so monday was my first offical day. pretty exciting. like we had to wear a number two.
hmmmm . . . that means nothing to a non-uppie. so here's the deal - we have a dress code number system. it is as follows:
number one - best thing you own. dress and heels or suit and tie. usually worn on days we're meeting REALLY important people. like presidents of countries.
number two - business. dress pants and top/dress/skirt/tie's are encouraged. absolutely no jeans and only closed toe shoes (with the exception of some nice sandals for girls)
number three - everyday. jeans and tee basically.
number four - work out/rehearsal clothes.
number five - anything that can get paint or dirt on it. and obtain h0les. worn on some community service sites (ie. habitat for humanity)
so yeah i made my way to downtown denver and headed to the Up with People office, met up with cody and katie outside, and stopped at the fifth floor. inside the conferance room was basically everyone who works for UwP. office staff, road staff, FM's (field managers - go to the cities ahead of the cast and set up facilities and host families and such), regional staff (like paul whittiker who sets up all the places we go in asia basically), and of course Tommy Spaulding. our ceo and president. so tommy got up and spoke to us for awhile and it was just incredible. like he rocks my socks off. i've never met anyone so completely passionate about what they do. and he told us that we were the best team that the new uwp (since 2006) has put together yet. wow. i almost cried a couple times. i'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to be doing this. holy moly.
and so we basically had meetings all day. financial stuff and where the company is heading (which is really exciting stuff - i'm so pumped to be a part of this awesome transition!)
and then at night we had an staff awards ceremony. i guess it used to be an annual thing . . . but it hasn't happened since '99. so it was really nice. had a nice dinner. applauded for people that really deserved the recognition that they got.
the rest of the week was fairly standard. we were at the sherman center - which is the building where i had my staging. it's like this 100 year old building that has like 6 floors and it's just crazy and is really cool. i love it.
basically the whole week i was back in the basement (remember with the band last summer?!?!) with michael bowerman (the music director), bill (cast vocals and as a side-note his son is in The Fray.), and dekker (works with soloist and is a fellow canadian). we talked about what to expect and what we're going to do as the music team. and then one day they sat me down and asically had a three hour advice for kady session. which was long but also really cool cause all three of them have done my job. and they're still working for up with people so they're pretty much pro. so i'm trying to learn as much from them as possible in the next four weeks.
and yeah that's about all i remember about last week. oh wait. up until friday.
cause friday the cast got in. YAY!!!! the PA team (performing arts - music, dance, and tech) had rehearsal and meetings all day but after our day was done i got to go to the airport for a bit and then back to the montebello center where everyone gathers. i met some awesome students, however i remember few names. it was awesome so see their reactions to the whole beginning though . . . made me remember my first day.
and so saturday was a host family day. i slept in a bit and then headed out to sienna's swim meet. and she's like pro. and she's like 11. i only stayed around for one events . . . but she won all five of the events she was in and set like two record times. rediculous. and so i walked home from that and it was nice . . like a 40min walk. but i wish i had of brought water. it can get so hot here. and since we're at a really high elevation it's really dry. i'm always thirsty.
sooooo . . . did some laundry. talked to home. took a nap. and then matt (host dad) and i headed out to boulder to meet up with some of his friends an we had a little picnic-ish thing outside. and then cindy (host mom) joined us. she ran a 50km run that day. and got 3rd. i'm telling you . . . this family is crazy!!!!
and then we sat outside and listen to a band . . . the cowboy junkies . . . who are apparently canadain. who knew?!?!
sunday i made it to church which was great. and i found out that it's close enough that i can totally walk or bike. alright! then sunday afternoon we had opening session. a little preview of the show for the students and their host families. our cast manager martin spoke to them and so did tommy spaulding. and we did a couple numbers. like the song 'room for everyone' and at the end of the song all the staff members come out . . . each carrying the flag of one of the countries represented within the cast. we've got 22 this semester.
and then we kept going with a couple more songs. i got to sing the solo for 'keep the beat' which i had never sang before. pretty exciting. and then afterwards we had a little social for all the students and their host families. but i was really hot (150+ people) and really loud (150+ uppie people).
so cody drove me home and i had a nice supper at home. and then we watched this REALLY weird movie called 'the seeker'. don't watch it. it was one of the weirdest movies i've ever seen. like afterwards i just had this really erie feeling stuck with me. eww.
and now i'm caught up and i'm going to write today seperately because it's a new week. alright.
brb.
gross. i should never say that ever.
July 14, 2008
July 12, 2008
and so it begins
okay. catch up time. and i thought i was bad at this last year - now i'm even busier. agh. i'll do my best though.
so i left off at wednesday. i think. we did the showcase show, and then party at the erleys. good times (not in the maritimes though - cait i always want to say this now but i can't cause i'm not in the maritimes. sad day)
my host family went camping for the long weekend, so i celebrated independance day on my own. i did get to see some fireworks though . . . and let me tell you, they are hardcore here. lasted like three hours. whoa. i also drove to the flatirons mall to buy sneakers . . . and didn't crash and die on these crazy colorado highways. our highways back home are a joke. i was a little nervous here. but i made it there and back in one piece with no damage to the stonesmiths car so all it well.
saturday i headed out early in the morning cause we had our staff retreat!! yay!!! so i met matt and we drove into denver to meet up with everyone else and head up to the mountain town, Evergreen.
so i'm going to stop here for a sec and let you know who the staff is. cause i'm sure i'll be talking about them a lot. so here's a little mini bio on all of them:
martin - cast manager (traveled as CM for my cast)
scott - assistant cast manager (married to ellen)
ellen - education manager (married to scott)
aoife - education coordinator (traveled as staff with my cast, we call each other sister cause we were roommates three times last year)
mitch - education coordinator (also traveled as staff with my cast)
celiana - business manager and marketing coordinator (traveled as staff with my cast)
dave - admissions coordinator (traveled as student with me)
matt - business administrator (traveled with cast B last summer, so we were in denver at the same time last year) NEW STAFF!
molly - logistic coordinator (just got off the road with cast a) NEW STAFF!
nathan - technical manager and sound tech (from canada! yay! is new) NEW STAFF!
anthony - lights tech (just got off the road) NEW STAFF!
rafa - video tech (traveled with cast b last summer) NEW STAFF!
gabe - show manager (traveled as staff with cast b last year)
yui - dance captain (traveled with my cast)
me - music coordinator! NEW STAFF!
so as you can see there's an awesome mix of oldies and newbies. and so over the weekend we hung out and got to know each other and stuff. talked about our goals and what we want to been seen as as staff. we were sadly missing nathan and celi - both stuck in the respective countries or canada and venezuela. nathan got here last monday though and celi's getting here this week! yay!!!
we ate lots and talked even more. at one point matt and i sat down at the piano and started singing and playing around - singing realize by colbie calait (sp?!?!) and hallelujah by leanord cohen. good times (not in the maritimes though.) we bbqed over a fire and roasted marshmellows, played a crazy game (jesus gnomes against the flamingos) and then headed off to bed.
sunday morning we all woke up and made breakfast together. i was in charge of pancakes . . . and it was just like home! hahhaah making over 20 pancakes for a full house. it was just a lot of fun . . . some of us have known each other for a year or more . . . some for no more then a week . . . but we all seem to mesh really well and i know we've got a kick ass team going on here. yeah!
so then matt drove me home and i was super lazy and then the stonesmiths came home and i caught up with them and then off to bed again.
so there's the first week. i'm going to try and write this last week tonight but right now i promise sienna a games a cards so i'm going to peace out.
<3
so i left off at wednesday. i think. we did the showcase show, and then party at the erleys. good times (not in the maritimes though - cait i always want to say this now but i can't cause i'm not in the maritimes. sad day)
my host family went camping for the long weekend, so i celebrated independance day on my own. i did get to see some fireworks though . . . and let me tell you, they are hardcore here. lasted like three hours. whoa. i also drove to the flatirons mall to buy sneakers . . . and didn't crash and die on these crazy colorado highways. our highways back home are a joke. i was a little nervous here. but i made it there and back in one piece with no damage to the stonesmiths car so all it well.
saturday i headed out early in the morning cause we had our staff retreat!! yay!!! so i met matt and we drove into denver to meet up with everyone else and head up to the mountain town, Evergreen.
so i'm going to stop here for a sec and let you know who the staff is. cause i'm sure i'll be talking about them a lot. so here's a little mini bio on all of them:
martin - cast manager (traveled as CM for my cast)
scott - assistant cast manager (married to ellen)
ellen - education manager (married to scott)
aoife - education coordinator (traveled as staff with my cast, we call each other sister cause we were roommates three times last year)
mitch - education coordinator (also traveled as staff with my cast)
celiana - business manager and marketing coordinator (traveled as staff with my cast)
dave - admissions coordinator (traveled as student with me)
matt - business administrator (traveled with cast B last summer, so we were in denver at the same time last year) NEW STAFF!
molly - logistic coordinator (just got off the road with cast a) NEW STAFF!
nathan - technical manager and sound tech (from canada! yay! is new) NEW STAFF!
anthony - lights tech (just got off the road) NEW STAFF!
rafa - video tech (traveled with cast b last summer) NEW STAFF!
gabe - show manager (traveled as staff with cast b last year)
yui - dance captain (traveled with my cast)
me - music coordinator! NEW STAFF!
so as you can see there's an awesome mix of oldies and newbies. and so over the weekend we hung out and got to know each other and stuff. talked about our goals and what we want to been seen as as staff. we were sadly missing nathan and celi - both stuck in the respective countries or canada and venezuela. nathan got here last monday though and celi's getting here this week! yay!!!
we ate lots and talked even more. at one point matt and i sat down at the piano and started singing and playing around - singing realize by colbie calait (sp?!?!) and hallelujah by leanord cohen. good times (not in the maritimes though.) we bbqed over a fire and roasted marshmellows, played a crazy game (jesus gnomes against the flamingos) and then headed off to bed.
sunday morning we all woke up and made breakfast together. i was in charge of pancakes . . . and it was just like home! hahhaah making over 20 pancakes for a full house. it was just a lot of fun . . . some of us have known each other for a year or more . . . some for no more then a week . . . but we all seem to mesh really well and i know we've got a kick ass team going on here. yeah!
so then matt drove me home and i was super lazy and then the stonesmiths came home and i caught up with them and then off to bed again.
so there's the first week. i'm going to try and write this last week tonight but right now i promise sienna a games a cards so i'm going to peace out.
<3
July 2, 2008
she's BACKKKKKK!
well i made it.
it took a little longer then expected but here i am. writing in this at 7am cause i woke up at 5.30 and couldn't get back to sleep. gross.
anyways . . . as many of you know i flew out on monday. from moncton and then i had a connecting flight in toronto. and for any of you who've ever travelled to the states . . . you know that you have to go through customs. i had 45mins to catch my connecting flight, and so i had lots of time. so i picked up my guitar and luggage and waited in line.
so i got up and talked to the customs lady. and everything is fine until she asks how long i'm going to be in the states. so i tell her that i'm here for seven weeks, and then gone to mexico and then back for another eight or something. and so she asks me why. and so i tell her that i'm travelling with this non-profit called up with people. and then she asks what i'll be doing . . . and so i gave her my title. and THEN she asked if i was getting paid.
so i didn't want to lie. cause i mean - what if they caught me in a lie. what then? so i explained that i'm an independant contractor and that i'm working for the company - so i will be getting paid in the states . . . but i'm not working in the states. cause i'll be other places too.
so she's all confused by this and sends me to this american 'room'. i explain again and go sit down. ugh.
so i kinda just hang out. this woman with two little boys sat down next to me. they were from arizona. and then there was this black woman and her little son, who she told us was thirteen months, and he was SOOOO CUTE! he was dressed in a little black puma track suit with black and white puma shoes and his hair was all in cornrows and just too cute. and you could tell he was just learning to walk really well so he was just running around everywhere. and man he was cute.
so i'm sitting there waiting. kinda starting to freak out a bit - and this air canada lady comes in and asks if anyone in on the flight to denver. so i say that i am. she comes over, takes my name, and then rips the tags off my luggage and guitar and tells me that i've missed my flight. AGHHHHHHHHHH. but then she said to just go see her when i was done and she'd book me a new one.
so i finally got permission to come into the states. and i guess i'm lucky i did at all cause the guy who's supposed to be our sound tech guy (from ontario) got sent back home. and if they've flagged him in the system then he won't be able to get here ever. agh!! this could be a huge problem.
so since i missed my connecting flight i got to hang out at the airport for like five hours. ewwwww. and it was a little boring. ahhh well.
i finally got to denver. and libby came and got me. YAY!
so we went to the Up with People warehouse - where the special events cast was practicing for our show on wednesday. and i got to be reunited with so many people that i know and love - and got to meet a lot of people that i've come to love in the short span of a week!
the show itself was nuts. just a 40min preview show - but it was SOOOOOO hot in the warehouse. like thailand hot. like i know it's hot when i'm sweating my face off and all i'm doing is standing and singing. poor dancers. but it went really well, we got really good responces from our special guests. hopefully they'll hire us!!! :D
oh and so i'm staying with the stonesmiths again - same host family as last year. and i loves them. i love that i'm back here with them cause i'm already comfortable with them and it's just awesome.
and there's so much more to write but i feel bad that i don't have anything at all up yet so i'll just put this on and hopefully it'll satisfy you for the time being. maybe tuesday night i'll do the last couple days. man there is just so much going on. i'm SOOOOOOOO excited. wow.
first offical day tomorrow. meetings all day. 8-9ish. wearing my number two.
alright.
love from denver!
it took a little longer then expected but here i am. writing in this at 7am cause i woke up at 5.30 and couldn't get back to sleep. gross.
anyways . . . as many of you know i flew out on monday. from moncton and then i had a connecting flight in toronto. and for any of you who've ever travelled to the states . . . you know that you have to go through customs. i had 45mins to catch my connecting flight, and so i had lots of time. so i picked up my guitar and luggage and waited in line.
so i got up and talked to the customs lady. and everything is fine until she asks how long i'm going to be in the states. so i tell her that i'm here for seven weeks, and then gone to mexico and then back for another eight or something. and so she asks me why. and so i tell her that i'm travelling with this non-profit called up with people. and then she asks what i'll be doing . . . and so i gave her my title. and THEN she asked if i was getting paid.
so i didn't want to lie. cause i mean - what if they caught me in a lie. what then? so i explained that i'm an independant contractor and that i'm working for the company - so i will be getting paid in the states . . . but i'm not working in the states. cause i'll be other places too.
so she's all confused by this and sends me to this american 'room'. i explain again and go sit down. ugh.
so i kinda just hang out. this woman with two little boys sat down next to me. they were from arizona. and then there was this black woman and her little son, who she told us was thirteen months, and he was SOOOO CUTE! he was dressed in a little black puma track suit with black and white puma shoes and his hair was all in cornrows and just too cute. and you could tell he was just learning to walk really well so he was just running around everywhere. and man he was cute.
so i'm sitting there waiting. kinda starting to freak out a bit - and this air canada lady comes in and asks if anyone in on the flight to denver. so i say that i am. she comes over, takes my name, and then rips the tags off my luggage and guitar and tells me that i've missed my flight. AGHHHHHHHHHH. but then she said to just go see her when i was done and she'd book me a new one.
so i finally got permission to come into the states. and i guess i'm lucky i did at all cause the guy who's supposed to be our sound tech guy (from ontario) got sent back home. and if they've flagged him in the system then he won't be able to get here ever. agh!! this could be a huge problem.
so since i missed my connecting flight i got to hang out at the airport for like five hours. ewwwww. and it was a little boring. ahhh well.
i finally got to denver. and libby came and got me. YAY!
so we went to the Up with People warehouse - where the special events cast was practicing for our show on wednesday. and i got to be reunited with so many people that i know and love - and got to meet a lot of people that i've come to love in the short span of a week!
the show itself was nuts. just a 40min preview show - but it was SOOOOOO hot in the warehouse. like thailand hot. like i know it's hot when i'm sweating my face off and all i'm doing is standing and singing. poor dancers. but it went really well, we got really good responces from our special guests. hopefully they'll hire us!!! :D
oh and so i'm staying with the stonesmiths again - same host family as last year. and i loves them. i love that i'm back here with them cause i'm already comfortable with them and it's just awesome.
and there's so much more to write but i feel bad that i don't have anything at all up yet so i'll just put this on and hopefully it'll satisfy you for the time being. maybe tuesday night i'll do the last couple days. man there is just so much going on. i'm SOOOOOOOO excited. wow.
first offical day tomorrow. meetings all day. 8-9ish. wearing my number two.
alright.
love from denver!
June 11, 2008
May 22, 2008
so excited i might just blow up
okay. so i just got some incredible news.
guess who's going to be the music coordinator for Up with People's Cast B 2008?!?!?
ME!
so i got my dream job. getting paid to teach music around the world. wow. wowowowowowowowowowowowowow. i am SOOOO EXCITED.
so excited that i renamed my blog and i'm writing in it already. hahaha and i don't leave for a month!
so here's where i'm going . . . in case your interested!
Cast B 2008
Orientation: Denver, CO: June 29 -August 11
Colorado: August 11-14
New Mexico: August 14-18
Arizona: August 20-25
Mexico: August 25-September 21
Arizona: September 21-19
New Mexico/Colorado: September 29 - October 6
Utah/Wyoming: October 7-20
South Dakota/Minnesota/Wisconsin: October 20 - November 9
Illinois: November 9-16
Philippines: November 16-end of tour
except i think its changing in that we're going to mexico right after staging. at least that's what tim lane said. and he's the vice president so i assume he knows what he's talking about.
YAY!!! I <3 UWP!
guess who's going to be the music coordinator for Up with People's Cast B 2008?!?!?
ME!
so i got my dream job. getting paid to teach music around the world. wow. wowowowowowowowowowowowowow. i am SOOOO EXCITED.
so excited that i renamed my blog and i'm writing in it already. hahaha and i don't leave for a month!
so here's where i'm going . . . in case your interested!
Cast B 2008
Orientation: Denver, CO: June 29 -August 11
Colorado: August 11-14
New Mexico: August 14-18
Arizona: August 20-25
Mexico: August 25-September 21
Arizona: September 21-19
New Mexico/Colorado: September 29 - October 6
Utah/Wyoming: October 7-20
South Dakota/Minnesota/Wisconsin: October 20 - November 9
Illinois: November 9-16
Philippines: November 16-end of tour
except i think its changing in that we're going to mexico right after staging. at least that's what tim lane said. and he's the vice president so i assume he knows what he's talking about.
YAY!!! I <3 UWP!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
