Eureka Skydeck, IMAX and Luna Park

At breakfast the next day, Friday the 28. of September 2012,
at 6:20am we were all sooo tired already !
This morning we walked to the huge Eureka Skydeck. Up at floor 88 we were rewarded by an amazing sight over Melbourne.

Ms Kelly at the world's highest post box

There, at the very roof of the city, we unpacked our instruments and played pieces by Offenbach, Sibelius, Norman and Dvorak and we were even filmed for TV ! It was so much fun, but the glass wall distracted me sometimes from my music stand.
Later as it was opened to the public we were allowed to go on the famous skydeck edge, a glassbox that goes out of the building into the air then suddenly the walls get clear and you stand over Melbourne. Lie down for the absolute best sight down !
But whatever the others say, of course it was fun, but not scary at all !

After a short Lunch break we headed towards our first workshop with a few players from the MSO.
After we sang our little Maori song and went back to our places (I had the (bad) luck to sit next to one of them right for the first and most difficult piece), the Australian musician actually asked me to translate what we had sung... ehm... I actually can't speak Maori...

Ciara and her violin

After 3 full hours of hard rehearsal we were all very exhausted, but our day wasn't finished yet, for we went to the Town Hall to watch the Enigma Variations from the front row. The players are really good, but the evening was a bit long...
On saturday, the 28. of September, we took our breakfast at 8.00am to be in time for Jam Sessions of which we watched the first one and actually played the 2nd time together with a few musicians from the MSO and some little children. It was really quite boring to play scales, clap rhythms or improvise stuff... but we are probably to them what the MSO is for us, so I can't complain as the professional orchestras spare their time to teach us as well !
We hurried to our next concert at the wonderful Victoria Gallery at 2pm and performed whole 10min later. Tha hall was beautiful and the audience full and it was just great !
Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to visit the Napoleon exhibition though...

 

After italian pizza we walked to IMAX, the world's 3rd largest screen, where Batman 3 was shown.With the screen 32m long and 23m high and the terribly loud sound vibrating in the whole room tensionwas created, but the film itself was still predictable, unrealsitic and a bit too brutal for my eyes.
We helped carrying the shopping bags for breakfast home from the supermarket before turning off the lights at 11. All this excitement of the last days followed a free one.
Breakfast was only at 9.30am, but my room wakes me much earlier so I'm hungry !
At 11 o' clock we took the tram to Kilda park, where we played on the beach and had some time to look through the little shops there.
Afterwards we could spend 1 hour in Luna Park and it was great, but we only had time for 3 rides, not even a rollercoaster !

Claire and Ciara in the tram

James 1 and 2

A free day followed of course a free evening, but I practiced violin anyway... privately. It was a great day like every other one here, too !

Fly to Australia

On wednesday the 26. of September I woke up at 7.30am to farewell Tim and Beth as they go to work/school, but then go back to bed to keep on sleeping till 10.30am.

 

I finished packing and was accompanied to the airport at 12.20pm, where I farewell Lisa, Katy and Julia.
Together with the whole school orchestra we check-in and then have to wait, starving, with no NZ money in my pockets, endlessly, for boarding at 3pm.
In the plane I sat next to Rebecca and Sam. Unfortunately the school did not ask for vegetarian food, so we get a very late salad. Sam and Rebecca waited to eat their ice-cream till they were sure I would get food. Isn't that cute ?
In the meantime I watched War Horse, which was maybe not the best idea for it made me cry the whole flight. And there were still so many other movies I would have liked to see like Thor or even Avatar in contrast to the pretty boring selection of when I came here.
We landed at 5pm (7pm in NZ time) in Melbourne, Australia, and bussed to the Space Hostel. It was actually happening! I am in Australia !!! Although it is not quite like I imagined with huge dry landscapes and Aborigines, but more of a huge city like everywhere else.

 

Maddy and Sarah

I move in a very small room with Ciara, Claire, Katarina, Sarah and Madz. It is so small, that not even our suitcases could stay on the floor without having to jump from bed to bed.
Dinner was taken in 2 groups at 7.30pm or 8.15pm and after such a long time only 1 little pizza was just not enough...
Everyone was so tired and excited to finally have reached Melbourne that we all went to bed at 10.20pm. At least in one point I was right about Australia: It is HOT !

We already wake up at 6.30am and are actually quite well restedand it is even light outside already !
Breakfast was at 8.00am and we sat outside in the sun. It is warm, but windy.

with me, Maddy, Ciara, Claire

 

Katarina, Sarah, Ciara

 

 

Our very first rehearsal took place in the Bar of the hostel at 10, followed by a visit to the supermarket at 11. Everyone got $10 to buy our own Lunch and guess what, they had a BAKERY ! It can't really compete with German ones, but it was still much better than usual here in Down Under !
Afterwards we were invited to watch a MelbourneSymphonyOrchestra rehearsal, which was a little bit boring, but they are really really good ! We also got the chance to talk to some of the players, before we headed back to the hostel.
Even now, it was late afternoon, we almost died in our long black travel uniform ! Like ice in the sunshine I'm melting away on a sunny day...

 

 

 

For dinner we walked to a restaurant Chinatown (yes, we walked EVERYWHERE !). After the food we had the first awards ceremony for things like best morning hair, best joke... Very funny ! They got medals and wands...
Back at our rooms in the evening James taught all the senior choir members a Maori song for tommorow when he will hold a speech for the concertmaster of the MSO, who is Maori as well. It is custom that we would support his words with a song. And I already noticed how much I missed choir in only 2 days...
At the meeting at 9pm Sarah and I wrote in our Melbourne blog. Here is the Link, you can read everything about every of our fantastic days and many many pictures. http://melbourne2012.burnside.school.nz/home