There is a LOT to read in this update, but we consider it all vitally important information, and ask that you read it very carefully. Do not skim this one!
Personal Travel Umbrella: The weather will certainly feel warmer in London than it does in the Chicago region currently. The forecast is for temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s. That’s good news. But, as we should expect in “London town,” there is also a prediction of rain and mist. If you have a small, folding travel umbrella, you would be wise to bring it along. (Perhaps if you pack it - much like Grace bringing the LNYDP Umbrella - it will not actually be needed!)
Choir Students: Double check that you have packed your London International Choral Festival music and pencil! You need this for both rehearsals and performances. And make sure that you have packed your “dress black” concert uniform in a way that it’ll look great when we get to London! Remember - you’ll be wearing it TWICE, for our “DGN-only” performance on Th 12/29, and also for the festival concert on M 1/2 - take good care of it!
Band Students: Double check that you have both your Shako hat, and your Marching Band Shoes/Black Socks, packed inside your suitcase. Remember that you can save a lot of space by packing shirts, socks, etc. inside the Shako. We also recommend wrapping the shako in a plastic shopping bag to add a little bit of extra protection to the fabric.
Wind Ensemble Students: If you believe that your black marching band shoes will work for your formal concert attire in London, using those shoes could save you space in your suitcase because you would not need to take a second pair of black shoes. This idea may or may not work for you, but it’s worth considering.
Clothing for Travel: Remember to wear your Tour T-shirt for travel, along with nice jeans (no significant rips, etc.), casual dress pants, or leggings/Yoga pants that are full length and a solid fabric & color. Please wear your most comfortable walking shoes. You are asked to wear a t-shirt under your tour t-shirt to keep it as ‘fresh’ as possible. You might consider putting a sweatshirt in your carry-on bag to wear on the plane after dinner; sometimes the cabin temperature feels cool when you're trying to sleep. You are also encouraged to wear your DGN Tour Jacket with you during travel. (Did you remember to put your name inside it?)
Arrival at DGN: Please have your ride park in a way that their vehicle will not interfere with loading the bus bays, or our departure. Hug your family good-bye, load your bags, and check-in with your Flight Chaperone. Once you have handed the chaperone your passport, you should get on the bus. Please do not "hang out" with family members outside the bus. Once we have everyone, we will depart for O'Hare; if that's a few minutes early, great! ("If you're on time, you're late.")
Your Bags: You, and only you, are responsible for your bags at all times. That means you make sure that the larger suitcase is loaded under the bus, and that your carry-on (i.e. backpack or instrument) is with you on the upper level of the bus. Please double check to make sure that each bag or carry-on instrument is labeled with a name-tag that includes your name and contact information.
Passports: When you arrive at DGN for departure, your Flight Chaperone will collect your passport as you load the bus, and they will put a temporary label on the exterior that will allow them to easily collect and distribute the passport to you during the tour. This process is also how we quickly take attendance tomorrow afternoon, so please make sure you find your chaperone and hand-over your passport as soon as you arrive. The chaperone will hold the passport for you at all times, except when you need it inside the airport. Don’t leave home tomorrow without your passport!
Unloading at O'Hare: Remember that you, and only you, are responsible for your bags. No one is going to move your bags for you. Student leaders may help the bus driver and chaperones pull bags out from under the bus, but each and every student must make sure they have their bags. Make sure you don't leave anything on the upper level of the bus either. Once the bus pulls away, we will not see it again.
Checking In with Airlines & Security: It's very important, when your group arrives at O'Hare, that you stick with your Flight Chaperone during the check-in process. Your chaperone will hand you back your passport for the check-in, and you will keep it with you until you complete the security screening process with TSA. Remember, there are no beverages allowed in your carry-on bag as you go through security. (If you have a TSA Pre-Check authorization we ask that you still remain with your Chaperone Group through the security process.)
Waiting at the Gate: Once we have made it through security, and found our departure gate, there is likely to be a significant period of waiting to board. This is a good time to visit quietly with friends, read a book, or listen to music with headphones. Please be mindful of your speaking voice volume, and considerate of everyone around you. Your behavior and decorum in the gate area is one of your first opportunities to make a great impression on the general public as well as those who will be traveling with us. Consider where you sit down, and be sure you are not blocking the ability of others to walk through the gate area. If there is time to leave the gate area to get a snack, or stretch your legs with a short walk up and down the concourse, your chaperones will let you know. While in the airport students should stay in small groups of 2+ at all times. Personal belongings (like your carry-on bag) should be kept with you, or very carefully monitored by a friend at the gate. If someone else asks you to watch their bag while they stretch their legs, that is fine, but no one person should be watching more that one other person's bags. (In other words, a group of 5 students should not leave their bags sitting in the gate, with just one other student left behind to watch their belongings.) Finally, you should not be surprised if your flight departure is delayed. This has become common for international flights heading to England in the evening. BA has been averaging 90 minute delays on our scheduled flight during the month of December. AA has had a better on-time departure record this month, but still averages 30 minute delays.
On The Plane: Please remember that all students must sit in their pre-assigned seats for take-off, unless a staff member asks a student to make a minor adjustment. As soon as you are seated on the plane, adjust the clock on your phone or your wrist watch to reflect local time in London. (Set the clock six hours forward.) You should start thinking that the end of the day is near, and trick your mind into feeling like bedtime is near. After dinner is served, and the crew turns off the interior cabin lights, try to get some sleep. Even if you cannot sleep for several hours at a time, grab as many zzz's as you can. You might be tempted to watch movies, or visit with your neighbor, but those who get some sleep will be far happier travelers upon our arrival in London.
Technology: You will be asked to put your phones, tablets, etc. in "Airplane mode" prior to take-off. If you plan to only use your device on WiFi networks in England, this is a good opportunity to turn OFF your cellular data and your phone's roaming capabilities. If you forget to do this, your phone will connect to cell towers when we land, and that will cause you to start using data. This is fine, provided you have made arrangements with your carrier to use the phone in England. But for those students planning to only use their devices at the hotel (WiFi), don't forget to shut down the cellular data capabilities of the phone.
Ambassadorship: We are incredibly proud of our DGN Band & DGN Choir students, and are confident you will represent DGN, District 99, our local communities, the State of Illinois, and the United States in a very mature and dignified manner. The impressions you will make on others begin the moment you arrive at North High, and continue with every personal interaction you will have with bus drivers, airline employees, TSA personnel, tour guides, hotel management, and one another. Let’s all strive to make great impressions, and practice “random acts of kindness” each day.
Gratitude & Patience: There is only one thing that is certain when you travel. Especially when you travel with others. Not everything will go exactly to plan. If you go into this adventure knowing this to be true, it will help you (and those around you) navigate those moments that might test your patience. When something doesn’t go exactly the way you thought it would, or the way you hoped it would, we encourage you to pause, take a deep breath, and focus on the fact that you have been given an opportunity to experience the world in a way that many others could only dream of. Avoid perpetuating “drama.” Don’t sweat the small stuff. Show gratitude and appreciation to the universe, and the universe will likely repay you with unexpected and meaningful moments on this tour!
