HELLO :)

First blog entry from me, so I hope it isn't too long .. Basically this is just most of what the IGGS girls have done on our trip :)

DAY 1 /2

Airport!!! yAY!!!!

It was a really long journey to San Francisco! I don't think a lot of the girls (including myself) got much sleep! So we were a little (understatement) tired from our plane ride.

Customs was awkward.. well at least I thought so.

It's hard to be cheery to them because the people who work there are so serious!

After managing to get through the so called 'strict' (it really wasn't all that bad..) american customs, we left on a bus to our first place of accommodation for the next 3 nights. I think i can speak for everyone when I say that we were so amazed that the door to the bus was on the OTHER SiDE!!!! I think it was then that it well and truly hit us that we were in america!

After having much needed showers , we left for an afternoon walk around the san francisco bay. WE visited Ghiradelli chocolate which was amazing!!!! SOOO YUMMY! OUR FIRST MEAL IN AMERICA - TACO BELL.

hahah I actually didn't really like it :P BUT THANK YOU for the meal mrs coleman and ms loveday :D and thank you for the free drinks taco bell!!!

DAY 3

MUIR WOODS WAS REALLY PRETTY!!! and our tour guide was so funny! he made me laugh!!! xP after muir woods we stopped at the golden gate bridge ( a little foggy at the time which was a shame :( )

we went to market street and union square after muir woods.. it was just simply AMAZING. :P i think all the girls wanted to stay because it was just soo great!!!! we also had a short walk through Chinatown

pier 39 was our next location where we shopped for the remainder of the afternoon. that day was also maddy's australian birthday day so we went to Bubba Gump's Shrimp Restuarant (a clear reference to FOrrest Gump :) )

WE ALSO SAW SEALS!!!

DAY 4 (america monday)

Haight Ashbury was our first destination today! it was really vintage and just cool. there were a few... amusing shops, but it had a real 70's vibe to it :)

after this, most of the girls went back to the hotel, but maddy (mc) , megan , deanna and i went back to pier 39 for last minute sightseeing and shopping!

alctraz evening tour was the last of our san francisco sightseeing :( it was an amazing place with so much history! i think it was very cool and probably a really great end to a fantastic time in san fran :)

DAY 5 (america tuesday)

We left our hotel this morning to our next destination, GOOGLE! and to our new hotel in silicon valley :)

GOOGLE WAS SERIOUSLY COOL

i think i found the place i want to work at! quick ! change QTAC preferences!!! :P

this was probably the most relaxed work environment ever! with one of the most diverse food options avaliable in the cafeteria! employees even bought their dogs to work! and there was a pool, volleyball net and even employee bikes !

i snuck a ride on one of the bikes :P felt quite special because we weren't allowed to ride them :P

after a day spent admiring our new future workplace, we were greated with the most yummiest and prettiest cucpakes!!! the hotel staff here are just AMAZING and sooooo nice!!! it is extreme luxury here!

DAY 6 (today aka america wednesday)

This morning we went to Intel Museum. THis was probably one of the most interesting visits so far. WE learnt about the history of the silicon chip, and in ms coleman's words, visited the birthplace of microchips and the PC -it was soo informative and interesting!!! there was even some chemistry stuff briefly mentioned that i totally understood :P

after we quickly went to indulge in some retail therapy! and went to the very cool and fun computer museum!!! lots of fun spent there!!!

that's all i have to add so far, but i will try and post more frequently so there is less to read :P

FAREWELL,

OLIVIA XX

p.s. miss you mom and dad and sammy XOXO