MEET THE CHINA 2013 TEAM
Hard to believe, but. . .
We leave for China TOMORROW!
We've been preparing for this time for over a year, but it's crazy that it's come up so fast.
I'll be writing and updating this blog as much as possible while we're in China, to let you all know what's going on with us! But first, I'm writing here in the U.S., to give you all a chance to get to know our team a little better!
MEET THE TEAM:
Jeff James, our tour coordinator! He is the professor of instrumental music at Grace University and the conductor for the tour, as well as our trombone player! He has been to China four times before, twice when adopting his sons Micah and Josiah, and twice leading tours just like this one, in 2007 and 2010. He's excited about going to China because he's looking forward to performing for the people there! His concern about the tour is hoping everyone stays healthy. An interesting fact about him is that he is very excited to be taking his WHOLE family this year! (Oh, dad.)
Deb Osmanson, our travel coordinator and a vocalist who is also helping out by playing cymbals! She went to China on the 2010 tour and is excited to go back and meet new friends in China. She's a little nervous about the long flight (a total of around 21 hours)! An interesting fact about her is that she is an avid scuba diver! Wow! Who knew?
Debbie Rathman, nurse, videographer, and bass clarinet player for the tour. She has never been to China, but she has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Netherlands, Israel, and Egypt. She's excited about shopping in China and experiencing Chinese culture. One thing she's worried about is having to carry everything up more than three flights of stairs at the TUT hotel! Definitely sounds intimidating, with all the instruments and luggage we have! She's also worried about the pollution over there, hoping everyone stays healthy. An interesting fact she would like to share is that she is a grandmother expecting her second grandchild in November! She also adds that she has multiple "grand-puppies and kitties" as well as three cats and two dogs at home. None of them will be coming with us to China, however. ;)
Wendy Whaley is our clothing coordinator and clarinet section leader. She has been overseas a couple times before. . .twice to Russia, once to Moldova, Nicaragua, and Austria, and twice before to China! What a traveled woman! Wendy has been on both the previous tours and is excited to go back! She has been having health problems recently and is concerned about her health and the health of the team while we're over there. An interesting fact about herself is that she has SIX grandchildren!
Rick Whaley, Wendy's husband, is the chaplain for our tour. While he hasn't traveled QUITE as much as Wendy, he has been to Russia, Okinawa, and China before. He went on the tour to China in 2007. Rick is excited to go back and revisit old friends and acquaintances and hopes that everyone will stay healthy and safe during the tour. An interesting fact about him is that he is a retired postal worker!
Natalie Tompkins is the assistant conductor and will be playing clarinet and piano, as well as helping with the drama. Natalie is very well-traveled and has been to India six times as well as Sri Lanka, Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Haiti! She has been to China three times, twice on the previous Grace University Band tours. Natalie will be staying in China a couple weeks after everyone else heads back to the US and is excited about visiting friends over there. One thing she's nervous about is eating dog meat again! "Not a good experience," she says. ;) When asked an interesting fact about herself, Natalie said, "I enjoy (most of the time) studying Greek with friends at 4:30 AM (yes...am...) on Friday mornings. All are welcome!" If anyone would like to take her up on that offer. . .feel free! ;)
Brittnae Maris is a flutist and our assistant nurse. She has been to Nepal before and is excited to get to travel to China and experience the culture there. She's worried about physically not being able to do things because of a surgery she has had on her knee back in December. She isn't where she hoped she would be with her recovery at this point, so she's hoping it won't be a problem in China. An interesting fact about her is that she grew up on a farm ten miles from town.
Nathan Ritta is our lead trumpet player. He has never been to China, but has spent two weeks in Uganda with the International Children's Network in 2010, and took a three-week study abroad trip to Italy last summer. He's excited about going to China because, he says, "I love experiencing new cultures, and China's culture is thousands of years older than anything I've ever experienced before. That's pretty cool to imagine!" That IS pretty cool! There are even some trees over there that are over 4,000 years old! Nathan is a little nervous, because he and his wife Abbie are expecting their first baby girl in June! She's not due till later in the month, but he's hoping that she won't deliver early before we come back on June 3rd. Congrats, Nathan and Abbie! :)
Pat James is Jeff's wife and another trumpet player. She has been on both previous tours and is excited to go back and see people that we've met on the other trips. She is concerned about everyone staying healthy on the trip, and she is hoping her ankle doesn't hurt, as she's been having some problems with it lately. She has been to China SEVEN TIMES (definitely the record in our group!) as well as India, Thailand, Scotland, and several European countries. When asked to provide an interesting fact about herself, she replied, "My elbows are so double jointed that I got bruises every day in archery class."
Christa James. I'm the blogger for the tour! So excited to share everything going on with you all! I've been to China twice, once with my family to adopt my youngest brother Josiah, and once for the tour in 2007 when I was thirteen. One thing I'm really excited about going to China for is taking my brother Micah's senior pictures there by the Great Wall! Something I'm a little worried about is getting lost. . .I got lost in the airport once on the 2007 tour! An interesting fact about me is that I bought my favorite stuffed animal in China in 2003. I love shopping over there!
Jana James, my favorite sister, our violinist, and our e-mail newsletter coordinator for the tour. She also plays the villain in one of our drama performances! One thing she's excited about going to China for is SHOPPING! One thing she's a little worried about is the hot weather we're supposed to have there. Jana has been to China in 2003 when our family was adopting Josiah and in 2007 on the tour that year. An interesting fact about her is that she's allergic to bananas (even though we used to call her Jana Banana)!
Micah James plays the baritone and is also a participant in the drama we have going on during some
of our songs! Micah was born in Guangzhou, China, and adopted by my family in 2000. Since then he has been back to China twice, when we adopted Josiah and on the tour in 2007. He's excited about the food in China, and a little worried about the plane trip--he doesn't like to fly. When asked to provide an interesting fact about himself, he replied, "I'm Asian!" Somehow I don't think that will be quite so unique in China. ;)
Josiah James, the last member of the James family! Josiah is one of the stars of our drama as Captain America and one of our videographers for the tour. He was adopted from Taiyuan, China, the city we will be going to, and went back there during the 2007 tour. This year he is excited about going back to visit his old orphanage! He is worried about losing things on the tour. Hopefully that won't happen! An interesting fact about Josiah is that he loves technology and electronics, and is pretty good at taking things apart and putting them back together. Someday he hopes to work for Apple!
Jesse McConnell is our tuba player and also the equipment/logistics coordinator. He's done pretty much EVERYTHING in getting the tour ready from managing cell phones to getting a battery pack for our electronic drum set! He's excited about eating the food in China and worried about losing instruments or people. Jesse went on the 2010 tour to China and has also been to London. An interesting fact about him is that he always wears those weird shoes with the toes separated.
Sean Pulatie is playing percussion for the tour, or, in his words, "I hit stuff." He's very excited about going to China but a little nervous because it is his first time out of the country. When asked if he had been overseas, he responded, "Does Minnesota count?" . . . .No. No, it does not. ;) An interesting fact about Sean is that he has webbed toes on each foot. This has been proven accurate by witnesses who have actually seen his feet. Sean's wife Rachel writes, "Sorry he's a smart alec. . ."
Rachel Pulatie will be singing on the tour as well as being the photographer and the costumes and props manager and helping out with percussion. She has also been orchestrating the drama for the tour. This will be her first time overseas, and she's excited to go to China because of pandas! She's a little worried about her health and keeping her migraines under control while she's over there. An interesting fact about her is that her bachelor of science degree is in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in costume design. Definitely qualified to be leading the drama and costumes for our trip! :)
Susanna Fohner will be playing clarinet and saxophone on the tour. An interesting fact about her is that she grew up in France and graduated from a French high school, and can speak both French and English fluently! She has also been to Honduras, Guatemala, the UK, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic! She's excited about going to China because it will be her first time on the Asian continent, and she's looking forward to making new friends there. She's a little nervous about not being able to communicate with people!
Amber Leggott will be playing flute on the trip. She has never been overseas and only flown once before, and is excited about going to China to experience a new culture. "It will be very different but will definitely be a good experience," she says. Amber is a little nervous about the language barrier in China. An interesting fact about her is that she has been in private schools all her life.
Julie Gonzales will be playing alto saxophone on the tour. She has been to Greece before, and is excited to go to China because it will be her first time there; she's looking forward to a new adventure! One thing she's worried about is blowing out the electricity at the hotel! Apparently that has happened before with someone's hair dryer! ;) An interesting fact about Julie is that she knits blankets.
Rachel Goodale is another saxophone player. She has been to the Dominican Republic, England, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France, and is excited to go to China and be immersed in the culture and the art! She is hoping everyone stays healthy for the duration of the trip. An interesting fact about Rachel is that she is part of an improv acting troupe that performs at Renaissance fairs and festivals during the summer!
Mandee Webb is a bass clarinetist and also our journalist for the tour. She's excited to climb the Great Wall in China and meet Chinese people. She's a little worried that staying in China might be sort of like camping! She has never been to China but has traveled to Belgium, France, and Monaco. An interesting fact about Mandee is that she loves to knit.
Rocksie Gall is a clarinetist and self-appointed "grandma" of the group. :) She's excited to go to China because she went on the 2010 tour and has been wanting to go back ever since. She's a little worried about her hip, hoping it won't be a problem during the trip. Besides going to China in 2010, she has also traveled to England, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. An interesting fact about her is that she is the oldest person going on the tour! (I won't reveal her age.)
Last but not least, Allie Knouse! She's a percussionist for the trip and plays an awesome drum solo! Allie has never been to China before and is excited to go on the trip. An interesting fact about her is that she participates in Bohemian pageants and has won Miss Czech Nebraska and been second runner up for Miss Czech America! I believe she will be bringing her gorgeous Czech costume to get a picture with on the Great Wall! :)
Thanks for reading, everyone! I'll be updating this as much as possible in China so be checking the blog! Also look for the link in the e-mail newsletters Jana will be sending out. If you would like to receive these updates, e-mail her at janadj_2013@yahoo.com. We're hoping Yahoo will work in China! ;)
Anyway, I do realize I use a LOT of exclamation points, but I hope you enjoyed reading and getting to know the team a little better. :)
See you all in a couple weeks!
-Christa :)
