THE PERFORMANCE!

Wednesday was FAN-TAS-TIC! We got there early- we were the first ones- and the security guard kicked us out of the building because according to him, there was no choir that day. So, we waited an hour and baked in the sun. By the time Ms. Fowler came, five other people ha arrived. She took attendance and we waited another hour for the rest of the choir to come. We waited, a group of hot, thirsty children dressed in jeans and red shirts standing around and looking bored. BECAUSE WE WERE BORED. There was nothing to do but wait as the people trickled in one by one. FINALLY, when everyone arrived, we got on the bus. A parent chaperoned us. I sat next to Veronica and Karen sat with Janet in the seats across from us. We sang all the way! It was so much fun! We sang 'Rolling In The Deep', 'Party Rock Anthem', 'Vela,Vela', and 'Someday'. Most when I wasn't singing, I was waving to random people on the street, laughing at the surprised looks on their faces when they saw me and waved back. Casa Central is very close to Navy Pier, so it was not a long ride. We got off and walked to the 'Grand Staircase' , singing 'Eiololo Fatsa' until Sheila told us to stop. "We can't give previews!" Haha! After waiting for all of the sections to arrive, we stood there and waited for the audience to settle down. Then, one of the conductors said " Why don't we warm up with a little 'Vela, Vela'?" HM! More like " Why don't we SHOW OFF OUR MAD SKILLS with a little 'Vela, Vela?'" So.... we did. It was so fun! I found my mother and the twin's mother in the audience. GUESS WHO ELSE CAME?! MY MUSIC TEACHER MS. KOFFMAN! (I'll just call her Ms. K) That made me VERY happy. My music teacher is a very special person for me and it felt great to see her waving to me from the audience. 


Then Mr. Wallenberg came. When he arrived, everyone started clapping. He smiled, looking surprised, and took a bow.
Finally, after waiting for what seemed to be an eternity, the performance began.  First, we sang 'Yen Yere Guma'.  Let me tell you this: singing and dancing on a puny staircase with 20 people around you is hard. It was cramped, I thought I was going to fall and be laughed at.... Thank goodness that did not happen!
 Next, we sang 'Jubilate Deo' in a round... It sounded beautiful! Heavenly, in fact...
When we sang 'Shosholoza', I almost screamed. There were soloists from the concert singing with us, and during the 'Shosholoza' song, a girl sang a VERY HIGH,LOUD note because the song is about a train. She was supposed to be imitating a train whistle and when I saw the vid it sounded awesome. But on stage, I thought someone was being killed! :D
Then we sang another song and, unfortunately, I don't know the name. 
RANDOM SONG
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory!
Honor and power unto the Lord our God.
He is great! And the Lord he is omnipotent!
(SHAME ON ME! I FORGOT THE REST! AND I LEFT THE LYRICS IN THE CAR....)
Then we sang 'Seasons Of Love'. It's my mom's favorite! 
There was something I was TERRIFIED ABOUT. We had to sing a 9/11 song. Every time we sing that song, I cry. I sob uncontrollably. I don't know why, though. I was only three when it occurred and I don't know anyone who died or was involved. I'm a very emotional person, so I guess the word got to me... When we sang that song, I stretched the bottom of my shirt so much and squeezed so tight I thought it was going t rip. There were a few tears, but I blinked them away. 
We also sang 'Someday'. I've loved that song ever since I heard it on a U.S. Cellular commercial last year. 
SOMEDAY
Sometimes in my tears, I drown.But I never let that get me down
And when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll turn around
Cause all my life I've been waiting for, I've been waiting for
for the people to say 
that we don't wanna fight no more. There'll be no more wars
And our children will play
Someday, someday, someday
'Dona Nobis Pacem' was sort of funny. During each song, the conductors were telling the audience the words and encouraging them to sing along. There was an elderly man with glasses that stared at us, eyes bulging out of their sockets, and sang as if he couldn't open his mouth wide enough for us to make out the words. HILARIOUS! I almost started laughing!
However. there was one thing about the performance that rattled me quite a bit. We were to sing ' We shall overcome'. The only problem with that was... WE NEVER LEARNED THE SONG!!! But when the soloist started singing, we all just jumped in and it was a miracle. We said the words correctly and no one made a mistake! What a relief! 
Another song we sang-I'm not going in order, by the way, so those of you who were there and are reading this and going "WHAAAAAAAAA-" can calm down now.- was called 'Shalom'. It was in Hebrew and I had no idea what it was saying.  (Not a surprise anymore.)
At the end, we were told that we were going to be on the news. WGN NEWS AT 9. OH MY GOODNESS! HOW EXCITING!! 
As soon as we got off stage, I ran towards my father. ( RANDOM  OUT OF PLACE FACT: My parents are divorced.) I'd seen him come in during 'Jubilate Deo'. He said I sang beautifully and that he was proud of me. Then I spun my 9 year old step brother and 6 year old step sister in a circle and got kissed on the cheek by my stepmother. After that, they left. 
The Hernandez Family went ahead when they saw my mother, Ms. K, and Mr. Wallenberg talking. I hugged my music teacher and thanked her for coming. Then, I said goodbye to Mr. Wallenberg and we walked aimlessly through Navy Pier. 
UNTIL I SAW A HAAGEN DAZS. 
I was STARVING, so I asked for ice cream and the three of us walked in, looking at the long line like "UGH."  After a while, my wish was granted! I got a fudge brownie caramel and chocolate thing and held it triumphantly in the air. The three of us ate our ice cream and stared at the lake, chatting between bites. Unfortunately, Ms. K had to leave after that. We caught up with the Hernandez family and went to dine at......
Mc Donald's. 
I fell asleep in the car and we got home exhausted. BUT I STILL HAD HOMEWORK TO DO. I finished it quickly and fell asleep before I hit the mattress. 
The concert was amazing! I'm doing what I love and I am so happy! More later!