Finland & The Beginning of Mexico!

Last week we ended our European tour. We went to Senajoki and Kouvola, two smaller cities in Finland. It was definitely a different culture than the rest of Europe. I stayed with a fellow band member in Senajoki, and we collaborated on a song during our week together. We also treated our host family to a little jam session. Also everyone in Finland has a sauna in their house, and they are AWESOME. It feels so good after a long day to go sweat it out. During the last 2 days of our tour, I stayed with my mom's castmate in Helsinki. It was so cool to have a full circle moment again :-)

Early Monday morning, we flew to Mexico. After a 20 hour travel day we arrived in Mexico City. What a place! So different from anything I've experienced so far. The people are so welcoming and friendly, its so warm! The crowds are different from anything I've performed for. For the most part, our audiences have been more like a theater audience. In Mexico, I feel like I' in a concert. There is endless cheering, and everyone wants a high five, or a picture or autograph. It's insane. I'm excited to do the show for the first time in a while.
Next week we go to Aguascalientes, a city about 5 hours away. Wifi may be spotty, but I will update when I can. Until then. stay cool yo.

--Spencer

The Even More Massive Update from Sweden!

Ok, so Europe has very spotty wifi. But here goes. The rest of Belgium was wonderful, I spent 3 days in Vise and 4 in Gistel. That was a marathon week which ended in me Djing warmups for the cast. I stayed with a host family in Vise that spoke very little english, but the son played mad bass. In Gistel my younger host brothers loved the show and claimed I was the best friend they ever had :-) That was the first time I saw anyone directly impacted by me through UWP, amazing.
In Denmark I was alone for the first time, which proved very....lonely, for lack of a better word. My host family was a single dad with 4 kids, ages 4, 5, 8, and 10. I loved Denmark, and getting to do Community work at a zoo!
In Oslo I stayed with my mom's castmate. Norway was beautiful, and I heard some fantastic stories from my mom's travel year. We performed in a 5-star theater which blew me away. Took public transportation everyday which was surprisingly easy to figure out.
Next I stayed in Stockholm for the 3rd week alone in a row. Awesome city, reminded me a lot of Colorado. Similar landscape. My host sisters were both dancers and gymnasts, so I introduced them to my sister via skype. So cool to have them connect.
Now I am in Eskulstuna Sweden. This is the last week of my sound internship, so I will be running our set up and take down of the sound, as well as part of rehearsal. We have 4 mini shows this week, followed by a full show. So I'm gonna be really tired by the end of the week. Until then, stay cool yo.
--Spencer

The Massive Belgium Update

Hi! Sorry its been so long, I've been kept busy by host families and UWP stuff, and wifi is limited.

Europe is amazing. I've met so many amazing people, and everyone is so friendly! Hasslet was an amazing start. My host family took me to explore the city, as well as Brussels, which was equally amazing. I experienced some awesome Belgian food (Fries from the source!) as well as Belgian beer. Also experienced my first bar and first club. Who would have thought it would be in Belgium?

Vise was much smaller, and my host family spoke very little english. Although I thought this would be a huge barrier, it was surprisingly easy to communicate. They took me to Maastricht, a city in The Netherlands, located only 15 minutes away. Although everything was closed, it was still amazingly beautiful. Our show was in a gym that got really hot, everyone was sweating like crazy on stage. I didn't notice though, having to much fun rocking out :-) We were only in Vise for 3 days, and I really wish I had more time to get to know my host family.

Yesterday we went to explore Brussels with the cast. Although I saw Brussels last week, it was still cool to explore on my own. This country is so beautiful, I think I'm gonna have to come back.

Currently I am in Gistel (only 4 days), and my host family's house is only a 10 minute walk from the beach. It was so great to see the ocean again. One thing I've noticed is that the sun looks different here. In the morning and at sunset you can clearly see the circle of the sun, whereas its just a big shiny thing in Colorado.
I'm so happy in Europe. It feels so good to experience a different culture, I'm learning so much. Next week we head to Denmark. I'm so excited to experience another European country :-)
So I'll keep updating weekly, wifi pending. Until then, stay cool yo.
--Spencer

Last Week In The USA

This week we were in Tucson AZ. We performed at a gala event for the opening of the UWP archives at the University of Arizona. Lots of important people there. I re-met the founder of UWP, and The Codwell Brothers, who wrote about half the songs in the UWP catalog. The show was fantastic, very good energy all around. My mom and sister flew down for the gala and totally surprised me. It was so great to see them again before I go abroad.
Tonight we fly to Belgium. This US tour has been incredible, I've met some truly amazing people and experienced so much. However, I am excited to truly get out of my comfort zone and experience completely new cultures.  This is the beginning of another chapter in my life, and I am beyond thrilled.
Stay cool yo.
--Spencer

Week 8!

This week we were in Ruidoso NM. I'm staying with a family on the nearby Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. It has been amazing staying with such a generous family. Both kids gave up their rooms for the week so they could accomodate my 3 roommates and myself. They took us to a buffet at the nearby Inn of The Mountain Gods Resort, and we hot-tubbed for an hour or two :-)
For my community service this week, I went to the Ruidoso Parks & Recreation Association and helped clean up a park. I painted picnic tables most of the time, but also helped with raking pine needles. I ran the USA booth at a culture fair in the Apache school. The kids were fascinated and seemed to have a fantastic time. I also went to the Humane Society Thrift Store and helped sweep, dust, and generally clean the store.
Friday we went back to the Apache school for a presentation on Apache Culture and History, as well as some delicious "Indian Tacos" which are very similar to traditional tacos, but instead of tortillas there is Fry Bread, which I highly recommend. Later that day we went to the White Sands National Monument: 256 square miles of sand dunes, and the softest, whitest sand I had ever seen. And it was sooooo windy! Sand kicking up everywhere till it hurt. Still a fantastic experience!
Our show is tomorrow, and Monday and Tuesday are Internal Days, where we will do Education Workshops and Culture presentations from fellow cast members. Wednesday we head off to Tucson AZ, where we will do 2 Private shows, one of them being a Gala to celebrate the opening of the UWP archives.
Until then, stay cool yo.
--Spencer

Week 7 (not sure...)

This week we are in Silver City, NM. This is a very small town (approx. 10,000 people), so I'm pretty sure UWP is the biggest thing to come through here in a while. In place of my community service, I helped to run the culture fair at Western New Mexico University, and I helped set up the stage for our show. On Thursday I did a walking self-guided tour of Silver City's downtown. Although not much is going on, this city has a lot of history dating back to the USA's westward expansion. Billy the Kid washed dishes in a hotel on Main St!
Both shows were a smaller crowd, but VERY high energy. Rocking out during the show was very therapeutic for me, I guess I was able to "sweat out" my negative emotions. I need to exercise more....
Tomorrow my host family is taking me on a hike through the beautiful desert land. I'm really excited, its so gorgeous down here.
Next week we go to the tiny town of Ruidoso for 10 days, the Tucson Arizona.
Until then, stay cool yo.
--Spencer

Week 6 (I Think)

This week we were in Farmington, New Mexico. After a very long (10 hour) drive we arrived at San Juan College, which we would use as our home base. My host family was awesome, they have a hottub and fantastic food, plus a nice big bed! On Tuesday the entire cast went to the Kirtland Youth Association, which was similar to the Boys and Girls Club. We built a pond for storm runoff using geo-textile fabric and a bunch of rocks. It felt great to get out and sweat for the betterment of others :-)
Wednesday a part of the cast (including myself) went to the Farmington Salvation Army and painted a room that is used as a homeless shelter. We finished remarkably fast and had a fantastic handmade lunch!
Thursday was our first Culture Fair. This is when each country that is represented in the cast gets to have a booth dedicated to their way of life. I ran the "Jet Lag" simulator. For this, anyone who wanted to go to the Europe/Asia side of the room had to spin around 10 times then run 10 feet. It was a blast, and watching people fall over was hilarious. I also made a playlist of American Music and a slideshow of pictures from around the USA for the USA booth. We will have a Culture Fair almost every week, so my playlist will be heard everywhere.
Friday was a show rehearsal and then a sold-out show to 1,100 people. It felt amazing to perform for everyone again.
Saturday was Regional Learning Day. Since Farmington is near the Navajo reservation, we spent the day learning about the Navajo Culture. We did workshops on Navajo history, food and arts/crafts, and later we went to a trading post that sold Native American rugs and artwork. After that we went to Shiprock, a sacred place to the Navajo. We got to climb on the rift that comes out of the rock, and the view was mindblowing. I could see for miles, and when I climbed over the rift and the sun hit me, I felt a million emotions within me, and I felt as if I was about to enter heaven.
Earlier this week, I was very angry about parts of the day/tour. After talking to one of my friends, I listened to the song "Color Storm" by Bassnectar. As I listened to the song, I felt my body sink into the ground and my head begin to rise towards the ceiling. I am convinced I had an out of body experience, and it was an absolutely amazing feeling. I felt so many emotions within me: joy, anger, depression, euphoria. I will never forget what I experienced.
I have found that I am re-considering my thoughts on spirituality. I've noticed that since the tour begun I have been searching for a necklace that I can wear as a symbol of protection. I've begun to think that there is some energy out there that I can believe in that will keep me safe. I'm definitely out of my comfort zone, but it feels great.
Today we went trap shooting with a few shotguns, followed by a massive lunch. Such a great day with a great host family. Tomorrow we head to Silver City, NM for another great week.
Until then, stay cool yo.
--Specer