Arrivals

Dear Colin,

The last few days apart went quickly- nothing ever happened at the festival where I didn't feel safe. (except someone trying to get in our room at 2:30 in the morning. But we had locked the door, so we all were just woken up by the door trying to be opened...) even with not feeling safe where we were staying, we has a beautiful square to perform in Zamosc:



This one is a bit dark- but you can see the stage-


We were even able to find a pizza place that had Internet past 8pm at night-


Yum. We performed outside once,changing behind a not so dense tree fence-


I can tie the perfect bow. And I tried to teach the rest of the team-


The festival was nice but I was so ready to leave. I want to feel safe... We did some stretches while we were off the bus to Warsaw, led by Miriam and Cat :)


remember when we were here last time we did a fireside at a church in Warsaw? We performed at the same church-


We always love when the Ahuna family travels with us- he takes up large chunks of time in shows, so we don't have to dance as long or we have longer changes. :) Micheal came this year- he is cool:


And then Emily and I had a lazy day in Warsaw, mostly spent laying in our clean hostel beds and watching movies, with a little site seeing thrown in. But not much. We were ready to leave at 9am the next day, travelled to the airport and started our journey home- stopping in London to see my lovely parents-


I love them. And guess what?! We got my dad new sunglasses. He really rocks the aviators


Then it was a long flight to JFK, where I watched The Hunger Games for the fifth time, and then home to DC.

Thanks for coming and getting me. And taking me home to shower and sleep. I love you. And now I am home!

Amy

Creepy

Dear Colin,

Last night a few of us stayed back at our school/hostel from a party because we didn't want to make our sicknesses worse. We played games, went for pizza next door, and came back, excited to go to bed early while it was quiet. (when all the dance groups are in the building, parties go til the early hours of the morning, and everyone passes by my ground floor room in order to get to the stairs to go up to their rooms. It is LOUD. I barely sleep thru it all with my earplugs.)

No such luck. As soon as we got to our rooms to get ready for bed, we brushed our teeth, and it was silent thru the whole building.

Then someone knocked on our window.

(insert scream here)

Let's also mention there are bars on our windows. Whoever was knocking had to reach thru the bars to knock. Really loud.

(second scream here)

It was only five of us girls who were here. All. Alone. And they were knocking on all of our windows. Multiple.

They knocked for a few minutes. Also pulled on the bars. We stood in the hall hoping they would leave, and wondering what in the world to do if it got worse. There were a lot of male voices behind the knocks. And eventually, even after the knocking had stopped, I couldn't go into my room. The curtains didn't cover all the window, so with the light on, anyone could see in, but I couldn't see out. Yep. Freaky. So we all stayed in the hallway until everyone else came back from the party. We sent some boys to go check out outside our windows, but since it had been a while, of course no one was there.

Creepy creepy creepy.

I have never not felt safe at a festival. I don't feel safe here.

I'm happy to come home to you soon. Where I feel safe.

Cash or Card

Dear Colin,

Today I went to the grocery store to stock up on juice and water- I don't want to get any more sick than I already am.


Yep. Emily and I have all our water and stuff piled onto our side table. :)

The lady at the store got frustrated at me using a card instead of cash. It was an ordeal. People don't use cards here. I guess it's just that small of a town. But I didn't have enough cash for all the juice I wanted to buy! And she and everyone behind me were sighing in impatience. Cool.

But honestly, when was the last time you paid for something in cash in America?

Miss you.

Awkward.

Dear Colin,

I've been away long enough now that I start to dream really weird things. A few nights ago a boy on tour with me confessed his undying love for me. He also had a haircut like obi wan in the newer Star Wars movies. Later in that dream we had twins- a boy and a girl. We had them home for one day before you lost our boy. You had given him to an old Tongan friend and didn't know where he was. Last year when I was away I had weird dreams too. I dreamt I was coming home to you, only when I got home it wasn't you. It was a boy that was on tour with. I was furious in my dream. I was so angry when I woke up.

Weird. I can't wait to come home in one week and see your face.

Love.

Art

Dear Colin,

This is on our wall in our hotel/hostel/prison we are staying at for this next festival. Art?


I also fell in acapella the last show of our festival on sunday. My nylons were still wrinkly from the box they were so new. And I had to throw them away because I ripped my knee open.


And these three lovely girls were our guides at this last festival. They were fabulous. I wish they could be our guides all festivals.


Being here makes me want to come back next year. Its an addiction, it really is.

Love.

Addicted

Dear Colin,

Festivals are addicting. Thank you for letting me continue to indulge in them--

These goats are the festival mascots :)





Band shows are always my favorite-



And more festival life-












(This is all of us trying to get Internet at the closest bar-)

















We also looked for Internet behind the porta potties. :)


And the one group photo they chose to blow up an frame as a gift for our group- I'm closin my eyes. Cool.



That's all. :)




Love.

Checking in-

Dear Colin,

I didn't know people mined for salt. That is new knowledge to me. I guess I hadn't thought about it...

We went to a salt mine today- they have carved things in all the remaining salt, and it is a huge tourist destination. and it is cold. I love this guy-


They made a cathedral. Underground. Out of salt.








Not so great of photos. But you can get the idea. I also went to the bathroom over 120 meters underground. (in a bathroom mind you)

I'm shopping a lot. Remember the market in Krakow?


Large 's' are everywhere with a crown on top. We were meant to live in castles and palaces. Have you found the royalty in your lines yet?


I love Krakow.


But I love you more.

Dear Colin-

Our last hours in Prague- spent ghost touring, eating at hard rock cafe, paddle boating, and drawing on the John Lenin wall. Lovely. :) we were almost attacked by a swan on the river-


When you have to go...


The padlock tourist thing I keep seeing everywhere around the world is here too- tradition is that it symbolizes locking your love.


Then the wall where everyone comes to paint or write- I drew a tree...


And now we are in Krakow. Love it.

Love you more.

Chubby

Dear Colin,

Would you still love me if my feet looked like this all the time? I have fat feet- they are swelling with all the heat and walking and bus rides.




What if I had no neck?








Pretty.

Czech

I love Prague. So much.



We went to the Jewish quarter- remember this cemetery?


And this clock?


We went and saw a marionette show- Don Giovanni. Loved. It.


Then today- more wandering thru Prague-


Folklore of Prague- rabbi loew made a golem. There are so many stories/versions of the story around.


The golem is everywhere. Like this van- for a kosher restaurant. The golem is making and serving the food. The fact that it is a claymation is just a plus.


We also went to the cathedral at the top of the hill. Remember this cathedral?


And this would be on top of our gate if we ever own a castle. Better get ready to search for your royal lines.


And then this library that was like the Beauty and the Beast- it had hundreds of old old books. Loved.


And it's not tour without a vogue photo shoot-


This is the room where we rehearse. It is awesome. It would be even better if it were air conditioned.


And it is beautiful here.


Miss you.