Host Families

Chiayi City. We are back in this southwestern city of Taiwan where our Rehearsal Camp kicked off four weeks ago. This time we are here for our fourth concert of the 2017 World Tour.

From Hong Kong, we had taken Cathay Dragon Airlines. One hour later we had arrived at the compact Kaohsiung International Airport. It's about a one-hour bus ride to Chiayi and the city's Cultural Centre.

Our luggage and instruments unloaded, we made our way to the auditorium. Waiting for us were our host families and their huge welcoming smiles.

Picture time! Were we all excited, laughing and hugging one another, as we waited in line for turns to go up on stage and have our "family shots" taken. Some families had colorful props to introduce into the "family photos," for example, posters and hand-made welcome signs complete with names of their "adopted children."



The warmth of the people in Chiayi is truly special.

The orchestra members will be staying with their host families for two nights. Over the stay, they will experience sights, sounds, and customs of daily lives of ordinary (and extraordinary!) people in Taiwan. Imagine the precious moments of discovery, bonding, and change taking place over our two day stay here.

Urgent news! Due to a typhoon warning, we will be hastening our concert today to start at 2:30 p.m., no longer 7:30 p.m. as was originally scheduled. We need to rush but nothing is impossible with the AYO and our spirit!


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