I departed the hotel with the loading team at 6:30am for the Daejeon Cultural Center. It was another really beautiful theater. After unloading, the crew set about the long process of preparing the set and lights. The hard work paid off and a capacity crowd of 1500 attended the performance at 8pm.

I had the pleasure of being in the audience for the finale, the "Celebration Dance", playing the congas. The drums got the entire crowd clapping to the beat. It was quite a feeling to look out at the audience and realize that the music was crossing the language barrier, bringing a smile to their faces and rhythm to their hands.

After the show we loaded up in 45 minutes ( a new record ) and headed back to Seoul (2:30am arrival ) for a day off!

Peter Shannon --  Percussion and loading crew

After a week of rehearsals and performances our first rest day offered a chance to visit a Korean Folk Village. Coming from Massachusetts - I would describe it as a Korean " Plimoth Plantation". There were original huts and dwellings, traditional dress - and demonstrations of calligraphy, weaving, herbal medicines, Korean cooking, etc...

One of the highlights was the Farmer's dance. In colorful dress, drummers danced, acrobats jumped and flipped and musicians played. it was an energetic performance - particularly in the near 100 degree heat. It was great to experience some of the heritage of this now modern country.

Br. Stephen Velie  -- Percussion

Countdown to competition

We have now reached the point of the tour where the competition is in  sight. We flew from Seoul to Jeju island yesterday and had our first practice here.

As we entered Jeju International Airport, we were greeted by a large welcome banner and a terrific performance by the Jeu City Police Band. It was truly humbling to be welcomed with such spirit and gratitude, on a small island half way across the world.

The air seems a bit cooler this morning, as I write this, which I think will bode well for today's rehearsal. (Editor's note: The temperature reached 92 degrees again and there is no air conditioning in the rehearsal gym! )

It is hard to believe that after two years of planning and zillions of rehearsals, we are now ready. I personally can't wait to share our show , " Honor " with the rest of the world. Spirit of America is "in the house!"

Paul Tingley  -- Trumpet

Today Spirit of America was very busy. Most of the band participated in a morning field show rehearsal at the high school gymnasium we'd been using the past few days for that purpose. I was part of a group of 25 that went to the competition venue. There we and members of all the other bands rehearsed a piece which we later played at the opening ceremony. "Evocation" was specially composed for today's event and was conducted by Italian composer Maestro Carlo Pirola himself.

Between the rehearsal and the ceremony we had time to meet band members from several other countries. A few SOA members and I enjoyed several games of "Uno", the popular card game, with members of the Millenium Marching Band from Milan, Italy.

The Opening Ceremony presented a theme of world peace. It was a great kick-off to what we sincerely hope to be an amazing experience here in Jeju.

Josh Kanaga  -- Trumpet

Our final rehearsal day - the thousands of hours and gallons of sweat all leading up to the World Championships were spent today. While Jeju is known to many as a "paradise island", we've learned that the tropical climate can also take its toll. Looking around the field today, the casual observer might have guessed that the entire band and support staff simply decided to shower, fully dressed. The heat and humidity were not too much for us, and it's true to say that today was our best rehearsal day ever.

We are back at the Mission now - shoes and uniforms are being scrubbed and ironed, and there's a line up of sparkling contras, freshly polished, out on the grass. Our air-conditioned rooms await us, and after talking to a few other bands we now know just how lucky we are! "Elephantland", a local zoo / theme park, is hosting one of our fellow bands, where members are literally staying in huts amongst the animal cages. Another group is at a hostel up in the mountains with no rehearsal space at all. Our conditions could not be more perfect. It just gives us all the more incentive to leave every ounce of passion out on that beautiful floor tomorrow.

Our hearts are full, for so many different reasons - gratitude and loyalty to each other, love for those at home, amazement at how far we've come. It all leads up to tomorrow - we hope to make you proud.

Rachel McKendree  -- Silk Corp

The day began with SOA bussing to the performance venue. We unloaded all of the equipment onto the floor of the arena and rehearsed for the allotted 17 minutes of rehearsal time. Then we rested and prepared for the show.

After getting into uniform and warming up, we loaded into "The Chute". This is where the real show begins . The entire band forms into one, long single file, with all of the pit instruments, towers, floor equipment etc. and waits for the go sign. When the doors open, we burst in running, pushing equipment out onto the floor and setting everything up to play within the time limit.

I can simply say that the show was phenomenal. It was full of energy, as the band members responded to the great crowd. Several times throughout the performance the crowd began cheering: first, in seeing the colorful floor, and even louder when our soloists played a Korean folk song, and perhaps the loudest of all after the drum solo!

Anyway, the show went very well and, although we didn't get word of our score, SOA will be playing last tomorrow at the Finals, which means the band is presently in first place. After such a great day we're looking forward to a restful morning, and another great show tomorrow night.

Peter Shannon -- Snare Drum

Today is Spirit of America's first day as 2006 World Champions of the World Association of Marching Show Bands. It's hard to comprehend.  For most of us I don't think the reality of it has really sunk in yet. After the announcement of our victory and the closing ceremonies, we had a brief celebration and then marched 3 miles in a parade through Jeju City.

Today the band took some much needed time off at Geumneung, one of  Jeju Island's finest beaches, complete with botanical gardens and underground caves created by cooled lava from Mt Halla, Jeju's largest volcanic mountain.

I'm writing this as we fly back to Seoul for the final leg of the tour. Tomorrow SOA performs the wind opera, "Quest for Honor" at Chungmu Art Hall, Seoul. Then another wind opera performance Friday and the field show on Saturday.

I have to make special mention of the wind opera set up crew that went directly from the airport to Chungmu Art Hall to work through the night setting up lights, sound and sets for performance. We'll meet them at the hall tomorrow morning and they will probably still be working!

Thanks so much to all who have sent congratulatory emails. Thank you for everything!

Josh Kanaga  -- Trumpet

Spirit of America has been privileged to perform for US armed forces in the past, but today was our first chance to bring a little bit of home to our service people and their families overseas.

The setting was simple - not an opera hall or a theater, but a gymnasium, rigged with a stage at one end, a few lights, and black cloth draped over the windows. Squash courts and weight rooms were converted for makeup and costumes, and going "backstage" meant running outside around the gym to make a discreet entrance at stage right or left.

Still, despite the simplicity - or maybe because of it - last night's performance of Quest for Honor was the best yet. The small taste of sacrifice and life on foreign soil that we have experienced on this tour, and the gratitude we feel for our life in America, fueled our passion and great desire to tell this story for the last time in Korea. The audience was exactly who we'd hoped for -parents with their children, lots of young people, and others who had come to see the show. We poured out our hearts to them, and their response was overwhelming.

After the final dance, the head of the USO in Korea, Stanley Perry, presented SOA Director, Rick Pugsley with a gorgeous bouquet of lilies, and a statue of an eagle, engraved with their expression of gratitude to SOA for the performance. Rick very graciously accepted these, and spoke again what was on all of our hearts - our deep thanks to these individuals who put their lives on the line, so that we have the freedom of creative expression, and the ability to travel around the world to share it with people. 

Tomorrow, we'll have one more chance to perform the field show - seems appropriate to "put it to bed" in this venue. Then we'll pack up, and start making our way back home.

We can't wait to see you!   Rachel Mckendree – Silk Corps

The thought of dinner at home with my wife and 2 youngest daughters is enough incentive to this day, despite facing 24 hours of travel. Our mission is complete! What a wonderful tour. 21 days of hard work and reward. Words cannot express the multi-layered gift that this trip has been to me and my fellow band members. Simply stated: "I'm glad we came." Tonight we sleep! Paul Tingley --  Trumpet