I’m sure you’ve heard by now but WE DID IT—the VOICES of UNITY came to China and did what we set out to do, and that was bring back the gold! However, we won GOLD MEDALS in BOTH of our competitions and in one of them, we took GRAND CHAMPION. The way medal system works in the World Choir Games is that you must obtain a certain amount of points to receive either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medal. In other words, it is possible that more than one medal type per category will be given–and it is possible (but not likely) that no medals will be given at all. This system rewards those that have worked hard and performed to the best of their abilities, however there is still the GRAND CHAMPION which does reward the best in each category with the distinct title of being the best in the world. In our category of GOSPEL/SPIRITUAL the VOICES of UNITY can proudly say WE ARE THE BEST! We also earned a gold medal in the category of Popular Choral Music. It was first thought that we were runner up but upon closer inspection, we took third place. THIRD PLACE IN THE WORLD? Yes, we are more than happy with that result!

As to being named the GRAND CHAMPION of GOSPEL and SPIRITUAL MUSIC at the 2010 World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China that makes the VOICES of UNITY the #1 GOSPEL CHOIR in the world.

Check out this phone interview with WANE TV from the Awards Ceremony Monday morning: listen-to-the-full-interview-with-vou-at-the-awards-ceremony-in-china

One of the biggest adjustments of coming to China is just that—ADJUSTING.  Things like air conditioning are a way of life for us in the USA but in China, it’s more of a luxury.  While there are many who do have air conditioning, it’s not central air conditioning–and even then not everyone or every place has that.  Today the Voices of Unity were at one of the venues for our second and final competition where the stage and auditorium itself had A/C, but the rest of the facility did not–and it was HOT!  What was worse were the bathrooms, it was like a sauna in there.  This has been a typical scenario that we have faced here, but an even bigger one is ICE!

One issue with having ice is that it would come from the drinking water in China, which isn’t bad—however it’s not what our bodies are used to back home.  The way the water is purified, the process, and what minerals are used (or aren’t used) conditions us to what we use and have.  To change that could make one sick or cause other not so comfortable complications.  Drinking water has not been the issue, bottled water is in more than abundant supply—however cold water is not.  Even if the ice were okay the simple fact is, ice isn’t popular over here in China.  We searched and searched for bags of ice to place bottles down into to cool them—but have yet to find a single bag of ice ANYWHERE! Finding chilled bottles of water in local stores too is not exactly readily available.  We’ve been told that it is believed by the Chinese that having cold water makes the body cool-down, therefore the warm air then feels even hotter…….. Well, that does make sense but it doesn’t change the fact that a nice glass of ICE COLD WATER IS SOOOOOOOOOO REFRESHING in this incredibly hot and humid environment.

We’re awaiting some video and audio to be downloaded from the cameras, edited, and then placed online—but until then WE ARE FINISHED with our (2) competitions.  Saturday’s went off without a hitch but Sunday was another story.  It’s one thing to be dealing with technical problems in the USA but when you’re in another country with a radically different culture, power system, and way of doing things—-ouch!  Needless to say, we pulled together and made it happen–and the kids as always were the true stars!  More to come!