Leaving Buenos Aires Airport
















Thursday, August 25
By: Hilary Grant

Today was a day of mixed feelings. Until I woke up Wedbesday morning (August 24, I hadn’t really believed I would be leaving. I carefully placed all of my gifts for my friends and family in my suitcase thinking of all I had done and seen. But there is no time like the present so instead of feeling sad I decided to stop counting the hours till I had to go and enjoy my last afternoon. After all I wouldn’t be back for a long time, if ever.

A small group of the choristers went to the museum of natural history and the rest shopping. Deep in my heart I knew I’d learn much more at the museum but I couldn’t resist the thought of finding the perfect pair of shoes. The afternoon was filled with many long waits in banks for ATMs, traveler checks and trying to find a place that would change Canadian money. Many of us take our shopping very seriously resulting in a lot of power walking and the odd fight over the last black t-shirt. I cannot lie so I admit I enjoyed the way the sales people would stare at me and my friends. (We were very excited and became very loud when someone found the perfect item.)

Before we headed to the airport everyone on the trip came together to share how we felt about the tour and what is in the cards for the choir next season. At times it was very emotional. Our graduates, and people who for different reasons can’t continue with us, found it very hard not to cry. I was practically in tears. It was really special to all have some time together before the airport.

The airports have been pretty good except for the long lines. It takes so long to get all of us on or off of a plane. Coming through customs was particularly slow. Checking in our bags wasn’t exactly my idea of the best way to pass an hour either. I suppose it’s a very small price to pay for traveling so far. Everyone managed all of their stuff. Some things were left behind but that’s to be expected. To my surprise I remember very little of the plane to Toronto because I got an excellent sleep.

That brings me back to the present. Mr. Thompson joked that there was a lot of pressure to sum up the trip nicely. This is hard because I can’t speak for the whole choir because we are all so individual. What I do know is this has been the most incredible trip and we’re all very lucky. Everybody has taken away something different, learned something new or have been changed in their own special way. So instead of writing my own feelings, which would take far too long, I’ll leave you with the one common truth I can find. This had been a trip that we will all remember forever.