Monday-Tuesday

The start of the week has already been quite the adventure! Week 3 has begun and i cant believe it, I feel like i just left home yesterday but then at the same time i feel like this routine of things have been going on FOREVER! I cant wait to get on the road and travel!!! I am getting extremely anxious already. Yesterday we played a game of Bear, Salmon and Mosquito. Kinda like paper rock scissors except with an entire group of people. So there is like 40 people on each side of the room and then we say 1..2..3..GO and your group picks one of the three. And if your group loses then you have to turn and run to your side But someone of the Winning team chases after you and if they touch you then you are now on their side. Kind of like they captured you for their team now. So i end up getting trampled on and my middle toe got broke! It was covered in blood and so disgusting! It hurt so bad, so all day yesterday i was getting carried around and it was funny but i was very frustrated because i couldnt just get up and do what i wanted to do. My poor toe!!!! We also had our cast picture so that was really fun....I got to sit in a chair! haha. Then all i had was singing workshops so i didnt really have to do much.
Today i woke up and my toe was feeling a little better but is still pretty swollen and i learned to just hobble around and kind of walk with a limp. But i didnt mind because i will just give it a couple more days to heal then i will get over it! i have to use my foot! I am not worried about it too much because the swelling went down a lot! Me and Quita woke up at 730 and that is when we leave the house! So we were running WAYYY late! We didnt get to staging till like 845. We were supposed to be there at 830. We had table rounds today...with speakers that were actually UwP alumni! So it was so awesome! We got the chance to talk to people we didnt know that had previously traveled and their tours were actually for a year instead of 6months. So it was awesome! One guy that really made an impact on me was named Chris Margatt, he told us that we need to be ourselves and that we are the ones responsible to take what we want out of this experience. It meant so much to me because i want so much out of this next 6months because i do know that they will fly right past me within a blink of an eye and i dont want to be the one that sleeps thru this experience. I want to take every opportunity to learn and grow as an individual because talking to the alumni was so interesting to hear how UwP changed them STILL to this day! talking to them just totally made me extremely stoked and thankful that i am HERE and i get this chance to change and grow and learn learn learn! Its pretty awesome! After that we did another group activity with learning about the news around the world. IT was a fun group activity, Then i had a Dance workshop and Yes my toe did okay through it! I just kind of stayed off of it and used the ball of my foot instead of my toes. And then my Dance workshop went into my Vocal workshop so i ended up missing it but then at the end of the day we had Group Vocals so i just asked the other girls what we did in our mini workshop and i caught on quick!! It was a long couple days but over all I feel very good! i was able to talk to my parents for a long time tonight so it ended my day perfectly!!! God is sooo good! I love my life..........and every single person in it! =)

Wonderful Weekend!!!

Man, so this weekend was awesome! Saturday me and Quita slept in and watched Slumdog Millionaire. It was a good movie! We went shopping for some things and came home and got ready to go out to the Westin hotel because Paul and MaryJo bought us tickets to go to Swingtime in the Rockies, Its a dance competition with dancers from all over the country! We have been taking a few dance classes with them called West Coast Swing. We love love love it! I wish there was a dance place in my town that taught that stuff because it would be an awesome hobby! So we went there and it lasted all night long from like 7-4am, but we only stayed till 2. We got way too tired and wanted to come home. Getting to watch a live competition was so fun! Then in the middle of the competitions they would have Social Dancing, so anyone could get out on the floor and dance. It was fun! Me and Paul danced a few times, he cracks me up! But he helped me a lot! the Dancers from So you think you can dance were there...Jordan and Tatiana. They were amazing!!
Today we slept in all morning...this weekend was exhausting!!! Then we just hungout cleaned the room, i practiced my music for this week and we ate a yummy dinner, BBQ Chicken!!! Now i am getting ready to help Quita with her Bass music I need to teach her how to read music!!! Anyway, i am looking forward to a very very busy week. I miss my family back home =( i cant wait to see them in 3weeks!!! xoxo

FANTABULOUS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh today was such a good good day! Man, so many good things happend! First of all it is Friday!!! And i have TWO days off, so i am definitely stoked about that! TGIF! Well today it all started with a hilarious thing happening in Morning meeting. It was Jason and Matts birthday and they had brought a pinata in and they had jason swing and after matt swang when he took off his blind fold, they pie'd him in the face! It was hilarious! I guess it has been a joke for a while between him and our assistant manager Gabe. Then after that I had a Dance workshop and learned an entire dance to the song Jai Ho, it was so much fun doing it! But it was alot of work and this lady that dances 'bollywood' taught us. It was very fast but very cool! Then we had lunch and i filled out my Internship application for Marketing and Education. Internships are things you apply for and you are able to learn what they do and sort of shadow them...Im really excited to see if i get one. Then we had a garage sale thing and they were selling things from last years cast for cheap. So i got a couple stickers and a shirt!
After lunch we did Vocal class and then i had a Vocal workshop for a spanish song called Ole Boom! It is soooo much fun to sing, but it is extremely fast and a lot of memorization. So i am learning that song also. Then we finished singing with the rest of the Cast and me and Quita had a chiropractor appt at 530 so we had to leave early to go to that! Oh yeah and i forgot one other thing, Linda one of our vocal coaches asked me to sing a solo (With One Heart) at a staff mini show on wednesday! I am so excited! So today was definitely a GREAT day, i am looking forward to having a fun filled weekend also!!! xoxo

tHuRsDaY!!!!

So today was an awesome yet Long day! I sat here reflecting on today before i logged on and i was like 'My gosh we did A LOT today' And we DID! It all started with Blocking, and that means we went through our entire show on stage and learned when we get on stage, when we dance, where we stand, which mics to get...all that good stuff. I was actually really engaged in it today which is a surprise because when we are doing things and its not really quiet i have a hard time paying attention i get distracted way to easily. But it interested me a lot! So now i will NOT be confused next time we do it! =) Anyway, it is such a long process, we did it for 3hours. Then we ate lunch and after lunch we were put into groups 1-8 and we were supposed to go on a scavenger hunt in downtown Denver, answer some questions take pictures of us infront of places..stuff like that. So we all went off and it was pretty easy questions, mostly because i had internet on my phone, so we looked up some answers on the internet! Haha Yay for technology! =) Then after that we had to take a picture of us with a security guard or police officer, and we had to take a picture in front of the state capitol building and we all had to be jumping in the air. It was fun, except i think i was the only one actually still in the air when they snapped the picture...So then Laura Lynn (our staff memeber that was with us) Bought us all some frozen yogurt with fresh fruit on it. because we got done early! Yummm it was so good! I got Blueberry-rasberry flavored yogurt and then topped it with fresh rasberries! It was so good! And then we went to the EPA building. Which stands for Environmental Protection Agency. We went on a private tour of the building and it was so awesome! they had a green roof, which was full of plants and flowers so that in the summer the sun is taken in by them and it provides the building to stay cool and then in the winter it provides insulation. Then everything was made out of something recycled, it was so awesome! the stairs were out of bamboo, and some type of marble. They gave us pencils that were made out of recycled Money! haha! SO cool! i love to learn about the organizations that are for protecting our environment and i believe that EVERYONE should recycle. So it was right up my ally to learn about all this, my mom recycles EVERYTHING! =)

After the tour we went back to Sherman even center and we had to do some workshops, i had two singing workshops, one for back up singing and the other was for solos. So it was fun and i learned some awesome songs!! that is actually what i am doing right now, listening to my music, I have soooo many songs to learn and i am on stage next week so everything has to be momorized! I sure have my work cut out for me thats for sure! Well i better get to learning these lyrics and i am so happy tomorrow is Friday! Then i get a weekend!!!

my Wonderful Wednesday!

Wednesday! The week is officially Halfway over! Time goes by way too fast, and when you are busy things seem to fly by like a blink of an eye. Almost like i am on Fast forward and the button seems to be Held down because NOTHING is slowing down for me! Today was a great day though, We started out with having some Leadership stuff and getting to visit with some guest speakers that were asked to speak with us, they went around to each table and we were able to engage in a conversation asking them questions and things about what they have learned and studied and what advice they had for us, the UwP cast before we begin our journey! It was awesome and i learned a few good tips. Like Be REALLY good at what you do and other things seem to just follow and fall in place. Or also that leadership means so many different things but to be a LEADER, there are characteristics that are needed, like having self motivation, not only Listening but Understanding what is being said and taking other peoples perspectives into consideration. We had many good conversations so it was interesting to see how these people that had different jobs and lines of work used leadership in everything and thats how they have reached every goal they have set for themselves. It made me take a step back to see if i am fulfilling the qualities of a good leader and it was so impacting to learn steps to take and other good actions that can be taken in order to get those qualities if you are unsure of them. Then after that we had Vocal practice, and i had an smaller workshop for Background vocals it was so fun! I am learning so much! i miss choir so it is nice to be back to my comfort of things...Then i had another individual workshop for solos, the R&B songs mostly...i am so excited and next week we'll be getting to perform with the live mics on stage with the entire cast! So cross my fingers!! =) Then we had Culture Jam tonight and that's where everyone gets together and makes something to perform from they're own country and where their culture starts! There were some AMAZING performers. a few people did Tap dancing and others sang songs in their own language. Me and Quita sang the song Flor de Las Flores, with her friend Sammy playing the guitar for us. It was AWESOME!!!!!!!! We had so much fun and everyone's compliments were so sweet, i guess we sounded good together! I loved it, and it was also the first time Quita had ever been on stage and performed so i was so extremely proud of her!!!! =) So it was such a good night, then when i got home i was able to call my Daddy because is here in Denver for some Business meetings. I went to his hotel and hung out with him for awhile, Gah it was so nice to get to see him and hug him. A good big Daddy hug feels so good and comforting!!! I talked his ear off about everything that was going on so im sure he enjoyed hearing me blab on and on! =) I jus had so much to say i felt like i couldnt get everything out and that i was talking so fast, haha i guess thats why its a good thing i blog, so that everyone can just read and not have to listen to me talk so fast! Im tellin you, i am permanently on Fast forward, and that includes how fast i talk, shoot it even includes the way i type, if only you guys could see how fast my lil fingers are going! hahaha! I just laughed out loud, because i am totally NOT joking i have speed fingers! Thats why i write a book everytime i have a new post! (Sorry dad, im shooting for 30min of family time for you to read this all out loud!) LOVE IT! =) well that was about all that happened today, what a great great day! I am sad it is over but i saw some amazing things and the last person i got to hug before i went to bed was my Daddio, so im gonna sleep good tonight!!!! LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo

Tuesday!!!!

Today is Tuesday! And was definitely a lot better than Monday! It was fun and for once in my life i wasn't exhausted when i got home, i actually felt a little refreshed and ready to get some things done rather than coming home and wanting to hit the sack right away!!! We did some awesome stuff today at Staging including starting our day off with some Admissions guidance. Like when we go into high schools or meet people, and pretty much like recruiting! It was so fun to talk about how we heard of Up with People and what we were doing before we came here. Also how we felt when we got our acceptance letter! It definitely made me think and remember back to those times and the feelings i felt. I even remember the exact way i felt when i was taking my interview and filling out my application. Also how i felt when i helped cast A 2007 with their Community Impact Project. The fact that each and every cast member inspired me to want to travel and impact other peoples lives in ways that they were doing was awesome. Something i will never forget. Just knowing that now I am the one apart of the cast and that people will feel the same way that i did when i saw Up with People the first time. It was just something so fun to look back on!
Then we did lots of vocal practice, we learned a new song and our cast sounds So good all together! And then after lunch everyone had cast movement (which is like fitness time) And choreography. But i had to miss it because i was called into a vocal Workshop to learn some parts to certain songs. It was fun and i felt right at home because we had to do part singing and in trio's and that is what i am used to. So it was fun! Then after that we went down to a room and none of us had a clue what we were going to be doing. So we walk in and all of a sudden all of our staff is dressed up fancy and walking around like they owned the place and we see a huge sign saying...Welcome to Las Begas...haha instead of Vegas. And there was like 13 tables set up around the room numbered and they each had a deck of cards and two pieces of paper on them. We had to sit at a table and play a card game without talking (in complete silence) and then you were trying to win so you could move up to the next table. Because table 13 was the top table, they were getting treated like kings and queens! So then we read the Rules and got started....i got so frustrated because when i would win i would get a chip and i was able to move to the next table but then at that table everyone played the game different than i did the first time...so i got super confused. Come to find out EVERY table had Different directions on them, so we all thought we were playing the 'same' game. But we weren't! It was funny, we had a huge discussion about it and it made me realize that in our everyday lives things change so fast, whether its rules or understanding and being patient with things you aren't familiar with. It was an amazing discussion and i honestly think that i will remember this activity and apply it into my future! I love how they have lessons all the time, its so interesting to see what they do next. Anyways, me and Quita are practicing our song for Culture Jam tomorrow (everyone can perform something from their culture like song, dance, poem etc.) so we are singing Flor De Las Flores and Quita is playing bass, I'm singing, and her friend Sammy is playing acoustic guitar for us. Its is gonna be AWESOME! So i will have to post up the video whenever on Thursday!!! I'm exhausted better get some sleep!!!! Adios!

Gotta Love Mondays!!!

Oh man, today is Monday and it definitely falls into the category of one of thee longest days of my life!! My day off yesterday just doesn't seem like it was long enough!! I cant wait to sleep in again NEXT week. I got off the phone with my sister earlier and i had asked her what she did today and she said, "Oh i just stayed home and hung out" and all that was running through my mind was, 'man i really took it for granted when i was able to just hangout at home and do NOTHING alllll day long' Here....we do not get that! We work work work from the morning to every minute we have left at the end of the day! I know that when i get home i wont be waisting anymore days away. Which will be really good for me!!!
Anyways, today all started with some cool leadership workshops and some team building activities. The entire basis was just focusing on What makes up a Leader, and stuff like that. We had 3different stations and the first one i went to was where we had to pick one word that we thought defined a leader and glue it to a huge piece of paper! The word i chose was Inspiring, because i feel that all leaders are there to inspire others to be all they can be and they are good examples to everyone around them. Then we had to answer questions like Who fits this word that we know, and i said my Mom and Sister because they inspire me everyday to be a better person and to show the world what i am capable of doing and that i can truly impact someones life like they have done with me. It was cool. Then our next station was interesting and also my absolute favorite...We had a piece of paper where we split into two sides. Then our staff member Dave started asking us questions that we had to answer and write them down on the piece of paper. The questions were... Name 5 Nobel prize winners, name 3 actors/actresses that have won an academy awards, name 3most richest people in the world, Name 4 Olympic gold medal winners and name the countries that have won the world cup in the past 5years. So as you are reading those questions....Can you answer them yourself????? Read them again. All i can say is that i sat there saying...uh uh uh...to every question! haha Some of them i could answer but the others i felt dumb because i was like hmm should i know this stuff! So it was extremely hard for me. THEN on our second list he said, Name the 5teachers that have impacted your life, name 4people that have been there for you through a rough time, name 5people that you think is a leader, name 3people that you trust...and three people that care about you. I sat there and wrote down all those answers within seconds because i didn't even have to think about the answers i already knew them and knew that they were the right answers. It was definitely an activity that made me learn that the world is full of people that we are supposed to look up to and consider Leaders....but it is what the world makes of them, Its not like we know them personally. So it was super interesting and made me miss home so much because everyday my life is full of leaders and people that have impacted me in ways that aren't even spoken. It was cool to see everyones reactions. Our Last station was where we had to go through magazines and cut out things we thought represented a leader. I cut out a person with an earring on, because the picture of the ear meant that a leader has to be a good listener, and i also cut out a picture of a lady with some little children in a 3world country because i feel that a leader needs to step beyond themselves and become Selfless....to put others before them and to help like the lady was helping and giving money so the little children could have a meal. All the activities were awesome and i learned a lot.
So that was the first half of our day, and after lunch we started with blocking (staging) we went thru our entire show from act 1 all the way thru act 2. We had to put our show costumes on so that we could really get a feel for what it was going to look like with everyone in different colors. So it was very very long and my patience was tested a lot today because its very time consuming. But we went through it with flying colors then we were able to take our costumes off and go thru it again with some actual songs and choreography. It was a long long long end of the day and i was beat. So when we got home we ate dinner, went to the store so quita could get some stuff and now i am home...and it is raining so hard with a tornado warning i guess. So thats kinda nuts! Pray for me! haha! I am off to bed now, ready to start my day again tomorrow!!!! Love you all!!!!