This morning I woke up in my own bed and, although I miss home and my family, I felt a tinge of disappointment. Our journey to London and Scotland was a dream come true for all of us, including myself. I have always, always wanted to visit London and Scotland and I am glad I did so with my drama family.
The trip gave me an opportunity to learn more about everyone, and in doing so I have grown fonder of everyone, including their little quirks. The trip exceeded my expectations, but more impressive, the behavior of the students exceeded my expectations. Prior to the trip, in the back of my mind I always feared that the students would not fully understand the sacrifices our community and people around the world have made in our behalf. Yet from the moment our journey started, each and every student appreciated every moment and found something special about everything, even the seemingly little things.
The entire NPAC cast made numerous friendships in the past two weeks, and made huge and positive impressions on everyone who attended the Fringe from around the world. The cast also blew audience members away with their performances of Under the Influence. If we ever doubted that the NPAC could not hold it's own against other performing arts programs world wide, than we were mistaken. The NPAC is just as good as everyone else on and off stage, and the community has every reason to be proud.
The NPAC represented Hawaii and the United States through and through.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thoughts from NPAC Member: Chloe Sylva
During those 2 weeks when we were in London and Scotland was a unforgettable dream that never stops ending and I don't think it will ever end it will keep replaying in my head over and over again of all the sites, people, joys, and priceless memories that now one can take from me or npac. Its really hard to explain everything and I don't think anyone would ever understand the happiness and love npac shares for this trip.
Well anyway ... London couldnt be anymore wonderful then what I imagine, I wish I could stay longer :) the sites was amazing undescribable the London Eye well for me it was more beautiful when I was on the ground. lol Big ben and buckingham palace 100x more beautiful in person.
Then there was Scotland more amazing then any other even in my life. The royal mile is crazy I love watching peformers espically out of the blue terrific group, and that guy who undresses on a ladder is um..something lolz. But just crazy so much things going on at once.
My favorite thing out of the whole entire trip was being able to peform at the Fringe which is going to be a one in a life time experience for me I will carry with me forever. Just seeing everyone's reaction to our show is the best thing about performing. I could tell the stories about this trip 1000x to you but you will not understand how much this trip means to me. I LOVE London and Scotland so much it something I hope to see again in the future. I loved every minute of this trip even being jetlagged lol this trip couldn't be any better then what I imagined
Well anyway ... London couldnt be anymore wonderful then what I imagine, I wish I could stay longer :) the sites was amazing undescribable the London Eye well for me it was more beautiful when I was on the ground. lol Big ben and buckingham palace 100x more beautiful in person.
Then there was Scotland more amazing then any other even in my life. The royal mile is crazy I love watching peformers espically out of the blue terrific group, and that guy who undresses on a ladder is um..something lolz. But just crazy so much things going on at once.
My favorite thing out of the whole entire trip was being able to peform at the Fringe which is going to be a one in a life time experience for me I will carry with me forever. Just seeing everyone's reaction to our show is the best thing about performing. I could tell the stories about this trip 1000x to you but you will not understand how much this trip means to me. I LOVE London and Scotland so much it something I hope to see again in the future. I loved every minute of this trip even being jetlagged lol this trip couldn't be any better then what I imagined
Thoughts from NPAC Member: Shaylene Curtis
These past two weeks have been unforgettable. I don't even know what to say really... It was so incredible. You just can't put into words everything we did and felt.
London was absolutely beautiful. It exceed my already high expectations. It was fast paced, but I enjoyed it very much! I saw sites where they filmed scenes from Harry Potter! I bought a wand, which I carried everywhere. The London Eye was amazing! We saw and did so much in such a short amount of time.
Then, all of a sudden, we were boarding a train to Edinburgh. Edinburgh was amazing, and definitely a place I will be traveling to again. The Royal Mile is something that you really can't explain. You have to experience it. We performed a bunch there and it's so amazing getting to see peoples faces as you perform. There was a ceilidh, which was, well, a dance! We all had a blast and made lots of friends. :) Our performances had good reactions and though we had an off day, we brought it back. All of the high schools that were a part of the festival were so amazing and we really only started mingling a few hours before we had to leave. Pressure was off and it was time to have fun. I have 26... or more new friends on Facebook and it's only been a day! I MISS IT SO MUCH. I MISS EVERYONE SO MUCH. I had this unexpected crying session on the bus to the airport. I was so sad that I hadn't had the chance to talk with people before we were leaving.
Anyway, I am so happy to have been a part of this trip and see you soon, Scotland :)♥
London was absolutely beautiful. It exceed my already high expectations. It was fast paced, but I enjoyed it very much! I saw sites where they filmed scenes from Harry Potter! I bought a wand, which I carried everywhere. The London Eye was amazing! We saw and did so much in such a short amount of time.
Then, all of a sudden, we were boarding a train to Edinburgh. Edinburgh was amazing, and definitely a place I will be traveling to again. The Royal Mile is something that you really can't explain. You have to experience it. We performed a bunch there and it's so amazing getting to see peoples faces as you perform. There was a ceilidh, which was, well, a dance! We all had a blast and made lots of friends. :) Our performances had good reactions and though we had an off day, we brought it back. All of the high schools that were a part of the festival were so amazing and we really only started mingling a few hours before we had to leave. Pressure was off and it was time to have fun. I have 26... or more new friends on Facebook and it's only been a day! I MISS IT SO MUCH. I MISS EVERYONE SO MUCH. I had this unexpected crying session on the bus to the airport. I was so sad that I hadn't had the chance to talk with people before we were leaving.
Anyway, I am so happy to have been a part of this trip and see you soon, Scotland :)♥
Thoughts from NPAC Member: Samuel Hedin
I knew from the start that somehow this trip would change my life. And it did. everything was amazing from telephone booths to watching Jersey boys.
I guess I could say that the grass was greener on the other side, but that would most likely be because of all the rain :) and I really had a lot of self discovery. I made plenty of friends.
And this trip even helped me with small problems. for example: now I understand what is meant by "there are plenty of fish in the sea" I MISS IT ALL SO MUCH... In London I discovered my passion, In Edinburgh I found my future.
I guess I could say that the grass was greener on the other side, but that would most likely be because of all the rain :) and I really had a lot of self discovery. I made plenty of friends.
And this trip even helped me with small problems. for example: now I understand what is meant by "there are plenty of fish in the sea" I MISS IT ALL SO MUCH... In London I discovered my passion, In Edinburgh I found my future.
Day 15: Journey to Scotland: The Journey Home
Our journey back to Honolulu, began early on August 15 . . . many of us did not sleep or had only an hour or so before we had to load the bus with our baggage at 2:30 am. We then headed to Glasgow airport to fly to Gatwick airport, then load baggage on bus to go to Heathrow. We then flew over 10 hours to San Francisco to find our our flight back to Honolulu was delayed for two hours.
We finally arrived in Honolulu at about 11:35 pm . . . everyone was a bit sad to leave Scotland and the UK and the new friends we made, but everyone was happy to be home.
Thank you to everyone who followed our blog over the last few weeks and perhaps even months. But this blog is not closed yet. We will be posting final thoughts from the group over the next week. Keep following.
We finally arrived in Honolulu at about 11:35 pm . . . everyone was a bit sad to leave Scotland and the UK and the new friends we made, but everyone was happy to be home.
Thank you to everyone who followed our blog over the last few weeks and perhaps even months. But this blog is not closed yet. We will be posting final thoughts from the group over the next week. Keep following.
Thoughts from NPAC member: Chelsea Wanstead
This trip was a bundle of nonstop surprises, from all of the beautiful surrounding architecture to the colorful people we met at the Fringe. I literally didn't want to leave it was so amazing. Glad that we all worked our butts off for this, worth every minute and every pound of it (for us dedicated shoppers who walked to the mile in the rain lol).
Sad we only really socialized with people mostly right before we left, but that's what facebook is for right? The culture was amazing, thank you to Michelle & Robin Kitsu, Roy Kimura, and all the chaperones and students that made this experience something I'll treasure forever.
The amazement of the awesome voices we all heard and watching our own perform right after Jersey Boys, they're gonna be youtube stars xD Truly one of the best groups ever, glad we came up with A LOT of inside jokes even rekindled some from the past.
Every AHSTF group was so amazing, sad we didn't get to see all of the shows, but the ones we did see were worth the experience. Gosh guys mister wasn't kidding about having a lot of new fb friends after this trip. Wish I could've packed all of Scotland in my pocket, or teleported my loved ones and friends there.
And remember our times spent in the dorms with our shenanigans (and remembering to never steal Chelsea Wanstead's Domo ever again!!!!) Oh and don't forget them folk dances :3 After this hope everyone's realized sky is the limit :D
Sad we only really socialized with people mostly right before we left, but that's what facebook is for right? The culture was amazing, thank you to Michelle & Robin Kitsu, Roy Kimura, and all the chaperones and students that made this experience something I'll treasure forever.
The amazement of the awesome voices we all heard and watching our own perform right after Jersey Boys, they're gonna be youtube stars xD Truly one of the best groups ever, glad we came up with A LOT of inside jokes even rekindled some from the past.
Every AHSTF group was so amazing, sad we didn't get to see all of the shows, but the ones we did see were worth the experience. Gosh guys mister wasn't kidding about having a lot of new fb friends after this trip. Wish I could've packed all of Scotland in my pocket, or teleported my loved ones and friends there.
And remember our times spent in the dorms with our shenanigans (and remembering to never steal Chelsea Wanstead's Domo ever again!!!!) Oh and don't forget them folk dances :3 After this hope everyone's realized sky is the limit :D
Thoughts from NPAC member: Brandon Saballa
OMG! What can i say about this trip? This trip has been nothing but a blessing to me since day 1. I got to travel off the island for the first time in my life, and what a first time it was because I got to go to EUROPE! Lolz! How many people can say that? And then Mr. Robin Kitsu throws a surprise right out there that brought me to tears "CONGRATULATIONS GUYS YOU WILL BE WATCHING WICKED IN 1 HOUR"....I was like....*CRY!!!*......Lolz!
I finally, after 3 years, got to watch Wicked and that was a dream come true. Another treat we got was to watch Blood Brothers and the day after we watched...wait for it, wait for it...JERSEY BOYS!!!!....OMG Andrew Hahn and I WERE LIKE LITTLE GIRLS IN THE CROWD!..lolz they were so awesome.
And then we got to perform outside the theatre our Jersey Boy's medley that brought us again to tears.
So many tears already left in London. Scotland brought us tons of shopping, great high school productions from Nunsense all the way to Haroun and the Sea of stories, and our students did an amazing job. I'm so proud of each and everyone of them with UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
Our trip is coming to a closing, can you imagine how many tears we'll leave here in Scotland? After all the friends and memories we made, I'm sure we'll leave a lot.
Thank you so much Mr. for this trip, also Michelle and Chloe for all that you have done for me and the gang. If it weren't for you guys i wouldn't be on this trip. This trip made an inprint on my life and its all because of you 3. Thank you guys so much for the blessing. WE LOVE YOU!!!!
I finally, after 3 years, got to watch Wicked and that was a dream come true. Another treat we got was to watch Blood Brothers and the day after we watched...wait for it, wait for it...JERSEY BOYS!!!!....OMG Andrew Hahn and I WERE LIKE LITTLE GIRLS IN THE CROWD!..lolz they were so awesome.
And then we got to perform outside the theatre our Jersey Boy's medley that brought us again to tears.
So many tears already left in London. Scotland brought us tons of shopping, great high school productions from Nunsense all the way to Haroun and the Sea of stories, and our students did an amazing job. I'm so proud of each and everyone of them with UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
Our trip is coming to a closing, can you imagine how many tears we'll leave here in Scotland? After all the friends and memories we made, I'm sure we'll leave a lot.
Thank you so much Mr. for this trip, also Michelle and Chloe for all that you have done for me and the gang. If it weren't for you guys i wouldn't be on this trip. This trip made an inprint on my life and its all because of you 3. Thank you guys so much for the blessing. WE LOVE YOU!!!!
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