"The technique you used for your art is unique and looks awesome"
"You guys were really entertaining"
"I loved your matter of fact jokes! The deck of cards and leaves were great."
"Thank you for a GREAT performance"
"Nice puppets"
"Thank you for your entertaining presentation"
"I enjoyed your presentation"
"Your story made me laugh"
"Sweet magic skills... Great job!"
"Hilarious! Wonderful job"
"Thank you for sharing your hard work with us"
"I loved the back-and-forth between the two puppets"
Saturday 29 May 2010
We were so so proud of the team yesterday. Their performance was really good - the audience laughed in all the right places and one of the appraisers was in HYSTERICS! They absolutely pulled it out of the bag and did one of their best performances to date, and we were delighted with them.
They will leave America feeling they did themselves justice, and that is all we could ask of them. Beyond that, the highlights of their trip wont just be performing on stage in front of a full auditorium, but the independence and maturity they've displayed throughout, the friends they've made (especially their buddy team from Kentucky who they waved an emotional goodbye to this morning) and the way they've learnt to work together and value each other.... and the way that they managed to cram themselves into a London taxi with 12 other competitors and drive around downtown Knoxville!!
Their instant challenge is this morning at 10am, and then we are going to watch the other British team compete this afternoon before enjoying our final night in the states.
Well done team! You were fabulous!
They will leave America feeling they did themselves justice, and that is all we could ask of them. Beyond that, the highlights of their trip wont just be performing on stage in front of a full auditorium, but the independence and maturity they've displayed throughout, the friends they've made (especially their buddy team from Kentucky who they waved an emotional goodbye to this morning) and the way they've learnt to work together and value each other.... and the way that they managed to cram themselves into a London taxi with 12 other competitors and drive around downtown Knoxville!!
Their instant challenge is this morning at 10am, and then we are going to watch the other British team compete this afternoon before enjoying our final night in the states.
Well done team! You were fabulous!
Friday 28 May 2010
30 minutes to go..
Although it is 7.30pm in the UK it is only 2.30pm over here... and at 3pm, we are leaving the hotel to walk down to the theatre ready for our performance at 5, so the team are currently in their rooms putting the finishing touches on make-up and costumes and scenery.
Last night they enjoyed a meal in the market square and then hung out with their buddy team for a while. Their buddy team are also coming to the theatre with them to watch them perform and cheer them on.
No more to say for now! The heat is on and there are lots of butterflies in tummies. We just telephoned their room to remind them about passes... and were greeted with "THANKS, BUT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK, BYE!". It's clearly feverishly busy up there. Thanks for your messages of support yesterday, we will pass them all on just before they perform to give them that little boost!
Last night they enjoyed a meal in the market square and then hung out with their buddy team for a while. Their buddy team are also coming to the theatre with them to watch them perform and cheer them on.
No more to say for now! The heat is on and there are lots of butterflies in tummies. We just telephoned their room to remind them about passes... and were greeted with "THANKS, BUT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK, BYE!". It's clearly feverishly busy up there. Thanks for your messages of support yesterday, we will pass them all on just before they perform to give them that little boost!
Thursday 27 May 2010
A Day of Rehearsals...
The kids have all worked really hard today. This morning they worked from 9.45 to 11.30 to get all their props together and check they remembered their lines. We then went shopping for Tennessee souvenirs on the University strip and had lunch and pin trading.
After lunch we stopped by the theatre to view some of the competition. I think the team were a little bit intimidated by the quality of some of the American solutions; they have the advantage of being able to bring huge flashy sets by road. Unfortunately we can't really check something of that size onto the aeroplane as hand luggage - we will have to rely on their personalities and energy to carry the performance!
They were briefly a little bit down about this, but they gradually reenergised and the positive outcome is that the kids are now really motivated to want to make their performance better, so they headed to their hotel rooms to beaver away on props and costumes and rehearsals AGAIN. We are shortly going to meet them, and give them the evening off. I think we're talking about going for a meal in the market square - now that the sun is shining again after a brief rain storm - as a reward for all of their hard work today.
It's been a little rollercoaster for them all, but it is ending positively. Wish us luck for the performance tomorrow!!!
After lunch we stopped by the theatre to view some of the competition. I think the team were a little bit intimidated by the quality of some of the American solutions; they have the advantage of being able to bring huge flashy sets by road. Unfortunately we can't really check something of that size onto the aeroplane as hand luggage - we will have to rely on their personalities and energy to carry the performance!
They were briefly a little bit down about this, but they gradually reenergised and the positive outcome is that the kids are now really motivated to want to make their performance better, so they headed to their hotel rooms to beaver away on props and costumes and rehearsals AGAIN. We are shortly going to meet them, and give them the evening off. I think we're talking about going for a meal in the market square - now that the sun is shining again after a brief rain storm - as a reward for all of their hard work today.
It's been a little rollercoaster for them all, but it is ending positively. Wish us luck for the performance tomorrow!!!
Wednesday 26 May 2010
The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony was brilliant! The team joined with another from the UK and paraded around a packed arena in front of thousands and thousands of people, sang the national anthem and enjoyed a spectacular firework display.
It was followed by the international party where we met our buddy team from Kentucky - who are lovely. The kids are getting on with them really well, and some particularly interesting conversations have sprung up. Including:
"Do you have Easter in America?"
"Is Barack Obama your king?"
"Does Kentucky fried chicken come from Kentucky, and did that guy with the beard really exist?"
Bed now ready for rehearsals tomorrow.
It was followed by the international party where we met our buddy team from Kentucky - who are lovely. The kids are getting on with them really well, and some particularly interesting conversations have sprung up. Including:
"Do you have Easter in America?"
"Is Barack Obama your king?"
"Does Kentucky fried chicken come from Kentucky, and did that guy with the beard really exist?"
Bed now ready for rehearsals tomorrow.
Day One
After making their own waffles for breakfast (which went surprisingly well until Jess melted her plate) the team set off to explore Knoxville. Silly photographs and baking sunshine made for an entertaining morning. Market Square is particularly beautiful and the team enjoyed browsing shops and drinking strawberry lemonade on the terraces.
After a quick exploration we headed to the convention centre for a look around and a D.I. lunch before joining in the extravaganza that is PIN TRADING. I cannot even describe how obsessed everybody is (including our team) with pin trading. It basically involves trying to collect as many different coloured pins from as many different countries and contestants as possible. With over 14,000 people here, it could take a while - the organisers predict that there will be 700,000 pins traded this week.
The team had a little paddle in the park before joining in with a pep rally in the afternoon, then ice creams and a tropical rainstorm! We've just left the team getting ready for the Opening Ceremony tonight and mingling with another team from Washington. After what is due to be a spectacular Opening Ceremony we meet our buddy team from Kentucky and then prepare for a rehearsal tomorrow.
We'll check in again soon.
After a quick exploration we headed to the convention centre for a look around and a D.I. lunch before joining in the extravaganza that is PIN TRADING. I cannot even describe how obsessed everybody is (including our team) with pin trading. It basically involves trying to collect as many different coloured pins from as many different countries and contestants as possible. With over 14,000 people here, it could take a while - the organisers predict that there will be 700,000 pins traded this week.
The team had a little paddle in the park before joining in with a pep rally in the afternoon, then ice creams and a tropical rainstorm! We've just left the team getting ready for the Opening Ceremony tonight and mingling with another team from Washington. After what is due to be a spectacular Opening Ceremony we meet our buddy team from Kentucky and then prepare for a rehearsal tomorrow.
We'll check in again soon.
Tuesday 25 May 2010
We've arrived....
After a gruelling eighteen hour trip we are in the U.S.A! Currently on an AMAZING bus with wifi and air conditioning, which is much appreciated after a sticky flight, so we thought we'd update you on how all the team are feeling with a quick on-the-spot quote:
Miss Brady: "My ankles have tripled in size"
Miss Meleschko: "I think I just saw someone famous"
Mr. Gilbert "Grump"
Jessica: "I want a shower and to clean my teeth"
Lauren: "I don't know what to say... I'm too tired"
Gabriel: "Eighteen hours and my cap is still just at the right angle"
Jakeb: "I think I can smell fast food"
Bradley is silently living the American dream with his blue shades
Kirsty Briggs: "I like the accent, don't you?"
Kirsty Blake: "Tired. Excited." (Come on Kirsty you can do better than that).
We're expecting to arrive in Knoxville some time in the next 4 hours, so we'll check in soon!
Miss Brady: "My ankles have tripled in size"
Miss Meleschko: "I think I just saw someone famous"
Mr. Gilbert "Grump"
Jessica: "I want a shower and to clean my teeth"
Lauren: "I don't know what to say... I'm too tired"
Gabriel: "Eighteen hours and my cap is still just at the right angle"
Jakeb: "I think I can smell fast food"
Bradley is silently living the American dream with his blue shades
Kirsty Briggs: "I like the accent, don't you?"
Kirsty Blake: "Tired. Excited." (Come on Kirsty you can do better than that).
We're expecting to arrive in Knoxville some time in the next 4 hours, so we'll check in soon!
Sunday 23 May 2010
Final Preparations...
The team have one day of school left before they jet off for America. They will be meeting at the end of school tomorrow to make some final preparations, then going home for a few hours sleep before leaving for the airport at 3am.
Remember your suncream, the weather forecast looks HOT HOT HOT!
Remember your suncream, the weather forecast looks HOT HOT HOT!
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