5 July update

I need to admit that for the last while it has been Elwyn who has been writing the diary entries – hence the skill and humour. I cannot in good conscience claim his work.  Unfortunately we left Elwyn in Washington DC this morning and now you will have to be content with my less talented, dryer offerings.

We were due to leave DC this morning at 7:45 but were delayed for an hour owing to engine trouble on one of the busses.  Our bus drivers Russians, Reuben and Mikhael, have been responsible for much humour amongst the boys with their heavily accented comments and exclamations whilst on the road.   Two boys were busy serenading on a piano and did not hear the call to leave – whilst waiting for them – we spied a poster advertising “Real Eggs from Chickens” at Starbucks (you can see the picture on Facebook) - one can only wonder from where the other eggs we have eaten have come!

We travelled for 5 hours from Washington DC to Pittsburgh – it was a very quiet trip as most slept the entire journey.  The boys were very nervous about being hosted for the next two nights, especially when they saw how young the members of the hosting choir were; eliciting responses from the boys such as, ”Ma’am, these choir members are two years old”!  The rehearsal started off slowly, with the host choir learning two African songs.  The Eastern Area Youth Chorale did so well, warming to the movement and manner of singing.  At the end of the rehearsal, the names of the boys were read out and the name of the corresponding host.  Two names per host were read out initially ending with nine names being read out for a single host.  The boys said, “Either they have a mansion or else we will be sleeping on the floor.” 

We met the host choir and their families at a local park where there they had prepared a lavish spread of a variety of dishes, meats and salads as well as pudding.  The boys were happy to see an open field and have a ball to kick around.  Soon they were playing touch rugby, soccer and a number of other games that had been set up for them.  At 8:30 the boys departed with their host families – a number of hosts were heard trying to master our boys’ names, e.g. “T – share – poe” (Tshepo)

The staff continued to their downtown hotel – feeling quite light of heart that for the next 2 days it would be “just us”!