On Dec 14 2008, Prianka’s Hula/Tahitian dance group performed their recital at Union City’sCrowne Plaza.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHtd0acVlRI&feature=channel_page
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiVNSaFDmuY&feature=channel_page
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-nw6TVM6-o&feature=channel_page
Today is the day. Today, finally, Jessica is officially moving out of her nest and ready to venture a new chapter of her life independently. She is moving into her dormitory at UC Berkeley. We left early to beat the crowd … still, there was already a line when we got there. She’s got a ‘triple room’ in the Ehrman building of Unit 2 student housing complex. A little crowded, but the view from her room is priceless. She’s got the ‘million dollar’ view of the San Francisco Bay that could be the most precious and expensive view we could ever afford in our live 
View on the other side (from the Study Lounge) is almost as gorgeous. UC Berkeley did an outstanding job of managing the students moving in process. It was smooth and very organized. We also had the opportunity to eat free for the day 
UC Berkeley provided free breakfast, lunch and BBQ dinner for their new residents and family members. We ate at the ‘Crossroads’, which is a nice and large dining hall near by the dorm unit.
Photo album: Cal Move In Day
This morning, Jessica left for Beijing. She is part of Logan’s UA 1 group. The entire James Logan HS students and family members who are going to Beijing are divided into several smaller groups and leaving at various times starting today. A total of 200 students performers and 100 Chaperones/Family members will leave for Beijing. Fox TV local station, KTVU, covered their departure and here’s the link (with a video clip):
Beijing 2008 Olympic Orchestra is a group of 2008 musicians and performers from 40 countries. The goal of the Orchestra is to support the Beijing Olympics goal theme of “One World, One Dream” and “Green and Human Olympics”. The group will perform over the course of two week performance run. They will also perform as three representative ‘hub orchestras’ distinct in artistic flavor. ‘Red’ hub represents the Americas. ‘Green’ hub represents Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. ‘Gold’ hub represents China.
James Logan High School in Union City, as one of the best and elite High School Marching Band and Color Guard is selected to be part of the Red hub. Jessica has been part of the band for 4 years now. During that 4 year period, she’s been traveling and performing with the band in various places including participating at The International Easter Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. And even though she graduated HS last July, she will still have her last chance to be part of the band that is going to perform in Beijing.
This will be a very exciting and rewarding trip for her and for us, the family, as we will all be making the trip to China. One of the performance will take place on the Tiananmen Square. The group will be the first ever foreign performers allowed to perform on the square.
Here are a couple of newspapers articles about the band’s trip to China:
[flashvideo filename=http://daudfam.net/flash/MOT/TahitiFete08_group.flv /]
Once a year in San Jose, California and in Hilo, Hawaii audiences enjoy the finest in Tahitian dancing from dance companies throughout Hawaii, California, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Washington, Utah and Tahiti. With expected daily audiences in the thousands, these sister events have become the largest Tahitian cultural arts exposition outside of Tahiti.
The San Jose’s Fete for this year went on during the 4th of July Holiday. Prianka’s solo competions was on Thu July 3 at the Double Tree Hotel. The group performed on Saturday July 5 at San Jose State University’s Event Center. The video above is the complete group performance. The solo video is uploaded by Prianka to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsnbadtOoUw.
They did not win any award this year but it was sure and exciting experience for all of us.
I will be posting pictures very soon.