For the cast and crew of Up With People, the experience of being part of a touring group has been a life-changing adventure. These individuals are picked from various countries from around the world, sent to the Up With People Headquarters in Denver to learn various routines and then spend the next year of their life travelling to the four corners of the globe.

One of their stops on their year-long tour was Bermuda and the group delighted audiences with their performances at venues like Harbour Nights and the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Before departing the Island this Saturday for their next stop in Ottawa, Canada, The Royal Gazette spoke to four Up With People members to gain insight into what it was like when all the world is your stage.

*** As part of the advance team that organises all aspects of an Up With People's visit to a particular country, Kristie Clark has what many would consider the job of a lifetime.

Miss Clark, a tour manager, said she joined Up With People after watching a show in her hometown of Vancouver, Canada, three years ago.

"I went for an interview and I've been with the show every since,'' she said.

"It has been a great experience for me, I've met so many interesting people.

"We have a culturally diverse cast with Up With People who are all between the ages of 17 and 25. They all come from different countries and have different backgrounds.'' In her capacity as a tour manager, Miss Clark has had the opportunity to spend the last three months in Bermuda, laying the ground work for the Up With People extravaganza.

"I had to organise getting the cast members to stay with host families, work on sponsorship, things like that,'' she explained. "A lot of preparation goes into each stop on the tour since Up With People is not your typical touring group.'' And she said that her three months in Bermuda had been wonderful, a time she would never forget.

"I love Bermuda,'' said Miss Clark. "This was my first visit and I definitely want to come back.

"The best thing about Bermuda is the people, everyone is so friendly.

Everyone is very welcoming, even strangers say hello here.'' *** Kwame Bonjo's first trip to Bermuda has been so rewarding that he plans to return -- and soon.

"This was my first trip to Bermuda, but it definitely will not be my last!'' The 22-year-old African from Accra, Ghana, said being surrounded by locals who greet him warmly wherever he goes has been the best part of his trip.

"I like walking into somewhere and seeing people that look like me -- black,'' he said. "In some countries I am the only black person around when I go to the mall, but here I'm not.

"And the people are so friendly, they just say `hi' even when they are walk by you.'' Mr. Bonjo said there was a lot about Bermuda that reminded him about Ghana, which he admitted he did miss on occasion.

"The ocean and the sun remind me of Ghana,'' he explained. "The Gombeys are a combination of two types of dancers that we have in Ghana.

"Your peas 'n' rice is similar to what we have and the farine. But we use farine every day, it is a staple in our diet, not just a Christmas food.'' Mr. Bonjo said it was hearing about his friend's experiences with Up With People that sparked his interest in joining the group.

"A friend of mine had travelled with Up With people and told me all about it,'' he recalled. "I then did some research on the Web.

"After graduating from college I decided to take a year off and do this. I did an interview, was accepted and then I went to Denver for training.'' And Mr. Bonjo urged other young people entertaining the thought of applying to Up With People to seize the moment and just do it.

"I've learned a lot doing this, it is definitely a good experience for young people,'' he added. "I now look at the world as global village.'' *** Manuel Fuechslin has been on the road with Up With People since last July and insists that he has learned things that he could never have learned in school books.

The 20-year-old, who is part Swiss and part South African, joined the group after completing his apprenticeship as a machine draftsman.

"I went to a concert and saw how powerful and fun it was,'' he explained. "I had finished my apprenticeship and I didn't want to start working right away, so I decided to do this for a year.'' After being accepted into Up With People, Mr. Fuechlin boarded a jet and headed to the US to learn the ropes.

"I went to Denver to learn the programme,'' he recalled. "You don't have to be able to sing or dance, it is more about your personality.'' Mr. Fuechslin said the best part of his Up With People experience was getting to stay with different host families from all over the world.

"The host families are great,'' he said. "You can learn so much about life from them. I love sitting up talking with them.

"The travelling is also great, you get to see so many different parts of the world.'' And Mr. Fuechslin said Bermuda's pink-sand beaches reminded him of the ones in South Africa.

"I love it,'' he insisted. "I've seen a lot of the Island thanks to the community service projects we are doing. We all have mopeds so we have been able to get around and see everything.

"The beaches here remind me of South Africa.'' *** Gina Viegas has found herself quite at home with the local Portuguese community.

And the 22-year-old has been causing quite a sensation with locals who are surprise to learn that she hails from Portugal.

"For the Bermudians its been very funny,'' she explained. "They are so surprised to meet a black Portuguese person.

"I have met a lot of Portuguese and have had the chance to speak it. I have also got a lot of invitations to go out.'' Miss Viegas said the best part of her trip to Bermuda was getting the chance to do community service projects.

Since their arrival on the Island Up With People have gone out into the community to perform good deeds including a visit to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and a clean up project with KBB out at Ferry Reach.

"It was one of the main reasons why I joined Up With People,''she said. "I like the idea of getting involved.'' Miss Viegas said that it was a poster on her school wall that first drew her attention to Up With People.

"I was working and was attending school when I saw an Up With People poster and decided to call the advance team that was in Lisbon.'' After interviewing with the group, Miss Viegas decided to take some time off after completing her degree in accounting and administration.

And she said that learning the routines for the shows was not a difficult process -- in fact she said it came to her rather easily.

"It was not hard, you learn it in a very natural way,'' she explained. "It just comes to you.''