has had a really hard life... He was a drug and alcohol addict who lost his job, house, and family. Then he was in jail and decided to turn his life around. He is now a volunteer who gives so much love, joy, and positivity to those who have it even worse than he does. It was really inspiring to see how his story impacted others. When we got back to the church, we had some home-team time. Ida and David made us an awesome dinner tonight too.
9-1-18 Saturday
Its Show Day!! I was exhausted all day, and had absolutely no energy to set up the stage, rehearse for 5 hours, perform a two hour show, strike the stage, and get home at 12:30pm. But, that is Up with People life, and I just had to make the best of it. There was some tension within the group today with issues that were going on too. As soon as the show started in the Heartland Event Center, the energy of the crowd totally changed the energy of the cast, and we had a great show. We performed on the same stage as Kelly Clarkson. Ida and Dave came to see the show, and they were very impressed. They said they were "honored to have the lead singer celebrity" in their house. Haha!!! I just love performing this amazing show with such talented people who make a difference in the world. I feel so lucky to be a part of this organization.
9-2-18 Sunday
Today was a host family day, and I went to a lutheran church with Ida and Dave bright and early in the morning. Then we all went to the Stuhr Museum that was showcasing a lot of old buildings, Native American history, blacksmiths, and railroads. Their were about four other host families who had the same idea, and so we got to meet up with some friends from the cast. It was a beautiful museum and a great way to spend our last day with them. When we got home, we packed, ate dinner, and then got ready for our travel day! I loved this host family so much. They were so kind, and I am very grateful to stay with them.
