24 to 26 June updates

I apologise for the delay in posting a progress report,but we have not had much time!  We left the hotel at 7:30 this morning and only returned after the concert at 10:30pm tonight.  This will be a surprise for you when you wake upon Wednesday!

24^th June 2012 – 25th June 2012

The boys and staff gathered at King Shaka International Airport at 3pm on Sunday afternoon where the long process of checking in luggage and instruments began.  We boarded the flight after waiting for a few stragglers who had to purchase food and milkshakes before boarding.  The flight to Dubai was 8 hours long and fairly cramped, but fortunately the choir boys were all grouped together.  A host of movies was watched and music listened to en route.  We landed at Dubai at about 3am local time for a three hour stop-over.  The boys were given free time to browse and eat before boarding our huge double-storey jet, which fortunately, for the longer flight had much more leg room.  The boys were once again seated in a group and we began our marathon flight from Dubai to New York, 13 hours and 40 minutes.  We were delayed in taking off but managed to make up the time whilst flying.  Most boys were in a comatose state and did not even realise that we had taken off! The boys alternately slept and watched movies the entire flight.  The staff of 4 filled in all 64 customs and immigration forms – so the American customs officials could read them and find the same coherent information.  Our progress through immigration went smoothly and we collected all our bags and instruments.   We passed through customs unhindered and had only to wait half an hour for our busses and guides to arrive before being transported to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in central New York.  We met Yin-Chu Yin who will be our Tour Manager and she gave us a short briefing and handed out our packs for the “Rhythms of One World Concert”.  We had 20 minutes to shower and change and meet the busses for our trip to the Hard Rock Café on Times Square where we had supper and enjoyed a song from each of the participating choirs in the “Rhythms of One World Concert”.  Our boys were exhausted but still managed a rousing rendition of Shosholoza.  Thereafter the boys were allowed 45 minutes to walk around Times Square to enjoy the lights and vibe of the space at 10pm on a Monday night.  We made our way back to the hotel and after final instructions sent the boys off to bed after the longest 25^th June they have ever experienced!

26^th June 2012

We awoke at 6:45am and left for Delmonica Café where we enjoyed a unique breakfast.  The shop has a breakfast buffet of fresh fruit and a variety of hot breakfast items as well as coffees and teas.  The boys each received a gift meal card with a generous daily allowance which will be for the next 4 mornings whilst in New York.  The boys made their choices then had to get their trays of food weighed and swiped their gift cards for the appropriate amount.  I think the whole breakfast affair will be far easier tomorrow, now that the boys are familiar with the process. 

 We then had to meet in the lobby of the hotel to receive instructions for our morning of sightseeing – we went to Liberty Island via ferry and viewed the Statue of Liberty in all her glory.  The wind was blowing and the water on the Hudson River was rather choppy but once we set sail the crossing was smooth.  We only had half an hour on the island before heading off to Ben’s Kosher Deli via the emerging “Ground Zero” construction site for a monster sandwich and chips. 

We had to rush to meet our 2pm joint choir rehearsal at St Pauls Church for Thursday night’s concert at the UN.  The bus did list dangerously to one side when a beautiful girl walked by – I must compliment the boys on their wonderful taste however!  The joint choir rehearsal lasted two hours – with choirs from around the world rehearsing in St Paul and St Andrews church with wonderful acoustics and in voice groups all getting along so well.  From there it was straight to our concert venue at the Kaufmann centre, (Merkin Concert  Centre).  We started off the evening with an hour rehearsal of the programme which was performed at Kearsney before leaving for America. Then the boys were served a lovely meal of fresh salad, a toasted sandwich, fruit salad and chocolate brownie which they ate whilst the concert venue filled.  Amongst the guests were Kearsney Old Boys (who attended a short presentation to benefactor Grant Smith by the Headmaster at a function prior to the concert). Also in attendance were the South African Consulate General, organising members of the team of “The Rhythms of One World” as well as other participating choirs and members of the public.  The choir performed with passion and had the audience on their feet in appreciation many times during the course of the evening.  67 CDS were sold during the interval.   Jono Deighton’s and Nick Hudson’s uncles attended the performance, as well as choir parents Trudie Oats, Karen and Rob Easton-Berry and Roy and Lindsay Meaker with their sons.  The boys were even clapped on the pavement outside the venue by people who attended the performance.  The SA Consul, Ms Mokoena spoke to the boys after the show and said how proud she was to be a South African and that she had never seen or heard a choir from SA that was truly so representative of our country.  On our return to the hotel the boys hurriedly changed to take advantage of some free time they were given. The boys have another busy day tomorrow.