BelOscars

This morning we woke up early. We are going to Alcatraz an old prison on an island in San Francisco. After a big breakfast we got on the buses and began the drive into San Francisco from our Hotel in Oakland. Once at Pier 33 we got on a ferry and began our boat ride to Alcaraz Island. The security to get on the island was strict we couldn't bring food, markers, or wear shoes with wheels! Haha The sun was shinning as we went aboard the ferry. We went to the top floor of the ferry so we could get the best pictures of the island, Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco city behind us. 

Once on the island we walked up the curvey steep hill to the the buildinging where the prisoners where kept. We all got head sets and took an audio tour of the prison. We could pick from many different languages but most of us choose English. We learned a lot about the life and times of the prisoners and employees of Alcatraz. There was even a school and market on the island. One thing that was really interesting was the escape that two prisoners made from the prison. They used spoons to dig there way out through the prison walls. It took them many years but they were able to dig themselves out through the heating vents. They made fake heads to trick the guards that they were sleeping. It was reported that the men had been studying Spanish. Perhaps they escaped to South America. The water surrounding the island is very cold and had dangerous tides. It is also pososble that the men died trying to escape but no one knows and they were never seen again. 

At the end of the tour there was an ex prisoner who wrote a book about his time at Alcatraz. He was signing his book and many of us purchase it so we could read more about the place we had visited. 

We left Alcatraz island got aboard the ferry once again and headed back to main land. Once there we has time to get lunch and enjoy the sunshine and shop. 

With our full stomaches we got on the buses and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge. It was the perfect day to walk the 1.73 miles across. The sun was shining the sky was as blue and the Pacific Ocean. The bridge was so high up and gave an amazing view of the city. 

After the beauty walk we went back to the bus and headed to our hotel. Some of us took a nap... 

And some of us talked with each other and sang songs. 

Once back at the hotel we got ready for the fairwell dinner and dance party. What a fun time! We ate and after dinner we had our own version if the Belo-Oscars "BelOscars". The winners were: 

Friendliest: Bjarni 

Best laugh: Ai

Best Smile: Sho

Best English: Eva

Funniest: Sid

Most likly to travel all continents: Quentin

Best tan: Manuel

Most likely to get a star on Hollywood walk of fame: Chris. G

Most likly to move into Disney castle: Marta

Most likely to be inprisoned in Alcatraz: Kerrin

Most likely to work at Universal Studios as a character: Nada

Most likely to be a cable car driver: Niels

Most likely to lose luggage on the way home: Mao

Best exchange student: Antonia H

After the BelOscars the music began to play and we danced and danced and danced some more. We danced so much some of us were sweating. The DJ played all of our favorite songs and even had glow sticks, disco ball, and crazy decorations. We did the limbo and sang at the top of our lungs. The last song of the night was "Say Something" by The Great Big World. We all sang arm and arm to this song in a big circle. It was the perfect way to end out adventure. Some of us cried happy tears because we would be leaving our new friends behind but we were happy to have met them and will stay friends forever.

In keeping with the Belo tradition, we did not say "goodbye" tonight we said "see you later!"  

-Jelena Ivanovic, Serbia & Montenegro