End of First Week

We split into small groups and went on a scavenger hunt in Denver the other day. We had to find information about the city and take pictures with various things, such as this bull. We sang Beatles songs the whole way, sweet!

Well, it hardly seems as though I've been gone for over a week now. I feel like I've been a part of my host family and the Up with People cast for at least a few months! Everyone here is amazing, I have friends from Sweden, Ireland, Ethiopia, Denmark, The Netherlands, Hawaii, Thailand, the list goes on and on.
I think I may be in the smaller group of dancers who do all the super cool dance moves at the front of the stage! Yesterday they posted a list of about twenty people who they wanted to do the dance workshop for the day. We spent four hours learning choreography! I've hardly danced in the past year and I have never danced for that long at such a high altitude, so my body kind of hates me now, but it was lots of fun. They post lists again on Monday, I hope I make it! I hope I get to be one of those dancers! I may also be singing and playing guitar for one song, that would be sweet.
We had a Culture Jam on Wednesday night, which was AWESOME. People did everything, from Mexican dance to Irish folklore. I performed a song called "Beautiful" (no, not the Christina Agulara one). For those who haven't heard it, I wrote it while I was in Guatemala and in total awe of the beautiful people and culture. The meaning easily transfered to talking about the amazing multitude of awesome people in my cast.
Thursday we did our first cast vocals, which went rather badly for me. I could get the harmonies while singing just with my own group of altos, but I was standing right next to the Sopranos and kept singing their parts when the whole group sang together. I guess because I've never sung in a choir, I'm not used to harmonizing with tons of people all at once. I'm glad I have something to work on and become skilled at.
We talked about Internships yesterday and I think I'm going to apply for a Technical one. Either lights, video or sound would be awesome! I really want to learn the nuts and bolts behind what makes a show come alive. The internships will last for six weeks each and by the end, we're supposed to be capable of replacing the staff completely.
Other exciting news... We may be on Oprah!!! Since we're going to Chicago, some of the staff are trying to get us on an Oprah show. HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE???
Let's see... other news... my host family is hosting a dinner tonight for a few of the host families they know. My roommate Miraf (I was spelling it incorrectly before) is making some Ethiopian food and I'm making lasagna, the Sicilian way :).

Love to all,
Marina