Stop #12: Bangkok

Beautiful architecture at the temple of Wat Pho near the Royal Palace in Bangkok

Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand, the home of beautiful temples, reckless tuk-tuks, and most importantly, Pinky Tailor. We arrived very early Thursday morning on the first flight from Hong Kong (thanks to our wonderful business manager who also happens to be writing this post), and upon arrival headed straight to legendary Pinky Tailor for our traditional suit fitting and shopping spree. As Pinky himself would explain to us while carefully taking each and every one of our measurements…twice…the Dins have been going to his shop for over 10 years. Each year we show up in full force, wide-eyed like kids in a candy store as we head to the third floor to search through hundreds of fabrics and linings, and each year we leave with the sleekest and finest looking suits we could possibly ask for (and at a great price too…for all you parents reading, don’t worry – we haven’t completely maxed out our credit cards just yet). We returned that evening to the Sukosol hotel for whom we would be performing for over the next few days, and where we would call home during our time in Thailand. From its gorgeous pool to its endless buffets the Sukosol was the sanctuary the Dins needed after a busy stop in Hong Kong and before an even busier one in Singapore.

The exterior of Mahatun Plaza, where the legendary Pinky Tailor is located

It was not long before our resident foodie, Lee Seligman, had us out and about in search for food, and we came to one of the most delicious street Pad Thai restaurants in all of Bangkok called Thip Samai. The line was down the street, winding around ten or more chefs, each frying shrimp or artfully making a fried egg thin enough to engulf an entire helping of Pad Thai. The freshly squeezed orange juice paired well with our main course, of which we each had two, and we joyfully returned to the Sukosol to get ready for our full day of singing and sightseeing to come. 

Everett and Leon chowing down on the "Superb Pad Thai" at the fantastic Thip Samai restaurant

Our first performance of the day began bright and early as we traveled down the street to Sri Ayutthaya School to perform for the students, and get our first taste of “fame” as many of the Dins were swarmed by students after the performance to chat and take pictures. We returned to the hotel to the best surprise of them all…CLEAN TAILS!!! Yes, you heard me right…The Din & Tonics would once again smell fresh and clean for the first time since…well you probably don’t want to know. We split from there, with many Dins heading into the heart of Bangkok to test their bartering skills at the markets and eat more savory food. We ended the night with a performance in a banquet hall of the hotel. It was a great success and a chance to officially unveil our brand new album “The Dark Side of the Lime.” 

On-stage in casual gear at the Sri Ayutthaya school

Saturday was our last full day in Bangkok and was filled with return trips to markets, more delicious food, river boat rides, temples, and of course, more singing. The Sukosol’s boutique hotel is called the Siam. It has to be one of the most spectacular hotels I have ever seen, and served a perfect venue for our final performance in Bangkok. With only 39 rooms it is an intimate setting, but that did not stop the Dins from putting on a great show for our audience, which included the owner of the hotels and foreign ambassadors. We concluded our brief tour of Bangkok by hitting the town Saturday night. A small group of us went out to Sukhumvit Soi 11, a famous night market and bar street in the city. The beer was good and the people-watching was even better. And with that our stop in Bangkok must come to an end as we gear up for Singapore. So long Bangkok! We will see you again in two years. 

En route to our next stop!

Signing off,

Will Jaroszewicz #228

Stop #11: Hong Kong

Hello from Hong Kong! After a long night of travel and a late arrival, the Dins were thrilled to arrive at the Mini-Hotel in Causeway Bay. There, we enjoyed the comfort and privacy of individual rooms, a luxury not even guaranteed on our beloved campus.

Some hungry Dins getting very excited for their food

The next morning, we embarked on what would be our main mission for the week to come: finding the best food and bubble tea in the Causeway Bay area. Divided into two groups - those preferring Asian food, and those looking for a good old steak - the Dins were thrilled to experience the culinary variety and multiculturalism that the city has to offer. In the afternoon, we met with our contacts, Wing and Karina, who would accompany us through the rest of our stay, helping us to navigate the island. Our first performance took place at the beautiful Queen’s Garden, where residents of the complex came to enjoy some food, drinks, and music.

More Dins eating more food

The next day, still led by the wonderful Wing and Karina, the Dins performed at the International Finance Center (IFC) Mall, where passersby halted to enjoy a few of our songs. From there, we took some time to look around Hong Kong’s bustling Central District, before returning to our hotel. There, we started the tradition of sitting in the Mini-Hotel’s lobby to play cards for countless hours.

Dins finding inventive ways to cope with the air conditioning

After a good night of sleep, we headed to the Dragon Center Mall. Clad in everyday clothes, the Dins blended in with the crowd before starting an impromptu pop-up performance in the mall’s food court. As we were singing, we hopped on an escalator, and were followed by a crowd down a few flights of stairs – one of the many perks of using no instruments.

Walking through Stanley Market

Later the same day, we headed to another location of the Mini-Hotel, in Stanley, where we would be spending the night. The residents of the Mini Studio in Stanley got to enjoy a lobby performance before Wing and Karina treated us to some delectable dim sum. In sum, some Dins dined on some dim sum.

The Dins in full tourist attire on Stanley's beach

Upon waking up in Stanley, we decided to get a whiff of the local air by checking out the local attractions. First, we took a stroll through the streets of Stanley Market. Second, and most importantly, we feasted on some more dim sum. Finally, armed with sunscreen and umbrellas, we braved the scorching sun on Stanley’s beach where the water was barely cool enough to make the temperature bearable! Then came the time to make our way back to the center of Hong Kong, where some of us went to see the city’s skyline brighten up from across the river for the daily musical light show.

"A Symphony of Lights," the Victoria Harbour light show

The following day, the Dins completed their tour of the Mini-Hotels in Hong Kong, performing first at our basecamp, the Mini-Hotel Causeway Bay, and later at the Mini-Hotel Central. Sadly, this night was our last one with Wing and Karina, who took us yet again to an amazing restaurant before we parted goodbye.

Matt and Wing taking a graceful goodbye selfie

But the Dins’ experience in Hong Kong wasn’t over quite yet. With two more days to spend in the city, we went to visit some more traditional tourist spots. Some went to see Macau with its casinos and its enchanting Portuguese influence; others went for a scenic experience on the Peak, offering a breathtaking view of Hong Kong. A third group, with clearly better priorities, went to get lunch at Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world!

At the top of Victoria Peak

In the evening, the Dins were invited by the Rainbow Foundation at Noah’s Ark, a themed educational amusement park. There we got to share a dinner with children who were part of a program conceived for the underprivileged youth in Hong Kong, organized by the Rainbow Foundation. Its founder, Mrs. Kwok, also joined us. After dancing with the children and getting to know them a little bit, we performed for them, and for children from the Foundation’s basketball training camp. The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and heart-warming moments with the children. Later, we reconvened in the lobby for yet another round of cards; at this point, the staff and residents of the Mini-Hotel would have been surprised not to find us there…

Dins and children dancing at Noah's Ark

For our final day in the city, the Dins still on their gastronomical quest went to Sing Heung Yen, a street restaurant specializing in tomato flavored noodles; a unique and delicious cultural mix. Finally, in the evening, we were invited to perform at Bond, where we got to enjoy some refined cuisine alongside Mr. and Mrs. Kwok, as well as their son, Dominic Kwok ’16, recently graduated from Harvard!

Performing on the terrace of the restaurant Bond

And so, stomachs filled and bags packed, the Din train keeps on rolling, Bangkok bound! Stay tuned for more of the Dins’ adventures.

Until then,

Jacques Berguig #233

Stop #10: Shanghai and Beijing

Ni hao! The Dins have had a wonderful time visiting Shanghai and Beijing on our tenth stop of World Tour!

One of the many majestic views on offer to tourists in Beijing's Forbidden City

We arrived in Shanghai in the early afternoon on July 9th, and checked into the Grand Park Jiayou Hotel in the district of Pudong.  We immediately got to work, traveling downtown to a gig at the Jinhua Seafood Restaurant, organized by Din alum Wayne Fu (#129).  After being given an introductory presentation on economics and politics in China, we sang a few short sets at a dinner for students celebrating the end of an internship program in Shanghai.  That night, we went out to a jazz club with Wayne Fu, as well as Din alum Tom Seery (#45), continuing to enjoy the stunning city and the music it has to offer.

Our very cloudy view of Shanghai's skyline from the Bund on our last night in Shanghai

The next day, we performed a lunch gig organized by Wayne Fu, and were treated to a wonderful meal that included traditional Chinese dishes with very slight touches of Western influence.  In the evening, we performed in the beautiful Shanghai Oriental Arts Center in a public show with a choir from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).  Our contact from the choir, Greg Wu, put together a wonderful joint concert arrangement, and we were delighted to be received warmly in such a large venue.  Five Dins in our ensemble were also able to exercise their skills in Mandarin, introducing the group and our repertoire to the delight of the audience.

Performing on the stage of the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, one of our nicest venues so far

The following afternoon, we would have the pleasure of sharing the stage again with the CEIBS choir at an auditorium in their beautiful campus.  The choir would gift us with very nice long t-shirts with the CEIBS mark and logo that the Dins appreciated very dearly.  The shirts made for a strong visual presence in place of our tails during the second half of the show.

Striking our best boy-band poses in shirts generously given to us by the CEIBS Maple Choir

Closing the concert with a joint rendition of Seasons of Love from the musical Rent was certainly a highlight!  From there, we unfortunately had to bring our stop in Shanghai to a end, heading to the airport shortly after the concert.

Final images from our joint choir concert held at CEIBS – a real treat for us

After waiting through a flight delay, we were met with technical issues that involved landing back in Shanghai after taking off!  Despite these challenges, we were able to arrive in Beijing late into the night, and check into the Beijing Friendship Hotel, still excited for what the next day would bring.

In the morning, we were able to talk one-on-one with students from the Beijing area about the Harvard experience, and the things we believe are keys to a strong college application.  Our activities were managed by an organization called Pu-Xin Education, which works for the academic advancement of students in Beijing.  We were questioned extensively in the afternoon by the staff on the wisdom that we've gathered from our schooling, which gave us the opportunity to reflect on our education, and give our best advice for the very curious students.  Our afternoon interviews were streamed live online, amassing an audience of about 30,000!   We gave an hour-long performance at the Affiliated High School of Peking University, which was also streamed for thousands of viewers, and enjoyed reaching so many people.  The decorations set up for the event were also top-notch and quite life-like.

Re-creating the pic that Pu-Xin education used for our event (we miss you, Aaron and Adam!)

At night, we taken out for a fun dinner by Din alum Dillon Powers (#195) who has lived in Beijing for the past few years.  We cooked our own vegetables and meats in hot pots, and explored the exciting variety of sauces and spices at our disposal.  Din stories through the generations were exchanged and, of course, hilarity ensued.

Eating at a wonderful Sichuan-style hot pot restaurant with Dillon in Beijing

On July 13th we were able to take a whole day to sight-see! Pu-Xin Education afforded us the opportunity of touring the Forbidden City.  For many of us, including some of the staff leading us on this trip, this visit was a first, and certainly an exciting one!  The Imperial Palace was a stunning reminder of the deep history of Beijing, which we were able learn about from the guides in the Pu-Xin education staff. All too soon, we left in the evening for our flight out of Beijing.

Last but not least, an obligatory Tiananmen Square selfie

We extend our sincerest thanks to our main contacts in Shanghai, Wayne Fu and Greg Wu, as well as to Pu-Xin Education for their wonderful work in Beijing.  Stay tuned for our next update on our stop in Hong Kong!

Signing off,
#234 Sydney Mukasa

Stop #9: Japan (Osaka, Tokyo, Choshi)

A view of the busy walking streets of Kyoto

Greetings from Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun! The Dins have just completed their ninth tour stop here, and though it’s been long and often packed with gigs it’s been one of our favorite stops so far. While here, we have stayed in Osaka, Tokyo, and Choshi. Tokyo is of course Japan’s largest city and Osaka is the second largest in the country, while Choshi is a smaller fishing town on the eastern coast of the country.

Something worth mentioning before I continue onward is that with this stop we have officially picked up another member, Lee Seligman #203! Lee got his undergraduate degree from Harvard in 2013 and is an active and beloved alumnus of the Dins. He will be singing with us for all remaining stops of the tour except for Sydney. Lee grew up speaking both Japanese and English and has lived independently in Japan for some years, so he was invaluable to us in this country. Over the past week he’s covered everything from MCing our events in Japanese to interfacing with our longtime contacts and even taking us sightseeing to his favorite spots, so an immense thank-you goes out to him.

Dins at a fantastic southern-style ramen eatery on our first night in Osaka

We arrived in Osaka from our few days of “free time” on July 1st, most of us still very jet-lagged from the seven time zones that we crossed on our flights over from Europe. While on free time, we had split up in places ranging from St. Tropez all the way to Seoul, and so we all had interesting stories to tell each other after meeting up again. Our first night in Osaka was fairly relaxed. We lugged baggage to our resting places, either at the Osaka Castle Hotel or Lee’s house in the city, and then went to one of Lee’s favorite ramen spots at a covered market in the city for a nice dinner.

Exploring Kiyomizu-dera, a famous Buddhist temple, on a mountain in Kyoto

The next few days were packed with activities. On July 2nd we had a morning gig at a senior center in Hirakata, after which we were invited to take part in a delightful Japanese tea ceremony steeped in tradition. For the afternoon, we took a train to nearby Kyoto, often described as Japan’s cultural capital and home to thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. We were fascinated by the artistry and attention to detail within these cultural centers, and were quite glad to take in a traditional side of Japan alongside the more modern parts of the country.

Neat views of Osaka en route to a gig

July 3rd and 4th were our two busiest days in Japan, both packed with two gigs each. On the 3rd we had a morning gig at Uchida Youkou hall, in which we had a lot of time to interact with students from Doushisha Women’s University in Osaka. During this gig, we sang a popular Japanese song called Hana wa Saku (“Flowers Will Bloom”) with the whole audience for a video that was later uploaded to YouTube:

This was one of the first gigs in which we got to experience the very enthusiastic crowds often found at our concerts throughout Asia. I personally had never signed so many autographs or taken so many pictures with people in my entire life, and it was a total pleasure to know that we were bringing happiness to our audience despite the language barrier. That night we had a performance at a restaurant called Cafe de la Paix, to similar effect.

At Osaka International University, visiting a tree planted with the Dins on our last tour in 2014

The next day we traveled to Osaka International University. Here we participated in numerous activities with students studying English, including some question-and-answer periods and a short performance. After lunch we headed to Kwansei University in the outskirts of Osaka, where we performed in a chapel. During this concert we sang “Hana wa Saku” again, this time with students from the school’s widely acclaimed glee club. The students in this glee club were great sports, and after the concert we ate dinner and conversed together, occasionally singing some songs for each other. We were delighted by the students’ powerful voices, and agreed that it was no wonder that they were ranked the best in all of Japan. Though these two days were tiring, it was precisely this kind of camaraderie that got us through them.

Dining on the top floor of a hotel in Osaka

None of this is to say that we didn’t get some downtime during all this, though. On the night of July 3rd we had a delicious dinner with Lee’s family on the top floor of a nice Osaka hotel, and afterwards relaxed in the hotel’s naturally heated hot spring bathhouse. The next night we had our own little Fourth of July celebration at a jazz club called Misty in one of Osaka’s busiest bar districts. The president of Osaka International University, whose birthday it was that day, treated us to drinks and karaoke with a live band. We performed a few songs and made sure to sneak in a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Heading to Toudaiji Temple in Nara and seeing many deer along the way

On July 5th we had our only completely free day in Japan, during which some of us stayed back to explore Osaka and others went to Nara with Lee. In Nara, known far and wide for its docile wild deer and temples, we first took a tour of a pristine garden that had been preserved for centuries. We explored the ruins of a building that had been in the garden more than a thousand years ago, and then had another tea ceremony in a tea house that had been standing since the 1600s. This type of serene experience in a carefully sculpted natural environment was what I was most eagerly anticipating upon coming to Japan, and it did not disappoint. Petting some deer along the way, we then ambled over to Toudaiji Temple, known for being the largest completely wooden structure in the world and also for housing a very large Vairocana Buddha made of metal in its center. After admiring the craftsmanship of the Buddha we took a very exclusive tour inside Kasuga Shrine, a noted center for the Shinto religion in Nara. That night, we took the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo, where we would be spending only a short time.

At a traditional tea ceremony in Nara, a welcome air-conditioned respite from the humidity

We appreciated the more temperate weather in Tokyo after the occasionally punishing heat and humidity of Osaka and its environs, but we quickly had some business to which to attend. Our one full day in the area was mostly spent performing in nearby Kawagoe – first we had a short concert and question-and-answer session at a local university, and then we traveled to a historic part of the town preserved from the Edo period for a sold-out evening concert in a restored 1800s house. The stage was the hottest we’d been on yet, but we pulled out a pretty good performance nonetheless.

Some very tired Dins in transit

It was only just the next morning that we departed Tokyo for Choshi. As mentioned above, Choshi is much smaller than either Osaka or Tokyo, but the Dins have a strong tradition of performing there that has lasted for over a decade. Right on the eastern coast of Japan, the town’s lighthouse is the first place in the country of Japan to see the sunrise in the New Year. Our visit was managed by Terajima-san, a very kind man who has been overseeing the Dins ever since we first came to Choshi. He enlisted a number of people around the area to help drive us and assist with logistics in our performances throughout the town. We had great accomodations at the Taiyo no Sato hotel, which also had natural hot spring baths on-site of which we eagerly availed ourselves.

A very impressive pagoda at Enpuku-ji temple in Choshi

Our days in Choshi were packed with both performances and sightseeing. Some of our visits, in which we connected with some of the town’s most prominent citizens and talked to audiences about our collegiate experiences, underscored our roles as representatives of Harvard and the United States abroad. On Thursday the 7th we performed for the Choshi 1st Junior High School, participating in our third question-and-answer session afterwards. We were pleasantly surprised by the students’ great appreciation of us and were delighted to sing a few songs together with them in Japanese as well. The next day was our major concert in Choshi, located in the town’s major community center and organized in partnership with a local youth choir. We sang a translated version of the Disney classic “It’s a Small World” with this choir, and also sang a Japanese rendition of “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie with Terajima-san’s granddaughter Elena. The latter song was especially touching to perform, as Elena has grown up listening to the Dins come to Choshi every two years for her whole life.

Testing out an old military helicopter at the Chiba Institute of Science's marina campus

In between gigs we traveled by tour bus to restaurants, shopping malls, Buddhist temples, the Yamasa soy sauce factory, the Chiba Institute of Science, the aforementioned lighthouse, and a beautiful observatory. The sights could leave us exhausted, but as a crash course in Japanese culture we couldn’t have asked for better. I of course can’t speak for everyone, but on Saturday morning when it was time to leave for the next stop, I was left wanting more time in Japan.

Taking in views of Choshi and Chiba on the top platform of the Horizon Observatory

The number of people who gave us kind assistance with our performances, transportation, and sightseeing in this country is truly too large to be able to name everyone (such is the incredibly respectful nature of Japanese culture), but we would especially like to extend our thanks to Nao-san, Komori-san, Lee and his parents and other relatives, Terajima-san, Jun-san, Miko, Mena, Mieko, and the entire staff of the Taiyo no Sato hotel for their troubles. The Dins have a very busy few weeks in Asia ahead of us, and so we plan to hit the ground running as we fly from Japan into China. Next stop, Shanghai!

Signing off,

Ethan Craigo #237

Stop #8: Monaco

Editor's Note: Due to Internet issues we have not been able to publish this post for a few days. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Greetings from Monaco!

A view over the main port of Monaco

The Dins arrived in Monaco on June 24th, and were immediately welcomed by our very own member's (Jacques Berguig) family! We then settled into bed at the beautiful Fairmont Monte Carlo, strategically located on the waterfront as well as the main road that serves as one of the hardest turns during the Grand Prix.

Tired Dins arriving in Monaco from Luxembourg

During our first full day, the Dins had some relaxing time at the rooftop pool before heading to Jacques' apartment to rehearse. Our first gig was then at the Monte Carlo Bar, where we were served a delicious dinner in endless small courses in exchange for intermittently performing. That night, the Dins then headed to La Rascasse for drinks and a good time with a few of Jacques' high school and family friends.

A very nice Lamborghini parked outside our hotel

The next morning and early afternoon was just as uneventful, with even more pool lounging! At night, the Dins sang at the famous Café de Paris, which is situated directly in front of the grand Monte Carlo Casino. On our way over, we spotted a black Lamborghini Aventador with a lime green trim—a beautiful car meant for beautiful people, hence why the Dins were not driving it! After the performance, a few Dins gathered aboard the 220' Oasis yacht to celebrate a successful Monaco leg of our trip. (We were invited on board by a few friends that we met at the Fairmont and our various performances.)

Posing at the Monaco Yacht Club

The following morning, a couple Dins went up to the royal palace to explore and potentially fall in love with Princess Charlotte. Then later in the evening, the Dins sang at the Yacht Club de Monaco, where we had the pleasure of performing for the former Reagan-era Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, on top of other distinguished guests from the Consulate of Monaco in Boston. Our many thanks to Consul General Mrs. Rina Spence for helping us organize this performance.

A few Dins out exploring the what the small country has to offer

The Dins now have a few days to explore the world in smaller groups before reconvening in Osaka, Japan. Our destinations range from Seoul, South Korea to Saint-Tropez, France, and we look forward to keeping you all updated on our travels through Asia in the coming month! Until then, take care.

Matt Barber #222

Harvard '16, Underwater Basket Weaving

Bikini Bottom, CA

Stops #6 and #7: Paris and Luxembourg

Editor's Note: These two stops are combined because our Luxembourg stop, intended to be two days, was shortened to just one.

Paris

Getting ready for our gig in the Travellers Club on the Champs Élysées

Bonjour from Paris, the sixth stop on the Dins’ tour and third to last in Europe. For many of the Dins, Paris was a city of legend, seen in movies (like Ratatouille of course) and read about in books, but only a select few of us had actually been before. And of course, the beautiful city of Paris, rich with history, grand architecture, and very good escargot, did not disappoint.

We left Strasbourg early on the morning of the 18th, and after two separate train transfers and some pretty good Turkish food, we crept into Paris on a regional line train from Belfort, France. We hit the ground running, or rather, quickly walking while dragging 40 lbs of luggage behind as soon as we set foot on the Parisian soil. While it was late in the evening by the time we arrived and therefore we traveled almost directly to our home stays, we couldn’t help but to be enchanted by the lights and sounds of the city. And while wide-eyed we stood outside the Paris Est station, we knew to continue our travels out to our homes in Pont du Sevres and Gif-sur-Yvette to rest up for the coming days of tourism and singing ahead.

In front of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral

Four of us stayed with Florence Courtinat and her family, a lovely French and English family who hosted Dins (including myself) on our last tour of Paris. On the metro out to Pont Du Sevres, we were all reminded of the Euro Cup events taking place in France by the packed train cars of screaming and chanting fans. When we arrived in Sevres we were greeted with open arms, peanuts, chips, and of course, an ice-cold beer. It was nice to kick our feet up for a little and catch up with a an old friend before taking part in what can only be described as a classic French dinner of duck confit and potatoes, cheese and crackers, salad, wine, pastries, and three hours worth of conversation ranging from Donald Trump and Brexit to world travel. It was an amazing experience for the four of us, but it was merely the beginning of what would be a great stay in Paris.

Watching the Euro 2016 game between France and Switzerland in the Eiffel Tower Fan Zone

The next day, our day off in the city, began with a nice brunch of Croque madame and escargot and ended, 15 miles later, in the fan zone beneath the Eiffel Tower. We walked all over Paris and down the Seine, stopping on the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, the Esplanade des Invalides, and the Louvre along the way. It was exciting to take to the city on foot and cover so much ground in one day, but for me, an avid futbol fan, watching France play Switzerland on a giant screen with tens of thousands of French men and women was the highlight of the day…oh and as mentioned above…it happened to be right in front of the Eiffel tower.

Some Dins posing by beautiful columns of colored marble at Versailles

The rest of the group spent their day walking around the gardens of Versailles, taking in the picturesque views and immense grounds (and somehow running into fellow Harvard students) before heading to Notre Dame in the afternoon. It was an exhausting day for us all but was well worth it for the sights seen and the meals eaten.  The next day we woke up to none other than…rain…a common theme here in Paris, which is experiencing record levels of rainfall and flooding throughout the city. With our performance at the Traveller’s Club that evening it made for the perfect day to visit the Louvre and stay indoors. We reconvened at 6:00pm in an elegant room on the second floor of the Traveller’s Club, a private club on the Champs Elysées through which the Harvard Club hosts the Dins. Our concert consisted of three sets of songs, in between which we were given the opportunity to mingle with members of the Harvard Club of Paris, fellow students from the college, and other guests. After the concert many of the Dins met up with friends new and old for a quiet and relaxing night on the town.

By one of the Louvre's famous pyramids

Our next and last day in Paris will be one that I never forget, for we, for the second tour in a row, had the honor of performing with Anaiki, an all male Basque choir based in Paris. Leading up to the concert many of the Dins went to the Musée D’Orsay while others took the day off, reading and relaxing before the big night ahead.

The factory-like decor of Notre Dame du Travail

We arrived at 6 PM at the Church of Notre Dame du Travail, a magnificent church made from the scrap metal of the Eiffel Tower. The narthex stretched high into the sky, supported by metal beams. It was almost like singing in a factory turned church. The Basque choir Anaiki is well known around Paris, and it being the Fete De La Musique, the church was filled to the brim with hundreds of people of all ages. The two choirs before us mesmerized the audience, and were tough acts to follow, but although the Dins sing in a very different style, we were well received by the audience.

At Le Petit Journal Montparnasse after the gig with Anaiki

The real fun began after the concert, though, when the Basque choirs took us out to Le Petit Journal, a famous jazz club in Paris. When there was a break in the action following a spot on performance by a Louis Armstrong impersonator, the men and women of the Basque families rose their glasses…and voices…for a song of their own. It wasn’t long before the Dins were called up onto the stage for two of our very own songs, after which the Basque song, food, and sangria carried us to the end of the night.

We arose early this morning to catch a train to Luxembourg. And while sad to be leaving, we all are thrilled to have had such an enchanting four days in the city of Paris. And so until next time, Au Revoir.

Will Jaroszewicz #228

Luxembourg

Dins in tails on our way to the Cercle Munster for a great dinner gig

After a great time in Paris, we took an early morning train to Luxembourg to enjoy our shortest tour stop! With only one night in the city, we made sure to go on the eve of National Day to experience the country during one of its most exciting times!

Eating dinner and relaxing at Cercle Munster

That evening, we performed at Cercle Munster, a club located in the center of Luxembourg. Throughout the night, we sang for club members and distinguished guests in between a delicious five-course meal. Billy Cox’s mom, Jocelyn, made an impromptu stop to see Billy on her birthday. Luckily, she was invited into the club watch us perform, and of course we sang Happy Birthday for our very special guest!

Hundreds of revelers were out on the streets to celebrate National Day after the fireworks display

Right after our performance, we rushed to watch a fantastic fireworks display alongside cheering Luxembourgers. We were also able to meet up with Din alum Ari Peña, sharing stories about past Din tours and our longstanding tradition of coming to celebrate Luxembourg National Day. We then headed to the city center to enjoy the rest of the night by showing off our amazing dance skills. While Luxembourg seems like a fleeting memory, we had such a great time performing and celebrating!

Daniel Giebisch #238

Stop #5: Strasbourg, France

Dins posing outside of a building in the small village of Hunawihr

Hello, everyone! The Dins are currently in transit to Paris from Strasbourg, and we have had a fantastic time here. In just four short days, we performed at pool parties, middle schools, conservatories, and pubs, and saw monuments, cathedrals, castles, and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see. Strasbourg is a very unique city, located just west of the French-German border in the northern part of the country. It is in the historic region of Alsace, a place with its own culture and even its own language that is neither entirely French nor German. Strasbourg, captured by Germany during World War II and returned to the French in December 1944, was later selected to be the seat of the Council of Europe because of its strategic location. It also boasts the headquarters of the European Parliament and is home to a very large community of diplomats who work together to keep the European Union stable. Independently it is the site of a massive Gothic sandstone cathedral that was the world’s tallest building for 250 years until 1874. Our time here was appropriately steeped in history, but we took time to enjoy ourselves in the present as well.

The majestic cathedral of Strasbourg dominates the city

Our first day in Strasbourg was an early morning. We woke up in Wohlen, Switzerland bleary-eyed for a very early train out of Zürich. Traveling to the central Wohlen station with our student hosts, we bade them goodbye and began traveling through the region bordering France, Switzerland, and Germany. It was not very long, perhaps three hours, until we arrived at the Strasbourg train station. Before we went into the city, though, we were invited to a pool party in a nearby village graciously hosted by Luther L. Weathers III and his partner Jacky Freiss. The two manage a wonderful farm house owned by Jacky’s family for generations, and they have decorated it beautifully. After an excellent luncheon of only the finest Southern-style barbecued ribs and pommes frites washed down with the local Crémant d’Alsace, some swimming in the heated pool, and of course a few songs, it was time to head out again. We traveled by tram into the city center of Strasbourg and re-convened with our hosts at the home of Molly Tennis, president of an expat group called Americans in Alsace. This house was to become a central meeting point for all occasions in the days ahead. Molly, one of the kindest hosts we have had yet on our trip, gave a short speech and we were introduced to our homestays. We then walked back to the homes in which we would be sleeping for the next few nights and collectively passed out.

Exploring a bit of the city

The next day we had a relatively relaxed wake-up call – we didn’t need to be anywhere until 2 pm. We took some time to explore the city in separate groups, ate lunch, and re-convened at Molly’s place for some rehearsal. We later headed over to a rehearsal for our upcoming gig at the Cité de la Musique the next day. We were to perform with two youth choirs and an all-female group, and we were assigned a round to all sing together called “Le Cœur des Gens.” The French lyrics were occasionally difficult for some of the Dins, but we did our best to learn them in the time that we had. We traveled back to our homestays and ate dinner before heading out to a local middle school, College International de l’Esplanade, for our first gig. This was a longer performance to benefit a trip to China for local students. An impromptu Din impression of the Strasbourg cathedral was particularly well-received.

Jacques, Sydney, and Danny at the very foggy Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

On the third day of our stay, we woke up much earlier and showed up at Molly’s house at 10 for our first excursion through Alsace. We drove about an hour north to see the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, one of Alsace’s many castles dating back to the Middle Ages which was restored to its former glory by Kaiser Wilhelm II in the early twentieth century. Today it is a major tourist destination, enchanting visitors with its dramatic views outside and ornately furnished rooms within. After taking an innumerable amount of pictures of all of the castle’s halls and towers (even in heavy fog), we grabbed lunch at a nearby pavilion and headed back to the city. Our later afternoon was spent alternately relaxing at Molly’s and sound-checking for our Cité de la Musique gig that night. Our gig was interesting, with all four of the groups mentioned above sitting on stage throughout everyone’s performances, but we were very well-received by the crowd. This was in no small part due to Jacques’s oration skills in French – he often had the audience reeling with laughter. After the concert, we ended up autographing and selling a fairly high number of CDs. It felt great to reach out to so many people.

Taking a stroll through the town of Ribeauvillé

Our final day in Strasbourg was theoretically a rest day, but it also started early. In the morning we drove to another picturesque Alsatian village called Ribeauvillé, where we were welcomed at a house called Le Manoir by Bob Heuer and Mark LaFata. Original plans were to go on a hike to check out the ruins of three castles surrounding Ribeauvillé, but because of the rainy weather we instead toured the beautifully decorated private home of Bliss Hebert and Allen Klein, two more opera figures, downstairs. Bliss and Allen were very kind hosts and provided some interesting lessons on the history of Alsace while showing us around their place. To thank them, we performed a few songs for them. Later in the day, as the weather improved, we walked through Ribeauvillé and through trails in vineyards to a smaller and less-traveled village called Hunawihr. Seeing the timeless French countryside was a real gift for us. After returning to Strasbourg we dined at Molly’s with hosts for one final night and went to perform a few songs at an Irish pub, where the owner Alan joined us as a soloist in the folk song “The Water Is Wide.” It was a late night, but a fantastic way to end a great stay in Strasbourg.

Tremendous credit is due to our homestays: Molly Tennis and Olivier Seguin, Lynn Kramer and Charles Moll, Kathleen Rokosz, Victor and Juliana Benedetti, and Ana and Mark Gorey. Thanks also to Luther and Jacky, Allen and Bliss, Bob and Mark, and the US Consul General of Strasbourg Amy Westling for hosting and/or promoting us during the past few days.

Signing off,

Ethan Craigo #237

Stop #4: Wohlen, Switzerland

Posing above a metal toboggan ride on Mt. Pilatus with hosts and friends

Hello from Switzerland! A few days ago, the Dins arrived in the small city of Wohlen, located about 27 kilometers from Zurich. We continued a long cultural exchange tradition with Kantonsschule Wohlen, a public school there which serves as a bit of a combination between a high school and a college. We were paired up with students around our age who were in an English immersion class. These students generously provided us with home stays. The program was facilitated by Karen Reinhard-Adler at the Kantonsschule. We spent the afternoon getting to know the students while playing volleyball, soccer, and basketball!

Playing volleyball behind the school with some members of our Kanti Wohlen class

The day after arriving (Friday), we went to school with our hosts. We first participated in a Q&A session where we talked about our experiences at a liberal arts college. The discussion also gave us a chance to better understand the Swiss education system, and how greatly it differs from ours. After a performance for most of the school, we had time to both sit in on our hosts’ classes and enjoy the wonderful sunny weather!

Dins posing with chocolate medals after our main gig in Widen

We then had a performance in Reformierte Church in Widen, a neighboring town. The church’s high ceilings made for an excellent acoustical space. An enthusiastic audience, as well as a surprise ceremony in which we were all given chocolate medals, provided for a truly memorable performance.

Some Dins in a Zürich square

The weekend gave us a chance to spend more time with our hosts and explore Switzerland. On Saturday, several of us went on a day trip with our hosts to tour Zurich. We took a boat cruise across the beautiful Zürichsee and visited the city’s churches and shopping areas. A stop at a Läderach chocolate shop proved that Swiss chocolate lives up to its reputation. We then enjoyed a long session at a rooftop spa, where we comfortably overlooked Zurich during sunset! Others went with their hosts to Bern, Switzerland’s capital. They walked through its old architecture, touring a cathedral and visiting the city’s famous bear pit.

Bowling with hosts at Bowling Baregg

On Sunday, we went bowling with our hosts. Top scorers included Everett, Matt, and Jacques. Later on, some Dins ended up at a Swiss restaurant where we ate a delicious meal and actually ended up entertaining our waiter. We spent the evening truly assimilating into European culture by watching the Euro Cup! Go Switzerland!!

Billy and Sydney hiking down Mt. Pilatus

On Monday, students in the English immersion class were given the day off to take a day trip with us to Lucerne, a city southwest of Wohlen. The main destination was Mt. Pilatus, a peak in the Emmental Alps that overlooks Lucerne. We first travelled via cable car to a metal toboggan ride located about halfway up the mountain. Each of us rode solo down the path, with top speeds reaching over 40 km/hr! Don’t worry, all the Dins remain fully intact!

The Dins on a bridge in Lucerne

After hiking down some of the bottom of the mountain, we spent the rest of our time in Lucerne walking around the city center eating gelato near the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, a world famous concert hall. Overall, the Dins had a fantastic time in Wohlen. We would like to thank Karen, Kantonsschule Wohlen, our hosts and their families for welcoming us and showing us many of Switzerland’s cities!

Can’t wait to arrive in Strasbourg!

Daniel Giebisch #238