Erie, Colorado

Erie, Colorado

February 25th- March 4th

Theme of the week: Civility

Brian, DeAnne, Arie, Braden, Brody

2 Full Shows, 2 School Shows, 1 Gala, 1 Acoustic Promo

Quinn (Bermuda)

2-25-19 Monday
Today we had to say goodbye to Rob and Dee Dee in the morning, and it was really sad because they were a great host family. I sat next to Tylene on the bus because it was her last day with the cast before she left for her PRI. When we arrived in Erie, the children at the school waited outside with signs because they were so excited! Then I spent the day looming hats for cancer patients with a big group. It was a lot of fun finishing a hat and knowing that it was going to someone who really appreciated it. Then the host families came for a civility workshop, and DeAnne and Arie picked us up. They are a family of 5, two boys and one girl all under 15 years old. I am really excited to be hosted with Quinn and get an opportunity to know her. We stayed up pretty late talking and watching Netflix. It looks like it is going to be another great week.

2-26-19 Tuesday
Today was my first experience doing a world dance class... I was really angry that this was my sign out because I have made it pretty clear that I don't want to dance at all. But Momo, Nasya, and Angelis want to "push me out of my comfort zone" as if I haven't been outside of my comfort zone by joining the band. Despite my negativity towards the activity, I managed to have a good day. Momo, Angelis, Leo and I all did workshops in classrooms. We all went to camp and spent the day teaching songs that only campers know. It was nice to reminisce on those times and bring it back for a day. We also did a WAMWAO workshop where singing was involved. I enjoyed doing that and then I played the music for the world dance class. It ended up being a really great day. It got me really excited to be staff at camp, hopefully. The second semesters had a check in and we took a personality test. Then we had some quality time over dinner with my host family!

2-27-19 Wednesday

First show day in Erie!! In all my performances in Up with People, this show venue is by far the smallest. The band platforms took up about one third of the entire set. It was in a gym, but the stage was elevated in the side of the wall. It was fun for the band though because we were more visible, but the cast had a hard time coming on and off. For my assistantship of hospitality, I have to attend the VIP and Alumni receptions. I met the sponsors daughter who went to camp last summer, and I could potentially be her counselor this summer! During the show, the cast/soloists/dance lines were making really big mistakes one after another, and we got called out at intermission. Other than that, it was a pretty good show, and it was completely sold out! We didn't have to strike because we have three shows tomorrow. It's gonna be an exhausting week. 

2-28-19 Thursday

Three shows in one day... Phewww! It's quiet the test of stamina and strength. Our main female vocalist is out with strep and Leah pulled me to sing her songs. I soon realized in the morning that my voice was not back to its full capability to sing Does it Really Matter. I got really worked up and convinced myself that I had vocal nodules. I called my mom and she made an appointment for me to see an ENT doctor to check it out. I was really disappointed in myself because I finally got the opportunity to sing hard songs in the show, and I couldn't perform well at all. In the morning we had two full houses filled with elementary students. We put on a 60 minute rundown for them, and they were so excited when songs like "What does the Fox Say," or "YMCA" played. Then we had an actual show at night. Jodi, Peter, Ken, and Marissa all came to surprise us one last time. Scott and his family were also there in the audience. I am loving being on hospitality because I get to seat reserved spots and VIP's. I meet people before the show, and wink at them while I'm playing piano during the show. Then I see them after the show and they are all excited. At the Alumni reception, there were so many people that I knew and I could just hang out with them instead of strike. By the end of the day, just sitting down was the best feeling in the world. It was a 16 hour day full of 6 run-throughs. I am just completely exhausted.

3-1-19 Friday

Today Rilee took me into the ENT doctor. If all this vocal struggling was for a reason, it was opportunity for Rilee and I to finally get to know each other minus all of our differences. I am really glad that I got hear a little bit about her life story while driving to the doctor. I was so terrified that I had nodes, and that it would totally change my future. After the camera scope through my nose, I found out that I have healthy vocal chords. However, I have a bacterial infection from the cold I had two weeks ago. I was so relieved to know that what I had been struggling with can be fixed. The acoustic group had an EXTREMELY important performance at the majors house at night. It was Angelis, Leah, Brody, Juliette, Spencer, Carson, Evelyn, Affe, and Josh. A really solid group of singers got to perform for over 60 Up with People board members, donors, alumni, and VIPs. We sang "Here and Now" and the new "Unplugged Medley" that had all the timeless UWP songs. This house was an absolutely mansion and we all felt really boujee. We mingled with the massive group of important people for an hour, got dinner, and performed for them. It was a really great night with some of my favorite people. On the way home, we had to help the set-up crew for Gala. It was really late at night, and a few staff members were downtown Denver in the facility for the fundraiser. This venue is gorgeous, and I can't wait to perform!! Then on the way home from that, Wouty took us to the "Pre-Gala Alumni Party." There was so many people at this house, and we just got to eat food and socialize all night. Finally he dropped everyone off at home, and I was the last one to get home. It was really late, and my host brother had to let me into the house. It was a wild night, and I am even more exhausted than last night. 

 

3-2-19 Saturday
It's Gala Day!!!! Bright and early in the morning, we hopped on a shuttle to downtown Denver. Our show venue for the fundraiser was a gorgeous ballroom. We rehearsed all day long and prepared for our very import guests. I played the piano for "Roads," then sang "Save the Dancer." All of the previous dance captains of UWP came together to perform an incredible dance, while members of the acoustic group sang beautiful harmonies. I felt honored to perform that song with such high caliber performers surrounding me. Then we performed the unplugged medley and I got to do the Hope moment of Shine the Light. The cast got a really good dinner provided by the hotel. There was a silent auction where people were donating serious amounts of money to UWP. The cast was backstage screaming because of how much the organization was getting. Then we performed a short rundown of our show for this audience. They went crazy for every song, and it made our performance even better. After the show, I worked really hard on strike. I am really getting into the tech world of Up with People and realizing how much I like it. People were asking me what to do and I started delegating different tasks. Joining the band was really a great decision for me at this point in my life. We finally got home around 1 in the morning. After 5 shows this week, I am veryyyyyy tired.

3-3-19 Sunday
Host Family Day!! Quinn and I got to sleep in today. Braden just got his driving permit and he drove us to Starbucks and back in his new car. Then the whole family took us to the outlet malls in Westminster. We looked through many stores, and I bought a new number 2 shirt and a sweatshirt. Then we went to target and I got some medicine. The weather was really gloomy and cold, so we just got cozy and watched a movie. It was really needed and appreciated. Then we went out to eat sushi for dinner with the host family from across the street.

Off to Grand Junction!

Greeley, Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

February 18th- February 25th

Theme of the week: Health and Wellness

Dee Dee, Rob, and Sadie
1 Full Show, 2 Acoustic Promos

Pleun (The Netherlands)

2-18-19 Monday

First travel day of the semester!!!! I had to say goodbye to Jodi and Peter early in the morning. We stopped at Starbucks before host drop off. We also had so say goodbye to Ezrah. I sat next to V on the bus and we wrote letters to each other. We arrived at the boys and girls club an hour later. The acoustic promo group is had 6 performances at many different restaurants around the town. It is completely different than last semester. The song arrangements are different and there is no more baby shark. The new people are great though and I can't wait to create even more memories. Then our new host family picked us up! I am hosted with Pleun again!!!! YAY!!! This week is going to be exceptional because the host family is so nice and there house is gorgeous. We each have our own room, and there is a movie theater room! We are living in paradise this week all thanks to Hidde!

 

2-19-19 Tuesday

Today was another acoustic promo day. In the morning, Angelis, Leah and I created a Disney Medley that we can perform for kids throughout the semester. Then we ate lunch at the Cattleman's Steak House where we interacted with members from the Optimist Club. It was crazy similar to the Jr. Optimist Club that I participated in during high school. They were amazed that I was, and they asked me to lead the group in the creed reciting! It was pretty cool and made me appreciate doing clubs in school. Then we performed for the committee and ate lunch with them. They were very excited about our community involvement, our mission, and our show. Then we wen't to the show venue and started setting up our stage for the show. I helped Alicen set up the alumni tables and front lobby. When Rob picked us up, he showed us his Red Wing Shoe store and his personal warehouse. He has two motorcycles, a jeep, an old fashioned car, two go carts, and a safe full of guns. We went home and had cauliflower pizza!

2-20-19 Wednesday
First Show Day on the Road!! We had a very long set up because many first semesters weren't accustom to the process. Alicen and the hospitality assistants went to the grocery store to buy snacks for the alumni reception. We had a four hour rehearsal as well to run every song a couple of times. The stage was elevated and the whole platform moved side to side when the cast danced. Liam and both experienced "catching the keys." The stage was so wobbly that the piano moved as well and we had to wobble with it to play the right chords. It was Josh's last show in Up with People, and I was so glad that I got to be a part of that in the band with him this semester. After the show, I helped host the alumni reception. It was so fun to mingle with people who traveled to hear their stories and watch them have little reunions. I got to chat with Dale Penny, the CEO of UWP, again. The hospitality assistantship is very unique and rewarding because there are only three cast members invited to the reception. After the show, we interacted with Rob, Dee Dee, their son, and his wife! They loved the show and were extremely supportive. Rob picked us up and got us some food after. He is the most considerate, selfless person I have ever met. We got lucky this week.

2-22-19 Friday
Today I did my first WAMWAO workshop and it was one of my favorite elementary school experiences. I facilitated four classrooms of all different ages. We taught them about countries around the world and the differences between people. When we sang "We are many, We are one," I teared up because all the little kids were holding hands singing so innocently. It was a very special moment in the classroom. All the kids were respectful, attentive, and participating in all activities. It made me consider teaching this age. Then we went to the boys and girls club and had a small performance for the kids in rough home life situations. While I was at the school, the rest of the cast was painting awesome murals all over the city. Rob and Dee Dee took us to a Mexican restaurant for dinner!

2-23-19 Saturday
Today I volunteered at a homeless shelter called Hope Miracle. A group of us spent the entire day deep cleaning the cots, pantries, floors, walls, bathrooms, toys, carpets, and the kitchen. It was a nasty job, but it was really rewarding because we made such a difference in that house. Then the cast got to tour the Colorado Railroad Museum. It was a miniature model of a train route. This museum was a big version of Bob's basement from staging last semester! Rob and Dee Dee picked us up and then drove us up to Estes Park. We had a fantastic salmon dinner right on the river in the mountains. Then they gave Pleun and I matching necklaces so we can always remember our time here. I got so lucky with this host family, and it's going to be really hard to leave.

 

2-24-19 Sunday
Mom's 50th Birthday!! Today the Herr clan took us up to Breckinridge to visit the ice castles. It was about a two hour drive up there with views of beautiful mountains. Pleun and I were both exhausted so we feel asleep on the ride up. Then we walked into the formation of ice where we saw ice slides, waterfalls, icicles, and tunnels. We took lots of pictures and had a really great time feeling like Elsa from Frozen. Then we went to lunch with Tyler, Amber, Claire, Dee Dee, and Rob. I feel so comfortable with this family and it was really great to be with them for the first city on the road. Then we headed back down the mountain and it took us almost 5 hours because of the traffic. We also stopped for ice cream at the world famous Empire Colorado. Then we packed, ate dinner, and watched the Oscars.

Greeley ----> Erie