We were tried today because we had to get up at 6am. We all wore our white Belo USA t-shirts because we were going to Pearl Harbor. At 7:30 we reedy in the lobby and before boarding the bus we had to put our bags under the bus because Pearl Harbor is still a working military base. In the morning light of the sun we arrived at the battleship USS Missouri. By seeing 50 American flags in a row we understood that it was a very patriotic place and the huge battleship represented America's pride in their military. We split up into two groups; one had a guided tour first and the other helped the ship's volunteers by cleaning up old guns, anchors and other naval equipment. On the tour we got to see the 16 inch guns, which we were told could destroy our whole hotel in one shot. We saw a computer room, which actually just a room with one giant computer and we also got see where the sailors cooked and ate. it was a pleasure to help war veterans keep their battleship in good condition. Not very many people can say that they helped restore an American battleship.
At 11am we started our tour of the USS Arizona memorial by watching informational movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor on the 7th December, 1941. Most of us already knew about the Pearl Harbor attacks, but seeing actual footage of the surprise attack was quite emotional. After that we boarded a boat that took us out to the USS Arizona memorial. The white, dynamic building looked like a museum but was actually a graveyard placed upon the sunken battleship Arizona and the 1077 men who lost their lives in honor of their country. At one end of the memorial was a huge wall filled with the names of the men who died during the attacks. Also you could find the names of survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks who were honored after their death by being interred in the USS Arizona with their shipmates. Even after leaving the memorial, we knew we wouldn't forget the emotions and the sights we saw there. Understand, honor and remember.
After having lunch at a small mall, our bus drove down the beautiful coastal highway to a local beach. While we were there we played soccer, volleyball, football, and played in the big waves. Our monitor Makena was fought for her football team and was tackled brutally by Oskar. With fine music in our ears, like 'Sexy and I Know It', we drove back to the hotel where enjoyed a delicious dinner. Then we were given the chance to do some last minute shopping, which included souvenirs for our parents and host families. We are all looking forward to tomorrow when we get to experience snorkeling in a Hawaiian coral reef. It is also our last evening together and we will spend it at a luau on the west coast of Oahu.
Cedric and Celina
No comments:
Post a Comment