Venezuela - Days 1-3

This is the first time I´ve had access to a computer since I left, so I´ll try to catch everyone up on what´s been happening:

The Seattle Peace Chorus flew via Houston, so during our layover we gave a practice concert at a local church, which gave us a delicious dinner. Back at the airport, we passed the remaining time singing along to a guitar, violin, and flute that various members had brought along. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:59PM, but when we got there the sign informed us that our flight had been delayed until midnight.

When we arrived at the Caracas Airport we had another, shorter layover, and I had my first taste of la comida venezolano. I ordered una tortilla con jamón y queso and was surprised that the word "tortilla" in Venezuela does not mean a type of flat bread like it does in México, but an omelete, like in España. We also traded songs with a children's choir called "Sonata" that was going to the same choral festival.

We got on our final plane, which took us to Isla Margarita, and a bus took us from the airport to the hotel. After we had a bit of time for swimming and dinner, we performed at the first of several nights of concerts in the festival. There was some sort of audience-choice awards for the evening, and "Seattle Peace Chorus" won second place. "Sonata" won third, and an amazing women's choir from Cuba took first. They had an entire song about how they were not going to sing or dance the congo, but hidden underneath the the avant-garde choral sounds were recognisable conga rhythms and a bit of choreography.

I warmed up my Spanish ear on the flights by watching The Bridge to Terabithia and The Kid en español. I finally managed to work up the courage to speak some Spanish at dinner. I decided to sit with a choir from Marida that was about my age. I haven´t felt so tounge-tied in my life! It took me a good 15 seconds to remember "Tengo dieciocho años," and even longer just to say the number seven in Spanish rather than German. This morning Justin (the only member of our choir close to my age) and I tried again with better results.

Both the Houston concert and our first concert on Isla Margarita have been well recieved. Last night a guy named Andreas(?) told me that he especially enjoyed "Shenandoah," because it reminded him of a group he had sung the song with. I´m surprised that our hit song seems to be "This Little Light of Mine." In Houston four girls started dancing in the aisles, and we had the whole audience on their feet at our last concert.

I'll write again soon, and hopefully be able to post pictures!