Rainy in Seattle

It’s about 2 pm here in Seattle and we just unloaded the bus and Dr. Duffy is leading the choir in a warm-up. Seattle is quite the contrast from Butte and Coeur D’Alene. The five-hour drive was pretty spectacular. The last half was spent diving over a mountain pass that was a winter wonderland with fog disguising the mountaintops. One of the more amazing sites was a gigantic ski resort that disappeared into the fog. It was very mysterious looking and unlike anything I’ve seen out west. As we dropped elevation and got closer to Seattle the scenery gradually changed from a winter wonderland to a luscious green, vegetated city. Our bus driver, Arnie, received applause after parking in front of the church. Seattle residential streets aren’t exactly bus friendly. And yes, of course it’s raining in here!

I apologize I couldn’t get any commentary about last night’s concert up yesterday. The show went off without a hitch and the choir members were very happy with their performance. Their smiles after each song lit up the stage and their voices carried outside the church.

Brandon Spencer, liberal arts senior, said, “Last night went absolutely amazing. It was the best concert in the three years that I’ve been at Grand View.

He said the acoustics in the church were perfect for a smaller choir and everybody had a very positive attitude.

Bonita Bontrager, the Grand View liaison traveling with us, said a lady came up to her after the performance in tears and said she hadn’t heard music like that since she was in high school.

After the concert our host families took us to their beautiful homes. Misty and I stayed with a Sue and Tom, who were from Iowa! They met at Iowa State and moved to Washington, finally settling in Hayden, a small town outside of Coeur D’Alene. We stayed at their stunning winter home.

After boarding the bus each morning, Dr. Duffy passes the microphone around and students share stories about their stay at their host family. Everyone seemed to stay in a stellar home with amazing people.