¡Hola Mexico!

ITESM Mexico

I will be going on my first international trip to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The only time that I've been to Mexico was when I went to Tiajuana, but I don't think that counts. I will be taking an International Business Studies class through Chico State University at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (the picture above). Also, I will be staying at the Quinta Magna hotel. If you like, you can check out the website and take a virtual of the hotel I will be staying at to get an idea of where I will be living.


THe Hotel Quinta Magna

Also, I have created a new website specifically for my journals of Mexico. The blog is http://deniseinmexico.blogspot.com so check it out. I have been going to meetings and such for the trip, but I won't be leaving until January 2nd 2006 and I will be retruning January 16th 2006. That's when I'll be doing most of my posting.

This experience will look good on my resume as well as make my Spanish minor more credible. We have been learning so many things in preparation for this trip like.
-Don't drink the water (the one everyone knows) -Don't eat waterey produce -Don't eat food from street vendors -Stay in groups -Always wear shoes to avoid parasites that might infect your feet. etc...

Luckily the campus has wireless internet everywhere so that will be the main way I will be communicating. Phone's a way expensive... I'm so excited!! If anyone has any requests for suvioners, just let me know... Other than that... I'm going to miss everyone very much and wish me luck!

Joining Families

My new family.

Dave's parents and My parents finally met. It's so nice when families get along and when the parents approve of and like their children's significant other. Sometimes it's like pulling teeth with my parents to go through something like this because they're so shy, but now that it's all said and done, we've come together on several occasions: JACL events, family dinners, etc...

Watch out, I'm lookin' for a job!

I'm ready to go!

Watch out world, I'm graduating this May and I need a job!! I'm interviewing this week with accounting firms and companies to see where my place is out there in the real world. Wherever I belong, I'm coming in there full force! So, WATCH OUT, CAUSE HERE I COME!!

¡¡ Los Gigantes Ganaran !!

Dave & Brian at the Giants/ Braves game.


I love garlic fries!!


Dave got Julio Franko's autograph (1st base for the Antlanta Braves).


Me and Dave at the bart.

A day in San Francisco is always fun and interesting at the same time. There are always such different people there. It was a great day starting off with walking around Market Street, shopping at the mall, eating at cheesecake factory, then off to the ball game. We wanted to try one of those public self cleaning restrooms downtown, but every one we found was out of order. Oh, and who can't forget our encounter with Stinker!! A memory I hope to forget! hahaha!!

4th of July at Tulloch

Locked outside!!!!


Jeremy & Tiana


Denise & Lisa


Dave & Lisa doing the "wheel barrel".


Akeem & Brian making the playing cards.


Dave & Jerad


What did you draw?

4th of July at Tulloch
Was it relaxing.... well... kinda. For the most part we drank ourself retarded and played games all night long. The next day, we swam all day long, ate yummy food, laid out in the sun and got sunburnt. All in all plenty of fun! This could be our last trip to tulloch because it will soon be sold. So, lets just remember the good times and the rest to come.

Patrik & Nichole Milligan's wedding

Dave & Me at Pat's wedding


The reception


Nichole & Pat


Jason, Dan & Christina

Wow! I can't believe that my friends are starting to get married! Well I'm 22, I guess I'm really not that far away! It was a fun time! I guess we're all grown up now.

Ready for Change

Man... It's been a while, but I did great in school this semester so it all paid off. Also, I will be taking summer school this summer.

I’m in my house and school ended this week. I’m moving out of the house that I’ve been living in for 3 years. This week, I’ll be leaving some of the room mates that I’ve had since my freshman year of college, in the dorms. I am so excited to be moving out and living in Dave’s house with Dave, Al, and our new room mate LS, but the closer I get to being moved out, the more it hits me that all of my friends are parting ways. Over the last year or so we all haven’t been getting along so well. Man, it’s been stressful at times. I’ve come to really be turned off by girly drama and have actually gotten into the habit of running away from it. There have been many changes in my life over the years. Different learning experiences, different feelings towards people and things. I guess that I’ve just gained perspective. But I really need a change of seen. I am so over partying every night, being hung over the next day, suffering for it in school. That’s one huge reason I am so happy to be moving. I really need a change. I feel like I’m growing out of a life that I’m still in. I’m ready for the next stage. But I’ll have to wait, I have to learn more. Also, I think that moving out of the house will actually improve my relationship with my room mates. I just want to live in a house that I am completely comfortable in. One that’s clean, drama free, with just my friends, having a good time, without a worry in the world. That’s what I’m so excited about. But for now, I’m tired and I’m going to full around on the internet and pass out. -Good Night

Snowboarding on Valentine's Day

Ryan and Jason. Which way to go?


Dave, Katie and Ryan. We're ready to go!

What a great thing to do on Valentine's Day!! My roommates, my friends from San Louis, and I all went to Sierra at Tahoe. It was tons of fun, but a little hard with all of the people. Everyone seemed to be a different skill level, from first timers, still beginners, intermediate, and pro. "Hey, look at me.... pro." Because of all of the different skill levels, it was hard to stay together as a group, and we ended up separating for most of the day. It's really best to either snowboard 3 people at a time, or board w/ people all around the same level (note to self). In any matter, it was a great way to spend time together!!

Christmas in Yosemite

Yosemite Valley
It looks so warm but it's actually freezing!


Lower Yosemite Fall


Waterfall in Yosemite
Here you can see the ice that has formed around the rock. It's that cold!

My boyfriend's family invited us to Yosemite for Christmas Weekend. We stayed until Christmas Eve, and we were back home for Christmas Morning. It was extremely beautiful but extremely cold. We hiked up to mirror lake and were able to see it mostly frozen over. Unfortunately mirror lake is getting smaller every year because all of the deposits in the water that flows down the mirror lake.