One Month Down...

Can you believe I've been gone a month already?!! Neither can I! The weeks keep mashing together, but this week was all about the show! We began staging last week and it's been crazy.  We put the whole show on the stage in 2 days! Usually that takes around 2 or 3 weeks.  None of the solos are set in stone yet, so it's been really cool listening to a bunch of different people try out songs and tweak them to make them their own.  I don't have any solos, but I do get to be on what is called mic groups.  These are just a few of us who are miced in the ensemble to create a fuller sound to the group.  I was pretty darn excited because I've never thought of myself as a strong singer.

I suppose you are all wondering what show I'm talking about! The show that we are taking on the road is Called VOICES.  UWP is very unique in the fact that it's not just a story with music and it's not just a concert of songs, but songs put together and originally written to spread a message.  It's so much fun! We have songs from the 60's, 70's, 80's 90's and beyond as well as many original songs for VOICES and older UWP songs that they brought back from previous shows.  Then on top of that we have songs from all around the world! We are singing a song from Cuba, a chant from South Africa, and Irish step dance, and so many others!

This weekend was pretty busy! We had rehearsal on Saturday as well, and then 2 girls that are staying with my host mom's friend spent the night because their host mom had to work late.  That was some fun girl time, but we went to bed at a reasonable time because sleep is such a precious gift! Then on Sunday, Montana and I spent the day at Clearwater beach soaking up the sun, wandering around the cute downtown strip, and even taking a dip in the cold Gulf of Mexico.  We happened to meet up with some other girls from the cast and then had even more fun! A funny moment of the day was when a random (pretty cute) guy walked up and pulled out the cheesey moves and asked if we were all models or something and asked to get a picture with all of us. Pretty crazy, but a fun memory! That evening we went over to host mom's friend's house to have a traditional Thanksgiving day dinner for Conny from Germany she is hosting.  It was weird not only to be having that meal in February but also to having it in the heat, just because I am so used to eating those foods in the cold. 

McKenzie(UT) Amilee(NJ) Me Montana(Can.) Misa(MI)

Today (monday) was our first rehearsal with the band, and it made everything feel so much more real! Tomorrow is our first full dress rehearsal with costumes, the band, everything! hopefully it goes well, because we have a show in 4 days! 

I'll leave you with a view from my bedroom window.  Love you!