By now you know the drill.  Get up early, race downstairs to breakfast with 300 other people.  Eat the rubber eggs, or the cereal, or fight for the sweet rolls.  But hurry, you must race up the elevator and grab your bags for today is moving day.  The Americans are assigned two buses for the trip to Guangzchou.  So, we start loading people and bags in two buses at 8:15 am.  The buses have all of our troop, all of our luggage - stacked in the aisles.  The air shocks on the bus are shot.  The bus has road clearance of at least 6 inches.  We begin to roll.  It is 9:15 am.

North to Mong Kok, then out into the New Territories.  As we approach the border, Dr. Ackerly gives a brief speech about the need for the American choir to be on its best behavior.  In the lot out side are troops practicing with nightsticks and riot shields.  The kids have seen the soldiers, and the mood is serious.  The soldiers do not smile.  If someone has forgotten to fill out a portion of the immigration form, or put something in the wrong box, it is pointed out grimly and we move slowly - but thankfully - without incident through customs.

The bus groans out of the parking lot and follows the freeway north to Guangzchou, China's third largest city.  On the flatlands we see banana trees and rice paddies.  We see farms that appear to be raising ducks (all are white).  We see pigs being loaded into trucks.  The people are really wearing straw hats . . . so, it is not just something lift over from our history books.  And, they make sense in the baking sun and humidity.

We start into Gangzchou and the traffic picks up.  As we get towards city centre the bicycles and motorscooter dominate.  And, there is our hotel.  This is a nice one.  We proceed immediately to the dining hall for lunch - dim sum.
 

The plane departs at 11:40 am which we count as pretty much on time in Asia.  We climb upward out of the smog of Guangzchou and into the blue skies we have not seen in two days.

Arrival in Beijing is pleasant enough.  Good weather and nice temperature.  We are all well pleased that the humidity has been left behind.  We are on a parrallel with Philadelphia!!!  The TV cameras and hosts are at the gate waiting for us on arrival.  Dr. Ackerly is immediately picked off for an interview.  The Chairman, Jack Kukuk, is greeted by TV cameras and various dignataries carrying bouquets of flowers.  We realize this is going to be BIG stuff.

The organization is impeccable as we depart the airport.  Luggage to truck, and two new buses to take the American Youth Choir to the Friendship (Yo Yei) Hotel.Arrival the the Friendship Hotel is a shocker.  A BEAUTIFUL compound and property.  Very BIG.  The facilities are simply wonderful with a huge swimming pool, weight rooms, dance rooms, and shops everywhere.  The banquet halls are massive, the food is darn good!
 

What an incredible experience we are all having!  The American Youth Choir is definitely a hit here in China!  Our performances are being very well received by general audiences as well as audiences of other children's choirs from around the world.

I am really enjoying working with each of the choristers.  Their artistic excellence improves with each performance.  It is truly amazing the level of musicality and professionalism that has been achieved in a few short weeks.  Thank you for the opportunity to work with these wonderful young Americans.  I am also appreciative to the adult chaperones and their efforts on this trip.  I value their many efforts as part of our touring entorage.  I'm sad that our American Youth Choir experience will soon be over.  Many friendships have developed since we first got together on August 9th.  I hope many of us will be able to keep in touch in the years to come.  Best wishes always!    Julian Ackerley

The first part of the day is spent with the choral directors trying to figure out how to get all of the choir members up on the risers that stretch seemingly to the roof of the concert hall.  The rest of the day is rehearsal.  With short breaks to go outside in the park just outside the concert hall.