Since we are travelling with our instruments as part of our baggage allowance, it is going to be touch and go to keep within our allowance. In discussion with Emarites and our exceptional travel agent Christo Hauptflisch of Wild travel, the planes are very full and they cant give us a baggage dispensation so they solved the problem by bumping 5 of us up to Business class, giving us a bigger baggage allowance. This is a first time for us too and not only a trip of a life time for the band members but for us too. We are not so fortunate on the return trip though, but we will take what we can get. Wow.
We now also have an address where we will be staying in Los Angeles. Motel 6 Los Angeles LAX 5101 W Century Blvd Inglewood, CA, 90304 Today the group had a lesson from Peter Nel on life skills and he gave them a wonderful talk using the word M A R I M B A as a mind map and applying lessons to each letter. It is all coming together now and we are extremely excited. Here the group is seen receiving travel bags from Mr James Vos - the parliamentarian forThe Witzenberg. The excitement is building and the band members can hardly contain themselves.
The only information we have at this point is that the band will be opening for the headline act on Saturday 23 August. See document below. More details coming in slowly. So exciting.
Just had news that the Approved Visas and passports have just arrived at the travel agent and the US consulate had given us all a 10 YEAR VISA. How awesome is that. Invite us again next year and we will be there. Thank you US Embassy.
Our day started at 03.45 this morning, giving ourselves enough time to start picking up the team at their homes in the various townships surrounding Wolseley from 4.45 am. We were very impressed that everyone was up and ready and we did not have to wait for anyone. This augers well for travelling discipline or perhaps it is just that the band members are "just so excited". We had to get up this early in order to beat the morning traffic on the N1. We had a group interview slot for 08.30 at the US Embassy and we made it with only 20 minutes to spare. You are not allowed to park near the Embassy and have to park at a shopping center close by and walk. We had fortunately packed some egg and bacon sarmies which saved the day which was already a few hours old.
We refreshed and fueled up and took on the next task at hand. This was a new experience for the group - bullet proof glass, x ray machines, not cell phones etc etc. We were each finger printed and then had an individual interview all behind very thick glass on a telephone as is seen on the movies in prisons. Suffice to say, all went well - we checked out and our story was legit and we got 10 approvals. Just so happy and excited - this dream is about to come true. A LONG BUT GOOD DAY. Whilst you are all tucked up warm in your beds tomorrow, think of us getting up at 4 am in order round up all the band members in the township and leave by 5 am in order to beat the morning traffic into Cape Town. We have a group interview with the USA consulate scheduled for 8.30 am and we all have to be present. We will do what it takes to get the visa sorted. ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!
The Members of the amaWolseley Marimba band seen here with a group of the Sommeliers, visiting from the United States of America at Fable Wine Estate near Tulbagh. It was an exciting event and the American visitors gave the band a warm reception. It was here that business cards were exchanged and plans were discussed with Charles Banks as sponsor and David Bernahl ll as organizer of the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival. (www.lafw.com) I sometimes wonder if they have regretted this. Once we were given a bone, we held on like terriers and did not let go and here we are about to embark on a trip of a lifetime for these children. Thank you so much. We intend to make you proud and to bring exciting energy to your festival from a small town in the Western Cape. You will not regret your kind offer. "Buya Afrika"! |
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