18 months ago we started planning Braylen's trip with the band to Philadelphia and New York City. May 25th, 2016 felt like a long ways away back then. Of course time always goes faster than we think it will, and here we are!
Band has been a great experience for Braylen. He's enjoyed playing percussion, and the drum line in high school was somewhat close-knit. It gave him a place to belong while adjusting to high school life. That being said, he's decided to end his band career at the conclusion of this trip. What a way to go out with a bang! :)
Since I didn't go along on the trip, this blog post will be mainly pictures. He sent us lots and lots of pictures every day he was gone. I loved it. When I went to Europe as a 17-almost-18-year-old-girl, my poor parents only heard from me once--when I used a phone card to call them from Paris. What a different world we live in now.
I saved Braylen's itinerary, and he shared lots of his experiences with us during the drive on our family vacation. So, here's the story of his trip from my view!
May 25th, 2016
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| Loading the buses at 3:30AM |
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| Airport shuttle |
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| Braylen photobombing his sponsor and her son |
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| Passing the time at the airport |
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| Great group! |
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| Doing the dab of course! |
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| First look at NYC skyline |
May 26th, 2016
Today they visited a high school in New Jersey, where both bands played together. Braylen learned that kids in NJ don't get their drivers license until 17, and they go to school until June 24th. Ugh! Later on this day, they toured Princeton University. At night, they went bowling and played laser tag.
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| Braylen's standing in back in the white shirt, playing the bass drum I think. |
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| At Princeton |
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| The whole band and the sponsors |
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| At the fun center |
May 27th, 2016
Today they went to Philadelphia and visited the National Constitution Center, and then the Reading Terminal Market for lunch. Braylen had a Philly Cheesesteak, and he and his friends shared their table with a homeless man. This man shared parts of his story with the group, and they ended up giving him the food they weren't able to finish. In the afternoon, they toured the Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts, returned to Independence National Historical Park to play an afternoon concert, and had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's in Philadelphia. Braylen was pretty excited this his sponsor group was the only group that made time to visit the Liberty Bell after their concert. Since it closed at 5:00, they cut it close--and the other groups missed it! He worked up an appetite and had a rack of ribs, fries, and a sundae. Whew!
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| Philadelphia |
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| 2500 seats, $265 million, 32 ton organ, largest concert hall in USA, named after Sydney Kimmel |
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| Lookin fly |
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| Concert in Philly |
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