We're Back

Hello Everyone,

I got home yesterday around 3:00 PM (Not everyone did). I had intended on writing more on the trip, but after we left Anshan we didn't have an Internet connection. Do not fear though. I wrote things down that I wanted to share with you so I will be posting them over the next few days and will put up some pictures when I get back to school and my usb cable.

So yesterday (Dec 22) we arrived in San Francisco about 9:00 am after leaving Beijing at 2:25 pm on (Dec 22). Yep that whole international date line thing struck again and we arrived hours before we left. When we arrived in S.F. we found out that I was one of four of our group who had been issued Boarding Passes for our S.F. to Portland flight and everyone else (31 people) had been put on stand-by. We didn't know how many of us would get home up until the door to the place closed. We ended up leaving around 16 people in S.F. They got put up in the S.F. Airport Embassy Suites, and given a free ticket to anywhere in the 48 continental states, but had to wait until 6:00 this morning to fly out, and a free ticket and hotel is nice, but it's not home. All in all the WOU Chamber Choir is not happy with United Air Lines right now.


So I have slept almost all day and I finally understand what Jet Lag is. I hope you all are doing well. and have a Merry Christmas.

~Seth

Leaving Anshan

Well, we are leaving Anshan for Shenyang in about an hour. I'm not sure what awaits us there, and if we will have Internet access or not, but I will write things down if we don't so I can be sure to update when I get a chance.
Yesterday we went to a local high school and met some students. They sang for us and we sang for them. The school was beautiful. It was nicer than our college and this was a high school. They had an amazing science building with a animal diorama that was so cool. I got pictures and will post them when we get back. We then went to the Jade Buddha Garden and saw the worlds largest jade Buddha, it was huge and absolutely beautiful. After that we went to an international hotel and had lunch with some local dignitaries. It was a huge feast, they feed us a ton of food. I'm not sure it is all edible, but there is a lot of it. After that we went shopping in Anshan. It's crazy trying to barter in another language. We shopped for about two hours and went back to our rooms to prepare for our evenings concert. We got to the hall with about ten minutes to spare, did our concert without a warm up or sound check and then were taken to another feast. It's crazy! Well, I should take off. Take Care


~Seth

First Concerts

Today we had the first performances of our trip. We had two actually and right now I have no voice. I hope it comes back for the rest of our trip. The concert hall was cool but so smoky it was very hard on our voices. For you Sweeney's out there it was like there were 1500 Bob Bowsers in the audience. Everyone smoked! Tomorrow we have two more concerts, we'll see how they go. For our lunch today they brought us McDonald's, it was funny that on our 2nd day we ate pure American food. Well, I'm off to bed again, TTYL

~Seth

Arrived and tired

Hey everyone,

Well three flights, one bus trip and 27 hours later we arrived in Anshan, China. This is the first of four stops on our tour. We spent our first day here to day and met the Anshan Normal University Choir, toured the campus, toured an art museum, and met the administrators of the school. Oh, yeah... we also played in the snow!!! It is now 8:30 PM on Tuesday here but back home it is 4:30 Am Tuesday, it's very odd. The time change didn't affect me like I thought it would, by the time we got to our room at 12:00 midnight we were so tired it didn't matter it was 8:00 in the morning at home. We have two concerts tomorrow and were told to expect 1500 people to watch us.

When we met the students from the choir today we felt like celebrities. Cameras were out and everyone wanted our pictures. I don't think I could ever get used to that, I don't know how or if celebrities do.

Well, we are three days down on the trip now and it's been good. We are all exhausted and could use a good nights sleep, so I'm off to bed. I hope to keep checking in. Have a great couple weeks everyone.

~Seth

Taking off

Hey guys, Well, tomorrow is the big day! I have to be at the airport at 4:30 am (Sunday) and we will be traveling until 6:30 am (Monday). I'm not too excited about that part. I'll try to get online to post some updates if I can. Take care


Seth

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Hey all,

So I finished my biggest final today and have the rest of the week to prep for going to China. Yep, that's right. For those of you that don't know, the choir I'm in here at school (The Western Oregon University Chamber Choir) is headed to China on December 9th. I hope to be able to update while I'm there, but I will take all kinds of pictures and post them when I get back if nothing more. I don't know what your personal beliefs are but any prayers or positive thoughts are totally welcome as we go on this adventure.

In other news, we had our first rehearsal for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" yesterday. HOLY CRAP this is a hilarious show. It is full of off color jokes and innuendo. It's fabulous! I hope you can get a chance to see it. It may be one of the only chances you get to see me as a Reverend. That and when I perform weddings. Well, it's late and I should go to bed, but I hope everyone is doing well and your holiday season is going splendidly.

Much Love
Seth

SYTYCD

This past Tuesday I went to Portland for the tour of So You Think You Can Dance. Amazing is putting it lightly. These people are so freaking talented it is disgusting. They did almost all of my favorite dances from the season plus some more. I was SOOO excited that they did Lacey and Kameron's Mia Michaels Contemporary routine to Dancing.



They also performed the other Mia Michaels routine to Time by Billy Porter. Mia choreographed her idea of what it will be like to meet up with her father who passed away a couple years ago again in Heaven.



It was such a fun night. Here are pictures I got from the concert. It's not great, I have better zoom with my eyes than my camera. The Top Ten, and my two favs Sabra and Neil.

NEW BLOG!!!

Hey everyone, Seth here.

So it's been a big week for me. It started with Auditions here at Western Oregon University, for The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Sunday night I auditioned and on Monday we had callbacks. Tuesday I found out I was cast as Reverend Crispsparkle. We will run February 28 - March 8.

Then on Wednesday my computer crashed. Yes, it's very sad. So I get to use school, and roommate computers until mine gets fixed or I can buy a new one. And that means my cool Adorkable Blog Banner at the top will, read "Coming Soon" until I get a working computer and can make a new one.

So this Saturday Nov 17, at 7:00 PM We have the third annual Gallery Theater Season Preview Night and Sunday at 4:00 I will be performing with Festival Choral Oregon at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem.

~Seth