 Host families waiting to meet their violinist "WOW... I have definitely been told how beautiful New Zealand is, and even more, how kind its people are - but I'm not sure anything could have prepared me for the extent to which those two things are true. Yes, Queenstown is just beautiful, and I am blown away by how absolutely delightful and kind Jeri (host "mom") is! I think she knows everyone here... literally. Somehow, I ended up holding someone's baby in the airport this afternoon... I sure don't know them, but Jeri does! She is amazing." - Celeste Golden |
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| Monday, 28 May 2007. Winter has come to Queenstown and when 11 of the competitors arrived at 9:45am there was frost on the ground. The flight between Christchurch and Queenstown was breathtaking over the southern alps, lightly dusted with new snow. By the end of the day 15 of the 18 violinists had arrived and were collected by their host families for a hot shower, a good meal and a soft bed. Poor Bella is wending her way slowly to Queenstown after being re-routed through Hong Kong but she's sending texts at each new airport and is keeping upbeat - she even managed some practice in Hong Kong. |
