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"We are here to represent the U.S. to foreign countries. We try to make a good impression everywhere." To make it bet ter, they rehearse two or three hours after breakfast every day, and again after lunch and dinner. Even when sightseeing, they make an impression. One girl, faced with an untranslatable menu, left her table, buttonholed a Frenchman on the street, brought him back and got him to translate the menu while other diners googled.
Portland was hardly aware that it even had an all-girl orchestra before the girls departed, and managed to raise only a dismal $6,100 toward the tour expenses. As a result, each girl dug up—by borrowing, selling instruments, etc., some $1,500 of her own, and stands to spend it all. But Portland knows better now, will parade the girls through downtown streets when they get home next week, already has scheduled a big fund-raising concert two days after homecoming. After that? "This is only the beginning," says Sirpo. "We still have to go to South America."