Day 12: June 24

Today was quite a relaxing day. We could sleep in because the bus left at 11, which is quite late compared to what we’re used to. Some still decided to get up early so they could spend time swimming in the pool. Others, like me, slept in till 10.
Then we left for Los Angeles, but before we got there, we stopped at an outlet. After a while it was decided that we would meet again at 2 to eat lunch at a diner, but we could only choose a burger even though a few exceptions were made because not everybody eats meat.
After everybody got done eating, we drove to a rather big mall that confused most of us. The bus dropped us off and we walked into the first store we saw. After walking confused around for a little bit we found out that the store wasn’t connected to the mall, so we had to walk all the way around in order to find the other stores. A lot of us were confused because we had trouble finding an ATM machine.
At 8 we met to have dinner at a restaurant similar to the one we ate lunch at yesterday which meant a lot of us, once again, ate way too much food. But who cares, we only live once. It was decided that the lunch yesterday was better than the dinner today.
Mia Stavad, Denmark

Where are they? Going to LOS ANGELES

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Day 11: June 23

Ok, today was such a fun day. We went through a lot of things and had new experiences together.
At first I didn’t expect that today was going to be fun. I was really tired from yesterday after Fred gave us almost whole night long to stay up. Me and my room-mates got up at 7.30 and try to find a good outfit to wear. I was so excited to put a skirt on and let my friend borrow one of my dresses and my jacket. But after that I was tired again.

In the bus today, it was so different; everyone was quiet. It was surprising because we are always loud, you know. And then we arrived to the U.S.S. Midway museum. At the beginning honestly, nobody liked it (haha) we just wanted to get it done as fast as we can to have more time to go to the San Diego Zoo; our next place. But when we went in the museum it was very interesting. I enjoyed the gray ship, which has a ton of ready gun and bomb, so much. More than 60 airplanes were used for the war. This place was telling us a lot of things from the past. I think this is a great idea to learn American’s history.
Somehow, the lunch today was the best. Everyone liked it so much. It had TOO MANY different kinds of foods. I ate a lot. Some guy even asked me how many months I have been pregnant (because I ate too much and my stomach was huge). After that I quit eating immediately.

After lunch we went to the San Diego Zoo! We met a lot of animal friends. The panda was one of my new friends; the highlight of the zoo. And I really like it. We walked everywhere and saw every animal. We got to go up on the Skyfari - this thing so cool! You can feel the wind and see the view. I was so excited! But my friend is scared of heights. It’s probably not fun for her. The zoo pretty much has every single animal that I know of and some of animals that I have never seen before.

Finally, the end of the zoo was the souvenir store. They have a ton of animal stuffs; so creative. Everything was really cute I spent a lot of money with ridiculous stuff (haha) I don’t even know how to carry it back home. But it’s alright. After that, we went to Denny’s restaurant. The food was a very good price. $6 for a whole meal, how’s that? We had a cheesecake for dessert, because we celebrated 2 birthdays: Henry’s and Michael’s. It was delicious and a lot of fun. Then we headed back to the hotel.
This blog shows you how awesome today was. I really enjoyed it. This is a great day!
Written by: cute Polly (Jitpitchaya Wimonchaijit) from Thailand <3

Day 10: June 22

This morning most of us were in a bad mood because we had a 9 hour bus trip in front of us and everybody was still half asleep because most people had just 5 to 6 hours of sleep.
The first hours of the trip were quieter, because the most people took a nap or watched a movie and the view was desert all the time. But after a few hours everybody started to starve and we had to find a place to grab some lunch, but the second we left the bus we all experienced the feeling of summer in the desert. We all had to survive the temperature of 45 to 48 degrees Celsius. The place where we had our lunch was extremely crowded and we all had to fight for our tables.
After lunch we all had to wait with a full belly in 48 degrees outside of the restaurant till we finally were able step back in the cool bus where everybody, like always, took a nap again.
When we arrived at the hotel we all were sick of driving the whole day and it was nice to get out of the stinking bus.
For dinner we got monster-pizzas and we had a Talent Show in which there were acts ranging from Thai 'punishment' dances to German drinking songs and from French rap to Brazilian dancing.
For the rest of the evening we just started to relax and to hang out.
The End
Ben Zijlstra (Germany)

Where are they? Going to SAN DIEGO

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Day 9: June 21

Day 9 just started. The alarm rings at 7 o’clock. It’s a hot day at almost 100 degrees. At 8 o’clock, after we have breakfast, we head to the Grand Canyon, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We are all looking forward to this day so much that we want to jump up on the roof. After an hour bus ride, we realize how long an hour can be. And then we are there, the Grand Canyon! When we get out of the bus, the first thing everybody thought is “WOW, this amazing view is just unbelievable!” But then the heat hits us like a hot oven! Because of the heat, the most important thing for everybody is putting on a lot of sunscreen. (People still got burned today!)

Here we start our hiking tour in the Grand Canyon. We can’t wait to run down the path so we go really fast. After a while a group of mules with passengers pass us, which make everything even more exciting. Unfortunately the mules poop all over the path. Besides the scary trail now we also have to watch out for the poop. Every ten feet people stop to take pictures of the different angles of the Canyon. It was almost like a competition about the best shot. After a hike down there is obviously also a walk back up, which is a challenge for a lot of exchange students who have been in America for one year. ^^
Boys take of their shirts, girls… well they have to walk with shirts on! When we get back to the top everybody is thirsty, sweaty and hungry! So we go to have lunch. Today on the menu is Pizza Hut or Chinese food. After the good lunch we watch an “Imax” movie about the Secrets of the Grand Canyon. A couple of people have a good time with the movie but others use the opportunity for a good nap after the long walk.

Later on we drive to a view point called “Desert View”. Once again we have a chance to take lots of pictures of the wide, open view. This is the last stop of our Grand Canyon tour. Now we head back to the hotel. Shortly after we arrive, we have dinner. The day ends with free time until 12 o’clock, which is 30 minutes longer then yesterday’s, because we are such a great group! 
Writing by: Valli Florack from Germany
Chih Jour, Lu(Zoe) from Taiwan

Day 8: June 20

Beep, Beep, Beep……the alarm clock is ringing and 8th day of our trip starts.
The morning was pretty relaxed. After having breakfast, everybody had time to hang out at the pool, check his or her e-mails and go shopping in the stores, which surround the hotel.
At 11 o’ clock we are leaving the hotel in order to hit the road to our next destination. Grand Canyon, here we come! While driving through the desert and watching a movie, the time is going by rapidly. Around noon the bus stops. It is lunch time. KFC, Panda express, or McDonalds? That is a hard decision that we have to make. For today we want to go with Chinese food, so the group picks Panda express. After having enjoyed our meals, got to play American football or got to tan in the sun, we continue our trip to the Grand Canyon.

At 4.30 we finally arrive at our hotel. Well, actually it is not really a hotel but a super cool Ranch where we have a lot of different options to spend the evening. Some refresh themselves in the pool or play sports such as Volleyball, Tennis or American Football while others just relax and tan in the sun of Arizona. But the really athletic ones burn some calories and get a good work out in the gym.
At 7.30 it is time for dinner, which takes place at the Ranch.
Today’s curfew is at 11.30.
Everybody has to get some good sleep in order to be fit for the next day when the alarm clock will ring pretty early again. Beep, Beep, Beep….. And day 9 of our trip will start.
Carolin Wallmeyer from Germany.