Hello students,

I am sure everyone is still trying to recuperate from the trip jet lag.
I just came back home from the Easter Sunday service at church and its activities a few minutes ago.
As you have some catching up with homework and other assignments, I have also performed a few house chores,
including mowing my lawn.

I want you to know that you all have been great on this trip!
Not only did we have the opportunity to explore, see, and learn about the incredible history and beauty
of the regions which we visited, but we also had the chance to bond together as one musical family during this trip.
As always, you performed very well and appreciated the audience.
I think it was great that you had the opportunity to interact with students from abroad.

In addition, performing inside the 14th century monastery provided incredible experience.
That church is one of the oldest monasteries in Prague , which was built BEFORE Christopher Columbus discovered America .

What about the Karlstein Castle and the Charles the IV Bridge?

The picturesque views that you can find in fairy tales….

Visiting the Esterhazy estate (at Eisenstadt) and standing in the place where Franz Joseph Haydnworked for more than 30 years (under Esterhazy) and composed such masterpieces like “Creation” brought a breathtaking experience

Visiting Beethoven's house in Baden ( Austria ), the place where Beethoven lived when he composed the famous 9th Symphony, was very educational.

Did you take note of the music hall in Prague in which W.A. Mozart premiered his famous opera, “Don Giovanni?”
The St. Stephen's Cathedral that you visited in Vienna was completed in the 12th century (1160), about 850 years ago.

Reflecting back on this trip, I think the hotels were of high-class and the food/restaurants were exceptional.
We had a great time at the restaurants! Live music provided by the local musicians while we ate local cuisines was very memorable.

I can't wait till I see the video clips of our moments at those restaurants, where we sang and some of you danced.
I have found that the touring of the Jewish Museum in Prague was unforgettable ---remembering the tragedy of those 80,000 Jewish victims…
Did you know that the First Lady, Michelle Obama, visited this Jewish Town and Museum a few days before our visit?

The tour bus driver, Stephen, was also fantastic! He was so nice and understanding.
He sure knows how to drive that big, colossal bus!

And of course, our "personal travel guide" Ms. Eileen Allen..... She was just amazing! I am sure you have already realized this, but Eileen Allen is a highly competent, professional, knowledgeable, and understanding person.
She was able to lead and transform a bunch of students and adults who knew little about the specific tour, into a group of confident individuals. Ms. Eileen did so much to ensure that we were treated well and was very caring and flexible!
She made this trip really fun and memorable!
I already miss her very much as many of you do as well….
For those of you who wish to thank her, please send her an email.
Ms. Eileen Allen's email address is: eileenallen@bluebottle.com
(NOTE: Her account is protected, so you will have to confirm the return message to allow your message to be delivered to Ms. Eileen Allen)

Most importantly, please don't forget to thank all the chaperones for their tireless efforts in ensuring the safety of all of you.
Without their care and efforts, this trip would not have been successful.
Again, thanks for being such a wonderful group of kids on this trip!

I hope you will cherish this memory as I will….
I can't wait till we get those thousands of trip pictures J
(literally thousands when we compile everyone's pics and video clips together)

Ms. Meredith Deaver will soon compile all the trip information and will have a complete journal of our trip.
I can't wait to read it!

Please take care everyone, and I will see you at school.

Regards,
Mr. Kim