Week 18- Northern Ireland

Monday, 28 Sept, 2009 7:13PM Portadown, N. Ireland

I finally have a chance to write here. I've been quite busy lately. Larne was good, nice to be together again. My day off went well, but was really quick.

Friday we went to Banbridge. It was a one night stay, I was really tired and went to sleep as soon as the girls were asleep.

Saturday was our 25th Anniversary at Stormont. It went really really well. Lots of people from the ACC were there, it was nice to see them all again, and meet some new people as well. Iona came to visit with her husband Colin. The girls were so happy to see them again.

We are now back in Portadown, but we are staying with hosts this time. It's a rare 4 night stay again. I am staying with Auntie Jenny and 6 girls. Siyamthanda, Phephile, Nomkhuleko, Nompie, Jabulile, and Pretty. These are them in their Sunday outfits. I love them. They love them too! It's really fun being with them. They are all making cards for various people right now. They have spent over an hour doing it, and are really enjoying it.

I have to get the girls in bed now and then work on my support letter, since I have some free time.

Week 17- Northern Ireland

Tuesday, 22 September, 2009 5:37PM Glengormley, N. Ireland

We arrived back at our hosts house half an hour ago. They are really nice to stay with, they have a son who toured, so they know what the ACC is all about and what hosting is all about, makes things quite easy and relaxing for me. It's also a 3 night stay which is nice.

Yesterday we went to 2 radio stations and were aired live, that was really neat for the kids. Most times only 2 or 3 get to go in, but at the second place they all got to, they let us watch, I forgot to bring in my camera to take pictures. We also performed at the Business in the Community office in Belfast. We did a concert for them when we were here in June. They raised over 2000 pounds for our choir so they presented us with a cheque and took pictures. It was the highlight of their day being able to see the kids. It was pouring rain yesterday :( Today is just cloudy and cool. I don't know if the sun is gone for a while, I'm hoping not.

Today was a school day. The kids just started learning division and they are picking it up so quickly, we were all shocked they grasped it in about 2 lessons. We taught syllables today which they also understood really quickly. They are like little sponges soaking everything up. I really enjoy school for that reason. It's much easier to teach children/people who want to learn rather than someone who is being forced to do it.

Time to eat, be back later!

We are going back to Larne tomorrow for 2 nights. Our concert got cancelled, not sure why, but that means it won't be a late night for the kids, so that's good.

I'm going to do some reading, take a shower and get some sleep :)

P.S. I love my dark brown hair!

Thursday, 24 September, 2009 12:17PM Larne, N. Ireland

Hey everyone!

I'm in a cafe in Larne, we are staying all together again, but we don't have Internet where we are staying so Jenny and I decided to just bring our laptops into town instead of taking them all the way to Belfast, we are going there in a few minutes, so I'm typing quickly.

Because we are all together we don't have to be back until 8PM, which is really nice. We are planning on going to a movie and out to eat. It's an hour train ride, so we have to time everything properly, the train only comes once every hour, so we don't want to miss it.

It's another lovely day, I'm so grateful. It's rained maybe 3 times in the last 2 weeks.

I meant to say the other day the kids got to play with a parachute for the first time. I took a few photos and put them on facebook. I need to put the links on here again. It just takes a lot of time. Hopefully the next time I get wireless in a host family I can do it, I have some good ones.

I had a dream last night that I told everyone I was going to Vancouver for my day off, then one of the Chaperones told me "Do you realize where you are??? You are in the UK. You'd have to fly there, and you don't have enough time." I was quite sad. In the dream, I did the same thing the next week, and the same thing happened. I guess I forgot where I was... It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while I forget I'm on the other side of the world. I know I'm not in my own bed, but I don't always know I'm so far away.

I better get going, so we don't miss the train!

Week 16- Northern Ireland

17 September, 2009 10:43 AM Bangor, N. Ireland

Hey! So it’s my day off and I’m at the church multi purpose building trying to get caught up with this blog and my support letter. I was originally going to go to Belfast but there isn’t anything I need there that I can’t get here in Bangor. I was going to go to a coffee shop and use the Internet but they have it here, I’m in my own little room listening to my music, it’s perfect. I’m trying to save money by not buying things I don’t need. So if I’m not in a place where I can buy things, there isn’t temptation. Makes it much easier.

Aww, the children are rehearsing in the room next to me, and I can faintly hear them singing songs from the Lion King, it’s really cute, they really like that movie.

Last week we were in Armagh for a special event with the Tenors and Divas Icognito put on by the City Council, it was an outdoor event, and about 1500 people showed up. It was awesome! One of the “Divas” knows someone who works for the Lion King show in London and has offered to pay for us to see the show there. She also said she will try and see if the kids can go backstage, they will be so excited! I’m not sure when it will be, and nothing is confirmed, but they are working on it, so it’s looking good. She also offered to pay for the chaperones to see a show as well, we haven’t yet decided which one. I think we are going to like London a lot, if we get a chance to go there.

Our final chaperone Evah has joined us! She met us when we arrived in N. Ireland, we left it as a surprise for the kids. Let’s just say there was a lot of screaming, running, dancing and jumping going on. She knows all the children because she is from South Africa and trained the children before they came to the UK.

The weather here has continued to be absolutely amazing. It’s not hot, but the sun has been shining everyday for over a week. I’m in awe.

In the past few weeks I have really been thinking about what I want to do when this tour ends. I really feel like I should join a North American tour if they are needing chaperones when I return home. It’s a very different tour, things are done differently, the people are different, and the children are Ugandan and Kenyan. I’ve really fallen in love with doing this. I’m making a difference in lives, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s far away to know what will happen....

I have thought about staying in Scotland for a week after the tour, and spend time enjoying the country and visiting some of my past hosts. I’m already here, so it’s a lot cheaper than flying back over another time. Which I still may do, but I’d rather go to a place I haven’t been like Africa or Australia. Which leads me into my next subject...

We may or may not go to Australia on this tour, I may have shared that with some of you. Anyway, when I first heard there was a possibility of going there my heart stopped. It’s been in my top 5 places I want to go ever since I can remember. It was interesting because I started to tear up thinking about it. It may sound silly, it does even as I type it, but it would another dream come true to be able to go there.

Since then, when someone mentions Australia my stomach starts doing flip flops and tenses up and I get teary when I start to think about going there. They are tears of passion. That’s the best way I can describe it. I don’t know why it happens, but it does. It’s even happening now.

It’s a feeling that doesn’t happen often, but it has happened before. The first time I remember it happening was when I was about 11 and I saw the African Children’s Choir perform. I wanted to work with them so so badly. It was the passion thing. It never went away, it’s still there, even while I am with them. I really believe it’s a way God speaks to me.

So this Australia thing seems to be happening on a regular basis for me, and feels more intense each time. Thus, if we don’t go with the choir, I think it will be the place I travel when I have finished being a chaperone and saved enough money. Even before going to South Africa to visit the children, which is strange to me, but I really believe it’s where I need to go next. I don’t know why, but I’m sure I will find out when I am there. It’s so exciting to think about.

I feel so much better having shared that with you all.

On our way to Bangor Uncle Paul took us the coastal route, which I didn’t think would happen so I didn’t take my travel sickness tablets. I’ve found the coastal routes really make me feel sick. I’m usually fine on road trips, I don’t know what it is. I got a different brand because the first one didn’t work at all, but I have to take it 2 hours prior to travel and it makes you extremely drowsy. I’ve only taken it once, but we didn’t take a coastal route, and I was sleeping every chance I had that day. It was really bad. I don’t really know what else to do. I’m just praying that we don’t have many trips like that. I will just have to ask Paul in advance I guess. Fortunately I haven’t actually gotten sick, but I really feel like I’m holding it all inside.

Other than that everything has been going really well. Tour has slowed down a lot, it’s really relaxing. It’s nice to have our special events though, it spices things up a bit!

We also performed at a mall in Ballymena, and will be going to perform at a church there on Friday, and also at a mall in Newry, we really go all over the country. It's great!

We are back in host families after being all together for a week. Sometimes it’s nice to have a change, although I like being together just as much as host families.

I need to go on a mission now to get the password for the Internet or I may end up at a cafe if I can’t find someone with it. I decided to type it all out first.

So it ends up they don’t have the password, so I paid for Internet online, there is an open network and it wasn’t very expensive. That way I don’t have to find a seat in a cafe. I will go for a walk to the post office in a bit.

19 September, 2009 4:58PM Belfast, N. Ireland

So it's a few minutes before dinner, and the church we are performing at has let us use their wireless, I'm so glad I got my work done and have some free time while the kids are resting before the show. It's sunny outside, but still cool. Lovely. It was raining this morning, I'm so glad it cleared up, even though I am inside. The sun makes me smile :)

We were just in Ballymena, where we performed at a church with an audience of 800, it was great! I love when there are lots of people. The kids seem to come up with extra energy too! Not sure where it comes from.

We are off to Glenglomerly tomorrow, who knows where that is? I sure don't. I couldn't find it on my map, but I will look it up.

Angee told us today we got invited to a hockey game on October 2nd! That's exciting, the kids will get to sing, and they are even handing out donation buckets. It's really sweet of them, they offered! It won't be anything like a Canucks game, I haven't heard the word hockey since I've been here. Football is where it's at apparently. Rugby is also quite popular.

Now that I have time, I don't know what to write, I wasn't expecting to be on here. I'm in the process of trying to load videos onto facebook, but even though they aren't long, it's still not loading quickly.

Well, the kiddos are up, so its time to go!

I can't believe it's Week 16, crazy stuff!

20 September, 2009 12:46 AM Host Family in Belfast

So I should be sleeping, and I'm going in a few minutes. I just have a great host family, and they have wifi too. It's a shame they are only a one night stay. They are so easy to talk to also. I almost always get good ones on the 1 night stays. I haven't really had a bad host family though, I feel very blessed about that. I should count how many families I've been with, It's been close to 40 I think. I heard by the end of tour it will be over 100. Maybe I counted wrong... I'd be interesting to know though....I think it's actually closer to 50. It's weird, I remember them all, some more than others, but I remember them.

I just wanted to mention the kids all got their new Sunday shoes today, which means their Sunday outfits are complete. They are adorable! Trust me, I won't forget to take photos. I'm so excited, but they are much more excited. Most of the girls haven't worn dresses since they have been here, except for performing. One of the boys said, all I need is a tie and I will look like a pastor! I wish I remember who it was...

My hot dog fundraiser is tomorrow at my church, I'm really excited. My brothers said it's been advertised well, and they are going to do me proud. I'm trying to take videos of the kids to send so they can show them to everyone back home.

Alright time for bed!

Week 15- Northern Ireland

7 September, 2009 10:00PM Portstewart, Northern Ireland

I can’t believe I’m back in Portstewart!

Anyway, update first. Glasgow was great. Very different from Edinburgh. I enjoy both, but in different ways. Edinburgh is nice to walk around and look at things, very touristy, but in a nice way. Glasgow is city life. Downtown Vancouver, all about the shopping. There are some nice places to look at, but it’s nothing like Edinburgh.

We took the ferry here, I was feeling a bit sea sick, so I napped most of the way over. We stayed together in Larne, and are now spending 3 nights in host families, and then we are going back to Larne for a week together.

We are back to our regular concerts, it’s nice. Things have seemed to calm down quite a bit, but we are still transitioning a bit. I’ve been spending my time with the children, working or sleeping. That’s my priority so it’s what I need to spend my time doing.

On Sunday we took a trip to The Giant’s Causeway which is on the North Coast, it’s a set of rocks which are shaped in pentagons/octagons etc. There is a story about it, but I don’t tell it well. Anyway, it’s fascinating to see, the children really enjoyed it. The bus ride there is along the coast, so it’s very very windy. I have never ever felt so sick. I was holding it in, and it wasn’t easy. The travel bands and medicine I bought didn’t do a thing. I’m going to have to buy some heavy duty stuff for the way back or I won’t make it.

I’m hoping to feel a bit more rested in the next few days by going to sleep as soon as I can so I have more energy.

It’s really nice to be back here, I missed the accent, it’s good that we are here for a while as well.

We are going back to Stormont Castle while we are here, as well as celebrating our 25th anniversary, so we will have a special show for that, I’m quite excited.

I’ve got more photos uploaded, just waiting for Internet :)

Week 14 - Scotland

Thursday, 3 September, 2009 12:30AM Giffnock, Scotland

So today was a really fun day. We went to the Glasgow Museum and also The Museum of Transport. It was really fun, we did it for a field trip for school. The kids really enjoyed all the animals and most everything at the transport museum. The boys kept asking where they would get to drive the car or train, I guess that’s what they were expecting to do. Regardless, they enjoyed themselves.

Tonight we had a concert in a theatre. It was quite different than a church, it was nice to have a big stage, and good seating for the people, our show was sold out! We have another one tomorrow night, at the same place, so hopefully it’ll be packed as well. A producer is coming to watch it, so that’s exciting. It always makes the children excited to perform when they seen all the seats filled.

Giffnock is about 15-20 minute train ride from Glasgow, tomorrow is my day off, so the others who are off are going to take the train in. There is a lot to do there. I really enjoyed it last time. It’s very very different from Edinburgh, even though it’s a city in Scotland, which there are not very many of.

Anyway, it’s late and I’m going to try to get some sleep.

Friday, 4 September, 2009 12 AM Giffnock, Scotland

It was nice to sleep in a bit on my day off, I enjoyed that. It rained all day, so I tried to stay inside if I could. We went into Glasgow and did a bit of shopping, I got a few things, and a new really cute jacket, everyone loves it. My other one had holes and was getting tired, so I decided it was time for a new one. We had a really nice lunch at a place called Zizzi's, and then went to Starbucks for a drink. Visited the Apple Store, looked around in some shops, and that's about it.

Dinner was chicken fajitas. They were great, I've had them 3 times on tour, I miss Mexican food a lot. Robin and Anna (my last hosts) made them for me as a special treat, it was wonderful.

The concert went really well the last 2 nights. Sorry I haven't talked about performances much, just because it's such a regular thing now, I don't always think about it. We performed at a theatre, which we haven't done yet, it was really nice. The stage was huge and both nights were sold out! It was awesome to see. We would probably sell out if we had a concert each night of the week here.

Yeah so it's been really nice to stay in Glasgow again. I enjoyed it, just not the rain.

We are up early tomorrow, to catch the ferry to Northern Ireland. We will be there for 6 weeks. Long time, I know. We are staying at a camp together for the first few nights, it'll be nice to do that again. Change is good sometimes.

I'll keep you updated on how things are going there. Take care all.