Friday, February 26, 2016

Great Meeting Yesterday!

Our meeting yesterday was all about information.  We went over some important procedures, handed out the student agreement (which needs to be signed and returned), went over chaperone groups, and then let the kids ask any burning question that they just couldn't wait to get answered.  This year's group seems hesitant to ask questions, so I answered some for them.  Traditionally, here are some of the questions that kids have asked, with answers. 

One quick reminder that our next meeting is our MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting at 6:00 pm in the MPR at Rio Norte on Monday, March 14th.  At least one parent/guardian must be in attendance.

Q:  What are we supposed to pack?  Do we need to dress up for Broadway?
Check out the Packing List tab at the top of this page for basic information...keep your check-in bag below 45 lbs.  For Broadway, just wear something nice, but comfortable.  We will be touring during the day before we go to our play.
Q:  Do we have to stay in our chaperone groups?
No.  The chaperone groups are for organizational purposes only.  Most of the time we will be in a full group tour.  Chaperone groups allow us to account for all kids before we leave a location.
Q:  How often will we get food?
We get three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). These meals begin with breakfast the morning of our first tour. You are responsible for eating dinner before we leave for our trip.
Q:  How big are the food portions?
Some portions are fixed. At other places it's all-you-can-eat. I've never had anyone starve on the trip, so I think the portion sizes are good.  Be careful not to over-do it!
Q:  Is there time for shopping?
Plenty. You won't get to shop in every shop in every city we visit, but you will be provided with ample opportunity to spend your money.
Q:  What will the weather be like? 
It really depends.  It is early Spring on the east coast which means it will likely be cooler than it is here in California.  It could potentially be cold enough to snow, or you could have an 80 degree day (like we did in NY three years ago).  Pack for all eventualities.  
Q:  What play are we seeing on Broadway?  Are we going to a basketball game?
Right now we are scheduled to see "School of Rock",which has received rave reviews in its first run.  We are also scheduled for a Boston Celtics basketball game.
Q:  How long are the plane rides?   Can we move seats on the plane?
We are scheduled to take a direct flight from LAX...it's about 5 hours each way.  Seats on the plane are assigned and you need to sit in your assigned seat.
Q:  What time do we leave the hotels in the morning and what time do we get back? 
It depends, but usually we have breakfast at the hotel around 7:00am and leave around 8:00am.  We will return around 10:00pm each night.  Lights out is usually around 11:00pm.
Q:  Is the school dress code in effect?
Yes.  You are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses (if you are a Red Sox fan, or a Yankee fan, I wouldn't recommend wearing those hats in the wrong city).
Q:  Are there opportunities to buy snacks in between meals and can we bring water with us on tour? 
 Yes, but be careful not to eat too much junk or you will get sick.  Water is fine to bring with you while we are on tour, and the coach drivers often have bottles for sale as well.
Q:  Can we bring food in the hotel rooms and on the bus? 
In the Hotel the answer is yes, on the bus, NO.
Q:  How long is the trip? 
We will leave Rio around 6:00pm on Saturday, April 2nd and return to Rio around Midnight on Friday, April 8th.
Q:  What if our phone goes off while we are walking around? 
Your phone should be on silent mode for the trip...we don't want to be disrespectful.
Q:  Should we bring cash or a pre-paid card for the trip? 
This is up to you and your parents.  I would suggest looking into whether your bank will allow a debit card with set maximum daily charges - we can talk about money in depth at the pre-departure meeting.
Q:  Is it just us on the plane, and are the planes nice? 
We will have our own bus for the trip, but the plane will have many others.  At this point it looks like on the way out, we will be flying on United - a nice airline.  The home flight looks like it will be through Virgin America - a very nice airline (and my personal favorite).
Q:  What are we doing everyday? 
We will be touring, and seeing many of our most important national treasures!
Q:  What kind of hotels are we staying in?
They're four-star hotels like Westin, Hilton, and Marriott. I don't know exactly where we're staying yet, but it will be in hotels of this quality.

Hope that helps!  See you all at our Pre-Departure Meeting: Rio Norte MPR @ 6:00pm on Monday, March 14th!

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