TUESDAY, MAY 26There are almost too many experiences to keep together. From witnessing the Andes at a bird’s eye view to getting just a taste of the seemingly endless nightlife in three different countries I’ve never been to before, this trip has been like no other. I joined this choir without knowing about the trip. Once I knew about the trip, I didn’t know where we’d be going. I’ve come to realize that it’s the people that make the trip. When problems arise, we have people for that. When we need to have fun, we have people for that. When we just need to take a chance around town, well, you need a pretty good size group for that. But when we need to pull together, we all do. The concerts have been exhilarating, and a team effort. Performing for South American audiences is just so... different. They see us from a different perspective. We aren’t their daughters and sons. We aren’t their neighbors or their friends, but they invite our talent with open hearts and ask for, “One more!” How can I top this experience in my lifetime? I’m not sure I can, but I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I’m sad to see it end.
--Amanda Taylor
THURSDAY, MAY 21Buenos Aires is a spirited, cultured and alive city, where it seems everyone knows how to tango! On Monday night after a fabulous dinner with one particularly funny waiter—who wouldn’t let me have dessert unless I finished my meal—we were ushered into a dark yet ambient tango club. The lights went up on four breathtaking tango couples, an Inca folk band and two charismatic club singers, all accompanied by a lively tango ensemble. I’ve never seen the accordion look so good! I wanted to capture the tango spirit forever, so I purchased a painting of two tango couples in front of a club in La Boca, Buenos Aires at one of the many outdoor markets. While it was a little pricey, it’s going to look fantastic on my wall in London! Now I need to find some tango lessons in the United States.
--Nina Elias
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20Talk about a good time!
This trip, thus far has been absolutely amazing! I feel like I’ve learned so much in such a short time, and now have so many more dreams and aspirations that I never thought I would. After a week and a half on this incredible continent, I want to rescue the world’s stray dogs, become a tango singer, become a better horseback rider, climb a palm tree, and get my own show on the Travel Channel! Most of all, I’ve discovered how much I absolutely love traveling.
I guess the biggest awakening I’ve had here has been really seeing the disparity between how we and others in this world live. On the one hand, I feel unbelievably lucky, while at the same time I’m incredibly sad that some people in this world are forced to scrape by in shantytowns. It’s insanity. I realize that I can’t save everyone and everything, but I can at least try.
The greatest part of all this is that our choir can bring beautiful music to all of these people! After four years of singing because I kind of had to, and losing some of the inspiration that has kept me singing for years, I feel like it’s finally coming back to me thanks to this incredible journey with absolutely wonderful people! As a matter of fact, they may have to drag me back to the U.S. since I’m not sure I really want this to end.
--Kate DeSisto
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We’re currently in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and a city as big and beautiful as Santiago. The performance in Vina del Mar was perfect. We put on a better show than we ever had and it was easily the most well-performed event I’ve been a part of. The place we performed in was huge and gorgeous, and since it was a free concert, the place was more or less packed. There’s nothing like performing in front of a responsive audience in a theatre with acoustics such as this one.
Dinner following the show was, of course, excellent, and after a brief nap from midnight to 4 a.m. I woke up for a run along the beach. Since it was a Friday night, and South America never seems to sleep, many couples were out on the beach on the starlit coast. Although it was hard for me to force myself up, I was very happy that I did—it was the most beautiful run I’ve been on. Then it was back into travel mode. My bags were packed, breakfast was brief, and the four- hour bus ride back to Santiago provided a bit more rest for us tired travelers.
The plane ride took us north to Buenos Aires, and none of us were prepared for the sight of the Andes Mountains out our windows. They seemed immensely tall, never seeming to stop their series of peaks towards the north. Saturday was spent traveling—four hours to Santiago, three hours in flight, another three in airports, and another three towards Rosario. Once in Buenos Aires, we met our drivers and guides for this country and headed by bus to Rosario. Buenos Aires is a pretty city, but wasn’t much to look at in brief passing, just lots of people and buildings. As we moved away from it we got to see the landscape of the country here. The land is much more flat than in Chile, and the plains in the unpopulated parts between these two cities were full of nothing but cows. Apparently the population of cows here outnumbers the people by 20 million—50 million cows and 30 million people!
Rosario is similar to Buenos Aires, but with fewer people, more space, and a huge river running through it. The river, El Rio Pirahnia, is surrounded by the prettiest parts of the city. We had free time on the day we arrived and we wasted no time in exploring the city. Sunday nights, however, are a bit less bumping than our previous explorations, so we ended up doing more nighttime sightseeing, no dancing or clubbing. The city is even prettier during the day, and we spent Sunday morning on a guided tour of it. The city prides itself in its importance to its nation’s history, and Sunday was a holiday of some sort celebrating its heritage—I think it was like our Flag Day, but more celebrated. As a result, the riverside was filled with local vendors of all sorts selling crafts and delicious food. Ryan (my roommate), the girls and I enjoyed a traditional pizza lunch (most of Argentina is of Italian heritage) during our free time that afternoon, and hung out by the river until we had to be ready for our concert.
The Rosario concert was in an old church held after their Mass. The place was full, and the audience was the most responsive. They loved us! Proud of our performance, we went to a great steakhouse (the primary source of food here is beef, which meant one happy Bobbo!). There was one more night to explore Rosario, and a run for me by the riverside, then a nice night to catch up on sleep, since Monday we could sleep in all the way until the late hour of 10 a.m.
Finally we arrived in Buenos Aires again, and this time we got to get a real feel of this city. This hotel, like our Rosario hotel, is in an excellent location, in the heart of the city with rooms on the 11th floor. Everyone dances in Buenos Aires, and the hotel we are staying at has free tango lessons nightly. Two sessions here and one at a Tango Club in the city have given me the gist, and I’m proud to say that I can hold my own in the tango and salsa now! Yesterday was the day of our arrival, and I went for a run, took my tango lessons and went to dinner with the choir. We ate my favorite meal so far, a local potato/onion soup, chicken smothered in a mushroom sauce with potatoes in a champagne sauce, and a fruit salad for desert.
After dinner, we enjoyed my favorite event so far: a tango show. The tango was originally invented here in Argentina to lure sailors into the brothels, and I’m sure it worked. I’ve never seen such an amazing, hot, and complex dance. Most of us were pretty loud and we made a good crowd for the performers. The venue was packed with audience members, and the live music was as good as the dancing. Even though the tango show finished at midnight, we all hit the streets once more. We found a live band and dance floor.
If I didn’t force myself to wake up early for a run I’m not sure I would have been up for the day! Today we went to a beautiful ranch and went horseback riding. After riding we were treated to a traditional country meal served by the cowboys of the ranch with a live performance of South American folk music and dancing. My crazy sleeping habits and abused body finally caught up to me today, and when we got back I slept from 5 to 9 p.m. Then eight of us went to a tango club/restaurant...what fun! Now here I am, tired once more, and ready for tomorrow’s guided tour of the city, free time, and a concert in the city.
It’s hard to believe that the trip is now halfway over, and I’ll be heading home before long. Everyone here has gotten much closer in the last week than we thought possible, but with most of the adventure behind us now, we’re all feeling the quickness of time flying rather than disbelief that such a short amount has passed.
--Bob McCardell
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TUESDAY, MAY 19South America is so different and unique from anywhere else I have ever been. However, I do not think this entire experience will hit me until I board the plane back to the U.S.. It has been so hard to keep track of the days because so many things have been going on. Let me fill you in on my day while I still remember it!
Today has been the most exciting day by far. It began with a visit to a ranch about an hour and a half away. There, we got to ride horses. My first horse, Elena, suddenly began to pick up speed so as a natural reaction, I screamed. The cowboy didn’t seem too happy about that. Overall it was a blast though! Next was a carriage ride, then lunch. I tried a blood sausage for the first time. That was before I found out what a blood sausage REALLY is (collected blood from an animal mixed with spices and served as a sausage. Not exactly my cup of tea.) A very entertaining show of traditional music and dancing followed.
We arrived back at the hotel just in time for tango lessons (Dr. Warren and his wife are FANTASTIC at this dance!) A bunch of us couldn’t get enough of tango so we ended up going for more lessons at a nice restaurant nearby. At one point, we did the Cotton-Eyed Joe dance to leave a little American gift. We even got applause. I learned from the show at lunch, the tango show last night, and dancing today that no matter what age you are you can still be in shape and enjoy life.
South America has been the opposite of the United States in a couple ways. I have been asked many times whether or not I am cold because I was wearing a t-shirt. For example, we walked around in dresses and shirts while we saw people bundled up in winter jackets and mittens and long fur coats. My reply was that winter in South America is practically equivalent to summer in the U.S.! Not exactly, but close enough, Also, when most stores and restaurants close in the U.S., they are only beginning to open in South America. Night life in South America starts around 1 or 2 a.m. and lasts up until 6 a.m.
I have been thinking about pursuing a minor in Spanish for a while and this trip has only reinforced this thought. My Spanish has been greatly improving and I have been able to learn about other people and their culture. The lifestyles of people here as well as the places are so intriguing. There is literally a story behind everything.
--Hannah Chan
Today was a great day! We went horseback riding on the ranch, and got to see a show with tango dancers and other entertainers. When we got back to the hotel, we had our second set of free tango lessons for an hour and then relaxed for a little. Tonight, Diego, Catherine, Ryan, Hannah, Bob, and I went to a restaurant with a ballroom space where they were teaching tango lessons as well as allowing people to dance. We were there for a couple hours, and had an awesome time! Especially when they played some country music and we broke out into the Cotton-Eye Joe!
--Johna Rae Kesten
This trip has been a blast so far and I am so sad that it is coming to an end. I have had so many experiences that have been life changing and the most fun I have had in forever. There are so many things that I could talk about, but I’ll talk about the ranch and horseback riding today.
When I found out that we were going horseback riding, I was cautious at first because I had a bad experience with horses my first time, being so high up and going so fast. I decided to forget my past experiences and really had a wonderful time. I was one of three people that went on three consecutive times so I definitely beat that monkey! After the horseback riding, the caballeros served us a plethora of different, appetizing foods. It was so much food that I was worried about getting to the main course. Fortunately for myself, I took every culinary experience in stride and finished it off without a problem. The day was just so fun and relaxing that I napped all the way back to the hotel and right into my bed. I wish every day could be this relaxing, but then I wouldn’t have all the exciting times!
--Gyasi Barber
Peace from Argentina!
Before our concert yesterday, we had the afternoon free to explore on our own. Some of us went to the street venders near the Independence Monument in Rosario, Argentina, to shop for presents for ourselves and family members. It felt similar to a street fair in New York City, but far less crowded. Many had jewelry, one had small handmade drums which I wanted to buy but couldn’t afford. My favorite vendor was a man who did beautiful paintings of scenery. The amazing thing was that the only tools he used were his fingers and a cloth to create each effect. I could hardly believe it, took pictures of him working, and bought three from him. The best thing about street venders is that their prices are wonderfully cheap.
We found our most appreciative audience so far at yesterday’s concert at the Basilica de San Jose. Our concert was directly after the Mass we participated in, for which the priest and almost every member of the congregation stayed for. The acoustics of the church did wonders for our sound and the appreciative and enthusiastic attitude of the audience made us even more excited about our music. We had many fans by the end of the concert and Dr. Warren was presented with a cornerstone from the original brickwork of the church, which is almost 110 years old. We are leaving Rosario and head off to Buenos Aires today, where we will get to see a tango show and go to a ranch just outside the city. I can’t wait to ride horses and have a barbeque lunch!
--Rachel Appleby
MONDAY, MAY 18
Argentina is flat.
As a native of Syracuse, NY, this is pretty striking. What´s new Buenos Aires?! The Sunday night concert in Rosario was the best concert Hendricks has had. As "recording engineer" (meaning I push space bar and control-space bar to start and stop recordings) I usually get good seats for the concerts. The photos say so much, but to see the faces of students sharing emotions and experiences with those from half a world away is breathtaking. The audience in the church was refreshing after a long day of travel and the choir surged from their energy.
I have to say, this choir in Hendricks is one of a kind. The sound they accomplish as a whole is full, lyrical and beautiful. I think that is such a testament to Dr. Warren as well as each member of the choir. Every individual brings something unique both in personality as well as in vocal quality, and Dr. Warren has succeeded in harnessing every attribute into a choir full of spunk, talent and musicality. I look forward to the next three concerts, to see how this choir continues to blossom.
Tonight may have brought out the most energy yet in all of us at the Argentinean Tango Show at El Viejo Almacen. It was a perfect mix of dance, singing and instrumental music. The greatest part was hearing a piece performed by the live musicians with a dance to accompany that is also a part of Hendricks' repertoire! (The name of which escapes me.) I can only imagine how this will impact future performances of this piece! What a trip this has been and to think we still have a week left! Best wishes to all in EEUU! (Los Estados Unidos, of course.)
--Bridget Moriarty
SUNDAY, MAY 17Today´s concert in Rosario, Argentina really showcased how the choir acts as amabassadors for Hendricks Chapel´s mission. We sang at a rather conservative basilica where we were asked to follow suit in terms of the Mass rituals. Despite our rather Christian repetoire, members of the choir represent as many faith traditions and spiritual orientations that Hendricks Chapel serves at Syracuse. So, this concert, I believe, portrayed the chapel´s mission put into action. The choir showed respect to the congregants of this church and the faith tradition as a whole and the audience showed us respect as we performed for them. In fact, it was much more than respect. Their energy kept us enthusiastic at a time when travel is beginning to wear us down. There is nothing better than seeing your audience interact with what you are singing and this audience did just that. They even chased down our buses, waved and took more pictures after we had left!
--Anthony Fatta
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Tonight we sang during a Mass at the main cathedral in Rosario. The acoustic was very, very warm and resonant--sort of like playing the piano with the pedal down all the time. Dr. Warren, being amazing, responded by slowing all the tempos, upping the consonants, and reducing the dynamics a bit. The result was another simply terrific concert in a packed cathedral with folks standing all along the edges and more who couldn’t get in. They were just beaming and would hardly stop clappin. We just had to leave after the encore. It was very fun.
--Robinson Wayne Lingo
Last night we sang at a beautiful church, first for a Mass and then for a concert. The sound in there was amazing. It was definitely our best concert so far. The audience was the best so far, too. A few audience members were particularly into our gospel/ spiritual type selections. The Mass was really awesome as well. We all made a genuine atempt at speaking the Lord’s Prayer, as we know those words from our setting of “Padre Nuestro.” However, I don’t think most of us got much farther than “Padre nuestro que estas en el cielo,” but hey, at least we tried! Afterwards several of us ordered empanadas for delivery. Mmmm, they were excellent. Except apparently in Argentina you’re not allowed to bring outside food into the hotel, so we kind of got in trouble, but he said he’d let it go this time. Lucky for us I guess! This morning we will head off to Buenos Aires. We’re all excited for the Tango show tonight! Hope all of you in the U.S. are doing well!
--Katherine Dee
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Our concerts have been such rewarding experiences. Even when I´m tired and not in the mood to perform, I completely change my mindset once I´m onstage and see how the people here react to us. At our first concert in Santiago, a woman from one of the other choirs said that music connects everyone no matter what language you speak, and it really couldn´t be truer. I´ve never left the United States and I didn´t know what to expect with our time here. I feel so connected to these people through our performances and it´s changed the way I see the world. Simple human communication is so often taken for granted. Despite everything that makes us different, and makes us stand out amongst these people, the music IS connecting us and it is so inspiring. I can´t wait to see Argentina and Uruguay, and I´m thrilled to have this fulfilling opportunity!
--Julia J. Collier
Visiting Chile was the most amazing experience of my short college experience. Santiago was a bit overwhelming. I did not realize that there were essentially two parts of the city. One part was called Providencia, where our hotel was located. The other part was Santiago proper, which had all of the large buildings and parks. We performed at the oldest building (a church) in all of Santiago. The church was erected sometime in the early 1600s. Beautiful is probably the only word to describe it.
After Santiago, we went to Vina del Mar, where we stayed until Saturday morning. Vina del Mar was such a relief. I was so happy to get away from Santiago’s smog and see the beach. I know many of us had not been in the Pacific Ocean before that so that was very, very cool. After everyone quieted down, I took a nap on the beach. It was the most relaxing time I have had in quite a long time.
On the way from Santiago to Vina del Mar, we stopped at a winery. We got to tour the vineyards and the respective wine processing plant. I love South America.
We are now in Rosario, Argentina. We just got back from our tour of the city, and it is beautiful. The parks are goregeous, and the monuments and history are very interesting. We have already seen so much, it’s amazing. One more week! I love South America!
--Johna Rae Kesten
THURSDAY, MAY 14Today was absolutely wonderful. We drove from Santiago to Vina del Mar, a gorgeous drive on its own. We stopped at a winery, which made quite a few people happy. Once we got to Vina del Mar, many of us hit the beach immediately. I spent the afternoon on the beach, frolicking in the water, making sandcastles, taking pictures and observing the other activities of beach-goers. It was really wonderful. The weather was perfect to be out, especially for me because I do not like to be hot. It was fun to notice how the Chileans were in coats and hats while we from Syracuse were in tank tops and shorts. This is cold weather for them, but this is beautiful for us! It was really a perfect afternoon.
--Krystal Kennedy
After arriving at Vina del Mar, everyone went to the beach at some point during the day. We weren't allowed to swim in the water, but we certainly had fun running into the waves. Since I didn't have a swimsuit on, I was running away from the bigger waves. Krystal and I made a sandcastle, complete with garden, moat and bridge. After this, we proceeded to frolic on the shore and take pictures of ourselves. All in all, the day was amazing and I now have many pictures of both the beautiful beach view, as well as the fun activities.
--Rachel Appleby
Vina del Mar is a very tourist-like place, but still has Chilean flavor. Valparaiso is the main port and is about seven kilometers down the beach, but Vina del Mar upholds its own character. There are a ton of little mom and pop stores, restaurants and clubs. I am sad to leave, but I definitely have plans to come back some day.
This past Friday while in Vina del Mar, we performed in a large, beautiful theatre. The people loved us. Many danced along in the audience, smiled brightly and then asked to take pictures with us. To the people on the trip: thanks for helping to create amazing memories.
--Sean Michael Dotson
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13After an 11-hour trip on the Chilean airline LAN, the Hendricks Chapel Choir arrived safely in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday. The afternoon was spent napping and recovering from the long overnight flight. The group enjoyed a welcome dinner in a 17th-floor restaurant that rotated, giving us a 360-degree view of Santiago. The dinner included seafood salad, steak, gnocchi and papaya filled with ice cream. We had our first tour of the city on Wednesday. Our first stop was Iglesia San Francisco (left), where the choir performed later in the day. The Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco bears a special significance not only as the single oldest construction in the city, but also as one of the finest vestiges of Chile’s colonial past. The church’s history is linked to the very origins of Santiago. It has stood on the Almeda for more than 400 years and whilst it has seem much rebuilding as a result of earthquake damage.
We also visited the Roman Catholic cathedral, the highest peak in Santiago, and Constitutional Square, just to name a few. Our first concert was held Wednesday evening, and opened with two local choirs, followed by the Hendricks Chapel Choir performance. Our evening concluded with a very late dinner around 10:30 p.m. On Thursday morning, we are off to our next destination, Viña del Mar.
-- George Athanas and Kelly Sprinkle
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I’ve never experienced anything like this, and I think I’ve decided I’d like to come here when I go abroad. You’ll be proud to know that my Spanish has come back quickly, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if a semester abroad made me fluent.
The culture is similar here in the city to American culture (music, economy, lifestyle), but I have found the people here to be more agreeable. I’ve slipped right into the group, and my roommate’s two friends and I seem to be having as much or more fun than anyone else.
I keep trying to thank the chaperones, but they insist that the thanks are not theirs to take, so I feel completely spoiled. After our flight, we drove from the outskirts of the city and saw some extreme poverty—shantytowns built precariously beside a filthy Rio Mapocho—but were swiftly bussed to the richest region of the city, Providencia. Here the people are welcoming and interested, and I’ve had to explain our purpose here in the city many times.
The hotel we’re staying in is likely the most beautiful I’ve ever been in. The entrance is crowded with greenery and palms, and a path leads over a pool of water with extravagant-looking fish swimming in it.
After arriving yesterday, we grouped up and explored the city a bit. I’ve never seen a city like this. The climate allows for palm trees and vines to line the very busy roads. Drivers pay little attention to the rules of the road. After lunch and shopping, I spent four hours in bed. The plane ride was far from comfortable and allowed for little sleep. The choir enjoyed dinner in a remarkable restaurant.
The restaurant was easily the fanciest one I’ve ever been in. On the 18th floor of a panoramic-windowed building, the restaurant’s enormous seating area rotates slowly, providing an extraordinary view of both city and mountains. The city is massive and tightly packed, and surrounded by mountains. To the west and south, the coastal mountain range is beautiful, high and rolling (they remind me of the Kangamangus). To the east was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen: the Andes Mountains reaching up like a wall higher than the clouds, and topped with snow. They outdo the Tetons tenfold.
There was so much food. Dinner consisted of five courses, and the main course was filet mignon. All of the other diners in the restaurant were extremely well clad, and a pianist played amazing Latino-classical music.
Today began for me (ever so reluctantly) at 8 a.m. I went for about a 3-mile run by the river, ate and got on a bus for a guided tour of the city with the choir. The city has amazing architecture, and--being a capital city with a largely Catholic history-- beautiful government buildings and even more stupendous churches. Tonight we perform in one of these: La Inglecia de San Francisco.
Unfortunately the city sits like a bowl between the two mountain ranges, and has accumulated a terrible, thick smog. And although the Andes sit only 10 miles away, and the coastal range within the city’s limits, the rivers that run from them don’t come through Santiago. As a result, the one river that does, the Mapocho River, is milked for its drinkable water miles before it reaches the city. So bisecting the city is a highly polluted brown river no larger than a brook smelling faintly of sewage and rot. The smell was especially pungent on my run, but doesn’t really affect the beauty of the city much.
Ending our bus tour, we summited the closest of the costal mountains about three miles from our hotel. The top of the mountain provides the most spectacular view I’ve seen in my life of the city and the Andes behind it. On its summit, the mountain has a miraculously large hand-carved statue of the Virgin Mary in white limestone. The whole spectacle was marvelous.
I’m enjoying myself more than I could have imagined, and only a day in! In short, I couldn’t be happier.
--Bob McCardell
This trip has been eight semesters in the making for me and I can assuredly say that it has yet to disappoint. Santiago is filled with some of the nicest people I have ever met. At our hotel, we were greeted with Pisco Sour, a signature Chilean beverage. Stray dogs are everywhere and will follow you wherever you go. In other places, this would make me uncomfortable but here, I am totally okay with it! We had our first concert Wednesday night at the Iglesia San Francisco, a church built in 1618 and the first building constructed by the Spanish in Chile. Two local choirs welcomed us to Santiago via song, including Siyahambe, a song familiar to the Hendricks Chapel Choir. After, we sang for a full house and despite the language barrier, the language of music transcended and joy lit across their faces. After the concert, the local choirs held an impromptu reception for us and even gave us small gifts to remind of us our time in Chile. After a late dinner, we were off to bed and are traveling Thursday to Viña del Mar for another concert!
--Anthony Fatta
The trip has been amazing thus far! We had our first concert last night in a church located in the heart of the Santiago, Chile (the capital). The church is actually the oldest building of the entire city, which is pretty awesome. The church was also full with people, which was really nice. The people were very friendly and appreciative of us being there. Everything is going well! We have seen a lot of stuff, and the food here is AMAZING! I can’t wait to see what is next!!!!!!
--Johna Rae Kesten
Despite having only an hour of sleep on the plane (no exaggeration) the first day here was phenomenal. Santiago is so vibrant. The concert in the cathedral gave me the most exhilarated feeling, and at the reception everyone was so warm, inviting, affectionate and genuinely grateful to have us there. I can’t believe I’m able to do this ever in my life, and this trip has only just begun.
-Amanda Taylor