Hey everyone!
Today was our first full day in Rome. Complete with good food, lots of laughter, comraderie, and music, I can honestly say it was as close to perfect as possible. We began the day with a tours of the Colosseum and the Roman Forums. There is no better way to begin a tour than visiting the birthplace of modern civilization. It's a fact! It didn't seem possible that it was really happening. I can hardly believe that I have touched the Colosseum and stood where so many thousands of people gathered to satiate their desire for action. Movies and pictures only begin to express the grandness of this amphitheatre.
The next great moment came in St. Peter's Basilica. From the moment I stepped into the square, I knew this would be an defining moment. Stepping into the actual building was a feast for the eyes. We didn't have enough time to take in everything about the architecture, paintings, mosaics, and sculptures. Hopefully, tomorrow we will get the chance to experience it rather than observe it. Maybe then I will be able to convey my feelings about singing in what I consider the perfect tribute to grace. The day still hasn't sunk in and probably won't until we are on the plane home.
Well, there is a long line of bloggers waiting to tell of their experiences... I'll talk more some other time.
Love and peace,
Katie Hodge
Monday, March 16, 2009
Rachel Boyd
Today was very surreal... We vistied the Colesseum and the Vatican. Our tour guide was definitely energetic. She told us that they used to enact Naval Battles in the Colesseum. Apparently they used to fill it with water, and have people rouse up their patriotism by watching those re-enactments. It was interesting to me to find out that they didn't just have gladiator fights there. You know, people say they did all those things because they didn't have tv, but wow, I think that their entertainment was 10x better than tv. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention... We sang at the Colesseum! Everyone there came to the railings to look down on us and listen. It was such an experience, I can't even put it into words.
We also visited the Roman Forum, which was amazing. It's crazy to think that the things we were looking at were just ruins. I can even imagine how majestic that place looked in its prime. It was truly breath-taking. I know for me, I didn't even know what to think. Of course you want to appreciate what you're seeing, but it's so surreal that you can't even fathom the magnitude of what you're looking at. I don't think I even realized yet that I'm in a different country. Well, I guess I sort of have, but it's still hard to wrap your mind around.
Later in the day we walked into the Vatican. What a place! I didn't even take my camera since we were performing, but I was glad I didn't. It is definitely a place you need to visit more than once, just so the first time you can try to take everything in, and later take pictures and such. When you walk in it is overwhelming! You don't even know what to think, it's so solemn and everyone is in a state of reverence. Then suddenly you feel almost unworthy, but then you realize, that's not what it's about. Everyone is worthy... It's the point of Christianity. Then we sang. I didn't think it was going to be as great as it was. The best part for me was at the end of the mass, the little monk who was playing the organ gave us a little silent applause. That took the whole thing straight to heart for me. It was truly amazing. The first thing they asked was if we could come back next year!!!
Anyway, we have much more to come, so we will do our best to keep you up to date with our experiences.
We also visited the Roman Forum, which was amazing. It's crazy to think that the things we were looking at were just ruins. I can even imagine how majestic that place looked in its prime. It was truly breath-taking. I know for me, I didn't even know what to think. Of course you want to appreciate what you're seeing, but it's so surreal that you can't even fathom the magnitude of what you're looking at. I don't think I even realized yet that I'm in a different country. Well, I guess I sort of have, but it's still hard to wrap your mind around.
Later in the day we walked into the Vatican. What a place! I didn't even take my camera since we were performing, but I was glad I didn't. It is definitely a place you need to visit more than once, just so the first time you can try to take everything in, and later take pictures and such. When you walk in it is overwhelming! You don't even know what to think, it's so solemn and everyone is in a state of reverence. Then suddenly you feel almost unworthy, but then you realize, that's not what it's about. Everyone is worthy... It's the point of Christianity. Then we sang. I didn't think it was going to be as great as it was. The best part for me was at the end of the mass, the little monk who was playing the organ gave us a little silent applause. That took the whole thing straight to heart for me. It was truly amazing. The first thing they asked was if we could come back next year!!!
Anyway, we have much more to come, so we will do our best to keep you up to date with our experiences.
Lina A. Zamora
Good Morning from Rome! This is our first full day of our tour and we are very excited to be here. Last night we had a wonderful dinner at the hotel with traditional Italian food, which was delicious. We also had a rehearsal after dinner and I am glad to say that we are totally ready for our big performance today in St. Pater's Basillica. Its our big day and we have a long day ahead of us. We are going to tour ancient Rome and see all the rich history that the city of Rome has to offer. We are really excited and grateful to be here. Thanks for keeping up with us, Ciao!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Arriving in Rome
We have arrived, or at least half of the group has arrived. Since the Master Chorale is made up of about 60 students, we were not all able to get onto the same flights for the trip to Rome. Flight group "A" flew on Air France and left before flight group "B", who traveled to Rome via British Airways. Flight group "A", of which I am a part, arrived about 3:30pm (about 2 hours ago) Rome time to the hotel, and we are expecting the rest of our group to join us shortly. We are all going to enjoy a welcome dinner together here at the hotel tonight, followed by a short rehearsal to prepare for the Mass we will be singing at St. Peter's Basilica tomorrow afternoon at 5:00pm.
The journey to Rome was a long one, begun more than 27 hours ago. But, through the long lines at 4 different airports, and near mishaps with missing luggage and instruments in Rome, we made it, and are looking forward to this trip of a lifetime!
-Ruben Rincon, Jr.
The journey to Rome was a long one, begun more than 27 hours ago. But, through the long lines at 4 different airports, and near mishaps with missing luggage and instruments in Rome, we made it, and are looking forward to this trip of a lifetime!
-Ruben Rincon, Jr.
We are here!
Ciao!
We have finally arrived in Rome after several flights and layovers in Houston and Paris. The many hours on the plane were tiring, so finally getting to the hotel was a relief! The hotel is cozy what is most interesting is the small size of the shower and beds. A group of us went to a nearbye café and we ordered sanwiches using a mix of Italian, Spanish and English. That was a fun experience to start off the trip.
Currenty, everyone is relaxing and refreshing themselves waiting for dinner time to roll around. After dinner we will have a short rehearsal to prepare for tomorrow's performance in St. Peter's Basilica. Everyone is looking forward to what the week is going to bring! Until next time!
-Heathcliff A. Lopez
We have finally arrived in Rome after several flights and layovers in Houston and Paris. The many hours on the plane were tiring, so finally getting to the hotel was a relief! The hotel is cozy what is most interesting is the small size of the shower and beds. A group of us went to a nearbye café and we ordered sanwiches using a mix of Italian, Spanish and English. That was a fun experience to start off the trip.
Currenty, everyone is relaxing and refreshing themselves waiting for dinner time to roll around. After dinner we will have a short rehearsal to prepare for tomorrow's performance in St. Peter's Basilica. Everyone is looking forward to what the week is going to bring! Until next time!
-Heathcliff A. Lopez
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Breathe in the familiar air of confusion and chaos*
Adam Gonzalez, Harlingen
I didn’t sleep last night in anticipation of the voyage to come. It took 15.3245817365 hours to pack which is 15.3245817364 hours longer than it usually takes me. My mind has been filled with “did I pack my toothbrush”…”where’s my good underwear”. I had no idea how ponderous the preparations are for an international journey; and that was just the menial details. The man hours put in by a great many individuals must be astronomical. Yet, as I sit in the George Bush Houston International Airport, I am surrounded by the overwhelming white squall of emotions; fear…anxiousness… wide eyed wonder! After an uneventful night spent in front of my TV, my parents and I rushed to the UTB/TSC campus to meet the rest of the group. The rest of the day has been spent racing through gargantuan airports, catching buses and biding through TSA security. This is the first chance that I’ve had to reflect and catch my breath. Now that my psyche has caught up with my body, I reflect upon what I leave behind. I leave behind my homework…my home…and the world as I once knew it. This is the first time that I am traveling abroad. Words fall short to express the experience of such a trip. An unintentionally provincial life was my lot until college. My father was a mechanic and my mother had an unofficial home business as day-time child care taker. One might consider me a write off with no exceptional connections or bank accounts to speak of. It was financial aid, and perseverance on my part, that took me to the University of North Texas. My time at the University of North Texas was paramount to my training as a musician…and now at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College I have been given the opportunity to tour Italy with the UTB/TSC Master Chorale. What lies ahead waits to be found.
* "Give Me Your Eyes,” by Brandon Heath
I didn’t sleep last night in anticipation of the voyage to come. It took 15.3245817365 hours to pack which is 15.3245817364 hours longer than it usually takes me. My mind has been filled with “did I pack my toothbrush”…”where’s my good underwear”. I had no idea how ponderous the preparations are for an international journey; and that was just the menial details. The man hours put in by a great many individuals must be astronomical. Yet, as I sit in the George Bush Houston International Airport, I am surrounded by the overwhelming white squall of emotions; fear…anxiousness… wide eyed wonder! After an uneventful night spent in front of my TV, my parents and I rushed to the UTB/TSC campus to meet the rest of the group. The rest of the day has been spent racing through gargantuan airports, catching buses and biding through TSA security. This is the first chance that I’ve had to reflect and catch my breath. Now that my psyche has caught up with my body, I reflect upon what I leave behind. I leave behind my homework…my home…and the world as I once knew it. This is the first time that I am traveling abroad. Words fall short to express the experience of such a trip. An unintentionally provincial life was my lot until college. My father was a mechanic and my mother had an unofficial home business as day-time child care taker. One might consider me a write off with no exceptional connections or bank accounts to speak of. It was financial aid, and perseverance on my part, that took me to the University of North Texas. My time at the University of North Texas was paramount to my training as a musician…and now at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College I have been given the opportunity to tour Italy with the UTB/TSC Master Chorale. What lies ahead waits to be found.
* "Give Me Your Eyes,” by Brandon Heath
Enervated
Mood: Riconoscente
Thank you for all your help Mr. Hanna.
:]
However, I have a migraine which has been taunting my brains out since when we departed from Harlingen Airport this afternoon. Fortunately, some choral members were prepared and shared some Tylenol with me. :D Thus my head-ache is a little lighter. :] Even so, I'm still extremely sleepy. -_- I only had 1 1/2 hrs. of sleep last night and I'm more than positive that all the other choral members are feeling equally as tired as myself.
Well, nonetheless. We will get aboard our next flight that will be departing at 5:35PM. and will arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France at 8:50AM. tomorrow.
That's about a 16-17HR. flight. We will all for sure get our voices rested and beauty sleep, no doubt about that.
:D
I just can't wait to have the soles of my feet on European soil.
I'm falling into Z's.
Amo il nostro Signore Jesus Christ e tutto fa nella mia vita. Roma, Italia qui sono venuto.
Muah...
-Michael Andrew S.
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