Natalie's school band found out toward the beginning of the year that they would be headed to Boston for a competition. Natalie had to earn half of the money herself if she wanted to go with the school. She had to earn roughly $900. The trip was well planned out. The kids each were given 4 blue shirts and a blue sweatshirt that they were required to wear.
Natalie in her smurf blue tshirt.
Natalie had to meet at the airport at 10:30 pm for the flight. Natalie was really tired on the flight to Boston. They had an 2 hour layover in Portland. They arrived in Boston at 5:30 pm. They had to wait for the other flight to get in (the group of 120 students and 50 chaperone's were divided up between two flights). After all of the kids had arrived they got on a bus and went to a mall. Where they hung out for a couple of hours. Then there was a looooong drive to the hotel. Where they checked in and unpacked their rooms. Natalie's roommates were Sydney, Karmen, and Carrie (pictured above).
The next morning the kids had breakfast at the hotel. Then they loaded up the instruments into a Uhaul and loaded themselves into a bus and the kids went to Fenway Park. There she toured the baseball field. They also went to a gift shop. After that they loaded up and went to get critiqued at the Boston Symphony Orchestra building. And the guy knew two of the three people that composed the bands pieces that they played. Then the kids changed into nice close and toured the orchestra building. After that they went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. And went shopping at Fanniel Hall. They watch the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform. All of the kids fell asleep. That was it for day 1.
The next day the kids took a walking tour through Boston. They hiked the freedom trail which is where a tour guide takes you around and shows you where important history events happened. Like where the graves of a couple of people who signed the Declaration of Independence are buried and where the Boston Massacre happened. Where Paul Revere lived. Where Benjamin Franklin went to school. Also special note Natalie got chicken bones blown into her face. The sad part there was still a chicken on them. The kids went to Bunker Hill Monument. Natalie climbed up it twice. There are 294 stairs to the top.
On Friday the group went to the science museum. The kids went to a lightening show that was really fun and deafening (hum is that a word?). After that they went to the beach. Natalie found giant shells.
Saturday the band performed at the competition. They played Black Granite 3, Perthshire Majesty, and last they played Where Eagles Soar. In the end usually one judge comes up and fixes a few things. But for the first time ever all 3 judges came up and complemented the kids. One of them said "If I were to close my eyes I would of never pictured this as a middle school band because they were so mature with their sound". They they went back to the hotel and changed into big people clothes and went back to the hall. After that they went to a banquet for all of the bands where they had dinner and awards were presented. The band scored 91, 92, and 93 out of 100. And got a gold, an adjudicators award, a spirit award, and 3 soloist awards.
The last day the band went to six flags where it poured on them the whole time. They went back to the hotel early because of the weather. They hung out and packed. Natalie could of went swimming but opted not to.
At 4 o'clock in the morning the fire alarm went off. But it was a false alarm. Lastly they went to the airport and came home. They left Boston at 1:30 in the afternoon and got home 1:15 am the next. She had a blast. And would do it again in a heartbeat.
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