From America: 8

Our final full day started with a morning with our hosts, before meeting at 12.30 to board our now familiar yellow buses for our trip into New York. The temperature was lower than of late, around 75F, so the journey was more pleasant. We arrived at Liberty Park NJ, which is just across the river from the southern end of Manhattan, so we could look out over the Hudson towards the Financial District which we visited on Sunday. The iconic skyline is of course familiar to us all, but to see it in all its splendour is something we will all remember. A walk along the river front took us to the bridge across to Ellis Island, the point at which so many entered the land of the free in their escape from poverty or oppression. The statue of Liberty, with its wonderful green patina, gradually emerged from behind Ellis until we could see it on its own Liberty Island. We walked back to the buses past the vast, now disused, railway station, where its 18 platforms had stood ready to take all those who were admitted at Ellis to their final destinations in this vast country. Many of our American hosts, and members of the SCYO, who were with us could speak of one or more of their relatives who had first stepped ashore at this point.

A short trip through the Holland tunnel brought us into Manhattan; and we made steady progress to 46th street, where we got off our buses between 8th and 9th Avenue. A short walk down streets lined with restaurants, fast food outlets and theatres led us to the north end of Times Square. Here the students had the opportunity to go shopping for souvenirs and presents for their families at home. Popular items were *!#^#$ and $%^&* (you didn’t really think I would spoil the surprise, did you!). We then got something to eat , my group of First year girls all going to Sbarro, a well established Italian diner with Pizza, pasta and wonderful salads, and a fresh fruit salad to die for.

After getting changed in the rest room and putting on make up (this is the girls, not me) we emerged from the air conditioned cool for the 25 yard walk to the Palace Theatre off Times Square. Its narrow frontage gave little clue to its true size. Our seats were in the steeply tiered top balcony where we looked down on the stage and up to the ornately decorated ceiling. At 7.00 the first notes of Bernstein’s memorable score were played and we were transported back into the run down streets of 50s New York. Our bird’s eye view allowed us to really appreciate the choreography, and the quality of the dancing was superb. The ultimately tragic tale of Tony and Maria gradually unfolded in front of us. To see this great Musical in the City in which it was set was another thing we will always remember.

Coming out of the Theatre we were dazzled by the profusion of lights in Times Square. We formed into our groups, and after much counting of heads and checking of names, set off through the still crowded streets back to our buses for our drive home. We made excellent time and by 11.15 everyone was back with their host families.

As I write this it is 8.30 on our final day. We spend the morning with our families before our meeting at 12.30 to pick up our coach to return us to JFK for our flight home. It really has been a wonderful experience, we have made fantastic music, been looked after by the most friendly and hospitable people imaginable and have had at least a taste of this dynamic and vast country. We all look forward to seeing our new friends when they come to St Bede’s next summer.

PHOTOGRAHS
I will be adding galleries of Photographs to each of these news stories over the next week. If anyone has photos they would like included please e-mail them to me at bob.brown@stbedesschhool.org or, if you are in school add them onto the network.

I hope you have enjoyed reading these updates as much as I have enjoyed writing them. If you think of any other wonderful places from which you would like me to send reports please e-mail your suggestions to my boss sally.wellings@stbedesschool.org.