Here it is, the ETC - SAN FRANCISCO TRIP! Get ready to take in the best of the San Francisco: history, the amazing landscape, glamorous neighborhoods and the worldwide beautiful Golden Gate Bridge! It's going to be 4 days of adventure, excitement and friendship...we hope you are as excited as we are!
This blog will be our journal of all the fun things we'll be doing. Every day, we'll be posting our stories and our pictures so our families and friends can experience the trip along with us. It's going to be a wonderful time, so get ready...IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!BELO USA TRAVEL
DECEMBER 3, 2010
WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO!!! Above the blue and windy sea in San Francisco
What’s happening, guys? I’m in San Francisco, THAT’s what’s happening! My name is Marlon Marques, exchange student from Brazil staying in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and today I`m going to tell you a little about this experience that I’m having with BELO USA right now. Being an exchange student is not an easy job; learn another language, another culture and have to do well at school is not something that anyone can do. But admit it, we signed up for this and we love it. And when a chance to break the routine shows up, man, that’s better than watching
There’s no limit for the excitement that one can feel before those trips. I slept only four hours last night and here am I writing for the ETC blog, after having an awesome tour in the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39, along with many very good-looking and smart exchange students (cute girls). It’s only been a day, and we walked on the Golden Gate Bridge (on the sideways, of course). Some people were complaining and whining about the windy and cold weather, but I didn’t care at all. The steps that I took on that bridge, my friends, I’ll remember for the rest of my life! We also went shopping on Pier 39 and BOY, they got some cool stores up there! I met Valentine, French girl who plays basketball, just like me, and we had a blast seeing the basketball store. We wanted to buy everything, but like all exchange students, we never have money. And when we do, we have to save it for something.
Gaby and Marlon, both from Brazil, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge!
SAN FRANCISCO IS AWESOME AND THIS TRIP RULES. SO LET’S GET CRACKIN’!!!!
-Marlon, Brazil
Ready to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge!
Sometimes you just have to jump!
An amazing 1.7 miles
Winding down after a great dayDECEMBER 4, 2010
We woke up really early and left the hotel at 9.00. the breakfast was really good because there were pancakes, bacon, muffins, eggs, biscuits and lots of other things. It was raining when we got on the bus so we went to union square to go shopping. After three hours we got in line to get on a cable car and rode that up (and down) the hill to fishermen warf's. From there we took a sightseeing tour through the city. In the evening we walked through china town and ate dinner at the china town restaurant. When we got back to the hotel a few people went swimming (those that hadn't forgotten their swimsuits) and others played card games and taboo. I did enjoy the swimming (Nanzhu). We are really excited for tomorrow to go to alcatrez (don't know how to write it) but we heard a lot of stories about it. Nanzhu (
About to ride a cable car!
Riding the cable car!
A great way to explore San Francisco
Enjoying Fisherman's Warf
The group in Alamo Square
Enjoying an awesome view of the city
Outside the Civic Center
Dinner in Chinatown!
Great food, great times
DECEMBER 5, 2010 The second breakfast was as delicious as the first one, even if we had to wake up an hour earlier. Most of the exchange students ate a lot before the long day that we had. Despite the rain, we had a lot of fun! Alcatraz Island was the greatest experience. We really saw how life was for those prisoners during those harsh years that they spent in it. They told us on the audio that some prisoners were always in the dark and never saw sunlight - they were only allowed to go out once a week to take a shower and do activity.The voices on the audio guide were the real voices of the people who spent time at Alcatraz, which made the link between us and the island way more real.
When we left the island, we were way more thankful for the freedom that we have - and made us understand that we must earn our freedom.
After a rainy return from the island, we ate in Little Italy in great restaurants! After wards, it started raining cats and dogs and we left for a city tour - which was wonderful, but it might have been even better if people weren't so tired.
Then we had a free time in the hotel, to swim and pack for tomorrow. We ate dinner at the hotel and now we are waiting for the dance party in the hotel to begin!!!!
To sum up, everyone enjoyed this last full day!
Ben (France) & Steven (Germany)
Boarding the boat
On the way to Alcatraz Island!
We're almost there!
Exploring the prison cells
Ready for some music!
Farewell Dance Party!
Ready for some music!
Farewell Dance Party!
DECEMBER 6, 2010
After dancing the night away at our farewell dance party, our last day in San Francisco was filled with California sunshine! We got to breathe in all the sights and sounds of the city one last time, walk down the curviest street in the country, Lombard Street - visit Union Square for last minute shopping (some of us even went ice skating on the rink in the middle of the square), and say goodbye to all of our new friends.
Although the trip has come to an end...I can still feel the energy of the weekend. Something special happens when you combine exploring a vibrant city with meeting new friends from around the globe. That special something is lots of laughter, and a refreshed view of the world - realizing that when we celebrate diversity, amazing things will happen.
"We put our hands in the air!"
Ice skating at Union Square!
Walking down Lombard Street
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES, SAN FRANCISCO :)
After dancing the night away at our farewell dance party, our last day in San Francisco was filled with California sunshine! We got to breathe in all the sights and sounds of the city one last time, walk down the curviest street in the country, Lombard Street - visit Union Square for last minute shopping (some of us even went ice skating on the rink in the middle of the square), and say goodbye to all of our new friends.
Although the trip has come to an end...I can still feel the energy of the weekend. Something special happens when you combine exploring a vibrant city with meeting new friends from around the globe. That special something is lots of laughter, and a refreshed view of the world - realizing that when we celebrate diversity, amazing things will happen.
"We put our hands in the air!"
Ice skating at Union Square!
Walking down Lombard Street
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES, SAN FRANCISCO :)
