2 Days...

OMG! I will be leaving my house to head to the airport in 30 hours! This past month has been crazy and has flown by faster than I could have ever imagined! So maybe I didn't write everyday about my preparations like I had wanted to, but even though I'll be even busier once I'm on my trip I won't let you down and will write whenever Internet connections allow me to do so!
The middle of June, I found my costume while Father's Day shopping with my mom! We were randomly in JCPenny's...yes I said randomly haha when my mom noticed this "cultural" necklace on the wall. Not only did the necklace end up being perfect, so did the matching bracelet and the skirt displayed beneath it.! It was perfect! Ethnic like pattern, elastic waist so I can easily dance and move in it, and it had all the right colors that matched my sample color pallet that UWP had sent me! So that was one thing checked off my list and very exciting to purchase!!!
Last week my mom and I drove out to the Galt Flea Market and purchase the cutest suitcase set ever! It's black with teal/clue polka dots on it and each piece comes with a huge satin ribbon attached! I got the large piece, the carry on size, and the small duffel that I will be using as my "carry on personal item" that fits on the top of my rolling carry on! They are sooooo cute, easily spotable on the luggage thingy and absolutely perfect!
Last week we also went shopping for a few new clothes as well and you know me! Shopping always goes over well=) I got new undergarments haha a few new shirts and a few new bottoms! As for as clothes go I was all set!
This past weekend was 4th of July and as I awoke early on Sunday morning from one eventful 4th, it hit me! I was leaving in 5 days and I had to say goodbye to my friends down south for 6 long months! Moving back home and saying goodbye after I graduated was tough, but I still had the opportunity o see my friends whenever I wanted...I just had to drive 6 hours! This was a little different knowing I couldn't see them till after Christmas! But as usual I pulled it together, knowing I would be just fine and that they all will be anxiously awaiting my arrival and all my stories when I return! While I was down south, I stopped at my favorite store Discount Dance Supply and picked up new dance tights and dance shoes to take with me!
On Monday of this week, my mom and I went to Target to get all my toiletries! This was one expensive Target trip! You quickly forget how fast things like this can add up but we had to do it! On Tuesday we started packing! I have setting aside and laying things out in my brothers room for the past 2 weeks now so I pretty much had all me stuff together in one place which was good! As we started filling the suit case, I was amazed how much extra space I had...until it came time to weigh it! Just as I had expected...48 pounds! 4 pounds over the weight limit! So we re opened my suitcase, re-evaluated the need of everything in it, eliminated 2 shirts, a pair of shorts and my blow drying hair stuff and presto...43.4 pounds! Perfect! I still have not finished packing my carry on's yet, but I am planning on doing that tomorrow!
Last night I tried to work on my host family gifts but lack of wireless Internet in my house has made that quite a chore! Sp finally, my cousin and I went over to Panera to use there wireless only to find 2 hours later, right as I am finishing downloading my songs, that my I-tunes crashes and my computer is messed up! Completely discouraged I headed home and briefly gave up on the idea of burning California/USA CD's for all my host families due to the fact that my Dad had brought home bumper stickers, key chains and pins from the dealership the night before! I was upset, discouraged, nervous and stressed, and at that moment in time, everything seemed to be falling apart! But as usual, still even at the age of 23, I sat on my Mom and Dad's bed last night as they calmed me down and for the millionth time verbally fixed everything! They told me to purchase the songs on I-tunes on our home computer and burn the cd's that way, and to take my computer into my Dad's computer guy first thing in the morning and tell him to fix whatever's wrong with it and fix it fast! and as of right now, everything is perfect again! I am currently burning my CD's, my computer is at the place getting fixed and should be done tomorrow, I got my journal, address book, a book to read, a new camera case and a web cam so I can use Skype while I'm gone all today, and all I have to do tomorrow is one Target trip, finish packing my carry-on's and get my hair, nails, toes, and eye0brows all done! I am in pretty good shape!
I said goodbye to all my aunts and uncles tonight! Today was my Grandma's birthday and we had a family party for her at my house so it was great hanging with everyone one last time before I leave! Especially since I won't see everyone at Thanksgiving =(
Tomorrow is a busy day but hopefully not to stressful! I am going to try and get some sleep tonight cause I know I won't be getting much tomorrow night! Goodnight!

30 Days...

Today is June 10th! In exactly 4 weeks at this time I will be in Denver with my first host family and day 1 of UWP under my belt! Crazy isn't it? The closer I get to fulfilling this dream the more nervous I become! Of course these are good nerves, but the uncertainty of how everything is going to fall in to place and not knowing what exactly we are going to be doing everyday is exciting yet nerve racking at the same time!
Tomorrow our first group assignment via facebook is due and I have learned so much about the 2 countries both my partners are from. Willemijn is from Holland and she is 19 years old and Shiona is from Japan and she is 21! Our first assignment consisted of forming groups of 3 and figuring out 3 similarities and 3 differences! The similarities were a lot easier to come across than I had imagined but it was the differences believe it or not that stumped us a bit! Anyway, this is what we came up with!
Similarities:
1. We all love sushi
2. We all love kids (i.e. working with them and babysitting)
3. We have all worked in some kind of food related job (restaurant, cafe, country club)
Differences:
1. We all heard about UWP in different ways (I saw a the show when I was a child, Shiona heard about it through a friend who traveled with UWP in the past and Willemijn's family became a host family when UWP came through their town)
2. We are in different places as far as career objectives go! (I know exactly what I want to do=be a teacher, Willemijn has a whole bunch of options but isn't sure on which one to pick and Shiona has no clue what she want's to do and is hoping traveling with UWP might give her a better idea)
3. Age limitations in all of our countries are very different!
USA: 16 to drive, 18 is legal, you can buy cigarettes and lotto tickets, 21 to drink and to go to clubs
Holland: 16 to go out and to buy alcohol (but not the strong stuff like whisky lol) and cigarettes, 18 to drive and buy really hard alcohol
Japan: 16 to bike (I'm still trying to figure out if that mean bicycle or motorcycle), 18 to drive, and 20 to buy cigarettes and alcohol!
I found it interesting how in some countries you can drink before you can drive! I also learned a lot of things about schooling in their countries and and hobbies they enjoy! Overall, I really enjoyed the assignment and I think it was a good way to start getting to know my castmates.

Tomorrow brings a new day full of challenges, obstacles and new things to overcome, but to me, it's one day closer to the 6 month journey that will change my life forever!

31 Days...

YAY! I just booked my flight to Denver and I am so excited! On July 10th, I fly out of Sacramento at 8:02AM and I arrive in Denver at 11:24AM! The past 9 months have zoomed past me like a race car in the Indy500! I have met (well spoken too via facebook) so many wonderful people that I will be traveling with and I am so excited! I knew I would be traveling with people from all over, but now actually being in contact with them has made everything that more realistic and life like. It's like I had to see them (or at least their picture and profile) to believe that there really are other people about to encounter this once in a lifetime experience with me!
I have started making a list of things I need to do before I leave! This is what I have come up with so far:
1. Get more memory cards for my camera
2. Update my virus protection on my lap top
3. Purchase a web cam
4. Purchase converters
5. Update my i-pod
6. Put together a small photo album of recent pictures of my family and friends to take with me
7. Get tapes for my video camera
8. Find a suit case large enough and light enough to fit everything in it
9. Work on gifts for my host families and their children
10. Collect everyone's e-mail and home addresses so I can send postcards and e-mails

I'm sure that within the next 4 weeks that list will grow to be a mile long but that's a start!
Here is our temporary tour schedule so you all have an idea of where exactly I will be traveling to!
UWP Returns to Europe with Cast B 2009
UWP will be sponsored by a multi-national company based in Sweden to help them celebrate their 100th anniversary. Performances in these cities will be for their employees only (marked below as Private show).
UNITED STATES DATES
Denver, CO (Orientation & Staging) 10 July – 9 Aug
Colorado 10 Aug –12 Aug
Colorado 13 Aug – 16 Aug
New Mexico 17 Aug – 23 Aug
Arizona 24 Aug – 30 Aug
MEXICO DATES
Ciudad Obregon 31 Aug – 6 Sept
Guadalajara 7 Sept – 13 Sept
Puebla 14 Sept – 20 Sept
Tlaxcala 21 Sept – 27 Sept
Morelia 28 Sept – 5 Oct
EUROPE DATES
Uppsala, Sweden (Private show) 6 Oct – 9 Oct
Stockholm, Sweden (Private show) 10 Oct – 14 Oct
Luleå, Sweden (Private show) 15 Oct – 19 Oct
Vänersborg, Sweden (Private show) 20 Oct – 23 Oct
Denmark, Germany 24 Oct – 31 Oct
Warsaw, Poland (Private show) 1 Nov – 3 Nov
Zabrze, Poland (Private show) 4 Nov – 6 Nov
Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark 7 Nov – 24 Nov
Odense, Denmark (Private show) 25 Nov – 27 Nov
Varberg, Sweden (Private show) 28 Nov – 2 Dec
Uppsala, Sweden (Private show) 3 Dec – 7 Dec
Tampere, Finland (Private show) 8 Dec – 11 Dec
Sweden 12 Dec – 15 Dec
Tour cities and dates are subject to change.

32 Days...

OMG!!! It seems like just yesterday, I was a little girl staring at a future dream that I had to be a part of! Sitting in an auditorium (well more like dancing in the aisles!) staring at a stage filled with young people (much older than I at the time) singing, dancing, and filling the room with an unexplainable energy was way more than my eager little body and dream filled heart could take in at any given time. Little did I know that that moment in time would change my life 15 or some odd years later!


Yes my friends, I was at an Up With People Show and completely in my element! The show was incredible, but back then, I was to young to realize just how big of an impression that show had just made on my life!


Last October (2008), just 2 months shy of earning my college degree, I sat in my apartment alone, contemplating what the next chapter in my life was going to be. While I knew the pages were about to turn, I hadn't a clue what to write on them! Though it sounds a little crazy, it was at that moment, that I had an epiphany. Up With People, a program I had not thought about for more than a decade of my life popped in my head and my first instinct was "Google it!" Within one click, my future was starring back at me! The same program that had given me such inspiration as a child was right before me begging for me to be apart of it. I quickly scurried around the site, eagerly gathering information until I had only one thing left to do! Apply! And there it began, the beginning to the next chapter of my life!



I sped through the application as if their was a prize to be captured at the end of the finish line! I submitted it and immediately received an e-mail back thanking me for my application, and then waiting began. Not to long after that, I was granted an interview. I carefully read and reread any and every e-mail I received from Up With People, learning my next step in the process and selecting my interview time. On the day of my interview, I was a wreck! I was nervous, panicky, and completely freaking out! What if they didn't like me? What if I didn't get in? What if I say the wrong thing? I paced back and forth in my quiet, semi-dark apartment, cell phone grasped in hand trying to stay calm. Then, it rang! I answered it slowly, much more professionally than I normally answer my personal calls on my cell. On the other line was JC! An UWP Program Director and the person I would become quite familiar with in the next 9 months or so! He quickly explained the process to me and I immediately felt more comfortable and we began the interview.



The interview was actually a piece of cake! I mean let's be honest! Who doesn't like to talk about themselves with no interruptions for over an hour? For approximately 80 minutes or so, I got to "toot my own horn" and share all the wonderful things that come along with being me! Before I new it, the interview was over and I was overly thrilled to hear that JC would be recommending me to the program however, I had to wait several weeks to see if I was actually accepted or not! The next few weeks were awful! It felt like everyday was as long as a week, and I couldn't wait any longer to see if I had the next chapter in my life planned out for me or not!



Everything within the application process moved so fast!

October 13, 2008 - I applied

October 22, 2008 - I interviewed

November 12, 2008 - I was accepted



On November 12th, (the last possible day I was supposed to hear if I was accepted or not) I woke up nervous as ever, went to teach my morning dance classes and eagerly waited that dreaded e-mail. After work, I was about half way home, driving on the freeway when my phone vibrated! Usually, I pick it up and read the text or e-mail like I have done thousands of times before. But this time was different. I slowly picked up my phone and saw that it was an e-mail and I became frozen. With a deep breath, I scrolled through my Blackberry and clicked on the e-mail logo! As soon as I saw the title reading "Congratulations..." from and UWP address I freaked! Here Is what I read....

November 12, 2008

Hi Lynsie,

Congratulations! It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted into the July 2009 program of Up with People. We are all very excited that you will be a part of Up with People and look forward to working with you through the next several months as you complete your plans to join us. Keep your eye on your mailbox for your official acceptance letter which should arrive any day.

If you haven’t already received a phone call from your admissions counselor, I know you will very soon. Your counselor is here to help you through your enrollment process.

We are still approximately a year away from the start of your program, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t start preparing now! To start, let me update you on your Enrollment Procedures.

Enrollment Forms: These documents contain important information that you will need to print, read, complete and return to us here in Denver . I will sent you this packet via email and it should arrive in your inbox the last week of January 2009.

Student Handbook: Your Student Handbook will be sent to you (via post) in the next few months. Covering everything from education tracks to packing tips, all the information you need for your six months of international travel is included in this handbook.

Visa Information: Up with People will provide a number of documents that will help you obtain your visas.

Please note: Not all participants will receive these documents. Depending on your nationality, you may not need to get any visas for the countries you visit during the July 2009 tour. Subsequent information will be sent to you in early 2009.

Passport: You will need a valid passport to travel in the program. If you don’t already have your passport, get it now! If you do have your passport, it must be valid for at least 6 months after you return from the program. Since you will return in December, 2009 your passport must be valid until June, 2010.

The following link provides the necessary directions for obtaining your passport:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Finances: What is your financial plan? If you are interested in receiving more information about our funding options including fundraising ideas and scholarship opportunities, please reply to this email and I will send you what you need. It is never too early to start saving for the program. Many participants open up a separate savings account that they devote to Up with People.

So what can you do now? I recommend that you enroll in the program. This simply confirms for us that you plan to participate in the July 2009 program. You may enroll by sending a quick reply to this email telling me that you are working toward participating in Up with People. All further communication will come to you through this email address, phone calls, and post mail.

Since we will be keeping in touch with you through phone calls, e-mail and post mail, be sure to update us with any changes in your addresses and phone numbers J.

I look forward to working with you and meeting you in July 2009.

Sincerely,

Colleen Eastman


Colleen Eastman
Associate Director of Admissions - Enrollment
Up with People
1600 Broadway, Suite 1460
Denver, CO 80202 USA
+1 303 460 7100, ext 106
www.upwithpeople.org


I was ecstatic! The next chapter of my life was finally about to be published and I was the happiest kid in the world!

The last several months have been such a whirlwind with e-mail after e-mail between me and my program counselor JC, and endless conversations of how to come up with the overwhelming expenses of this once and a lifetime opportunity and more importantly a childhood dream come true! My mom called a few days ago to tell me that I had received another packet in the mail from UWP containing information on costuming, staging in Denver and songs that I needed to learn. (Back in January I received my first packet of information containing my official acceptance letter and my UWP Handbook) Everything is coming together so quickly and yet, I'm not sure I want it to slow down! in just 32 days, I will be on a plane to Denver with an open book just waiting to be filled with lessons, friendships, and experiences only one can dream of!

In 32 days I will officially be "TRAVELing with a purpose, PERFORMing for thousands, and IMPACTing communities"

I am Lynsie Haley, and I, am a member, of Up With People, Cast B, July 2009 Tour!