Monday: The Picnic and Mother of all Water-fights
After a night's sleep, the smiles and excitement following last night's concert were still dominant early this morning when all Slovenian homestay families met at an inlet on the river 5 km upstream from the center of town. A large raft of lashed spruce with four guide oars on both fore and aft was waiting for the two choirs and chaperones. Bread, cherries and cookies were offered as we boarded and pushed from shore. The oarsmen guided the "craft" while drifting with the current. Huck Finn with room for 90.
It was a lazy morning on the river with cards, sunscreen, singing and a trip through the history of the river valley. Rafts like this one were built in the early 1800's, a hundred km upstream and floated through rapids and quiet river down to the cities where they were dismantled and sold as lumber. We drifted by the Maribor old city, Karmina's house, a long monastery and river bound vineyards.
It got warm, more sunscreen. Bob gracefully dived over the sideboard into the water, barely disturbing the surface. The heat got to me after a few minutes and I performed a much less graceful, thud into the water that some claim rocked the raft. It was quite refreshing paddling along. The "hairy seal" and "walrus" eventually returned to the raft.
We arrived at the center of old town where we were met by the world's oldest actively producing grape vines and the homestay parents with waiting cars. Off to a picnic. We drove back across the river and up to the base of Maribor's ski mountain about 5 km from the city center. The world cup women's slalom competition is held at that ski resort.
What the parents had in mind was lunch and dinner for 200 on top of a mountain. Four person gondolas took us and the food up to the top with its spectacular view of the city and adjacent mountains. Still no Julie Andrews.
Huge ice tables of water and drinks were attacked first, followed by a table of home-made cookies and appetizers. French-fries, grilled vegetables, chicken wings, pickled paprika, sausage, salad...."Slovenian hospitality" is a redundancy. Offering plates of home-made goodies, inviting us to tables and getting adults beer. When a 14 year-old high speed pile of protoplasm turned a corner and bounced off an adult, his wine went flying, mostly in the direction of my white choir shirt. A bottle of club soda and napkins appeared before I got the shirt off.
Games began including line tag, and a monster version of Big Fat Pony. It got hot. Soon some water was "accidently"splashed. The favor was returned and the escalation was underway. Within a half-hour the rest rooms became armament sources as water bottles were constantly refilled. Essentially all young people and many adults were soaked. Cameras were spared.
There was no swimming pool. The kids could not go to the water so they brought the water to each other. Yes, "Water, water everywhere". When Max drenched Karmina, Bob became fair game. He got nailed. [A bit of context: no one would ever accuse Bob of being "perspiration-challenged". In the heat, he can perspire. Hot performances can be a scene. So Bob is standing in the grass field soaked by members of both choirs. Totally drenched, with more water raining in his direction. A Slovenian parent looked at me, nodded at Bob and pointed out, "Vell now, and he isn't even performing."
The battle ended only when chaperones commandeered the restroom ammunition supply depot.
There is no homesickness. Missing of US families, yes. Enjoying new friends, absolutely. The grill was fired up again, more sausage, chicken, vegies, more dessert. Amidst the games and food, we got all Piedmont singers to locate their Slovenian homestay parents and their CS singer for family portraits (attached).
The six hour picnic came to a close and everyone headed back to the gondolas for the trip down the mountain and to their Slovenian homes.
"They know how to picnic"
"I have traveled a lot with my family and we really try to get to know the people wherever we go. But staying with a home-stay family is really different. You can see how much they are the same, how families all over are alike, yet you can also see how in small ways they are different."
"Those differences are fun." --Ainsley
The choir members returned to their home-stays for an evening together. We leave in the morning for a busy day and a final concert with Carmina Slovenica.
As you know we have been fighting with the internet. Marisa is the major administrator at the CS choir office. She was the transport for two girls, developed all programs, organized food, and then spent hours in the office late at night (to 3AM) and early morning (7AM) assisting in the internet fight. Thank you Marisa and the wine was wonderful.