Geography Journal Number Fifteen

In this entry, I would like to reflect on my
overall thought about the class. I can say
that it was a better experience than the
first time I took the course. I like the
teacher's strategy because he used a kind
of visual that can make the lectures a lot
clearer and easier to understand. I missed
class when we did teacher evaluations, so
this is my chance to critique. I actually
prefer using words than ratings anyway.
It is a lot more effective. Overall, I think
the teacher did a nice job delivering his
lectures, which I thought was a challenge
because he had to speak for about two and
a half hours. That is a long time! Good job
for taking the "staff" position and teaching
at SJSU for the first time. The only thing I
would prefer to change is the printing of
lecture handouts. Saving paper is important.
Students can make use of their notebooks
and fill them out with all the notes they need.
I learned a lot from the class nonetheless.

More pictures...

...from the last chapter meeting/G.A.S anniversary.
Memorieees!!!

Geography Journal Number Fourteen

Today was technically the last day of class.
We watched two movies that made me
think. One of the movies disussed global
environmental issues. I learned that de-
veloping nations make up 20% of the
world, and surprisingly use 70% of the
Earth's resources. Using resources in
developing nations can be a hazard and
unsafe for its citizens. The water may not
be sanitary and can cause many diseases
and illnesses. I hope that someday the
water systems in these countries would
improve. In the next video, a fact that
caught my attention was that we will have
half the water that we have now in about
25 years. That is pretty scary. Water is
important because we use it for everything.
That is the disadvantage because we really
cannot do much about it since we do need
it for everything. The only thing we can do
is try to conserve it now and not waste a
single drop.

Last Day on Ex-Comm...

Today is my last day as an ex-comm member
of the Fall 2006 semester. It's sad. It was a
good group that got along quite nicely. This
whole semester went by smoothly as well.
Congrats to the new members of ex-comm.
I hope this bunch has a great, fun semester
like we did. Our meetings were so fun. If only
other people got to see that. I am going to
miss it all. Thanks ex-comm for making it a
superb experience! Thank you Ajay and Sun-
shine for the lovely gifts/memorabilia!

Here are pictures from the last meeting/dinner
at the Cheesecake Factory:

The ladies of ex-comm


G.A.S members


Historians!


Everyone








"Lady and the Tramp"


Thanks Ajay for treating us!
Most of all I want to thank Paul for being my
co. He was the creative brain for most of the
projects that we did. Without him, we wouldn't
have been as successful as people claimed we
were. It was good times working with him. We
had fun with our job. It's over now. He and
Amanda will do wonderfully in Public Relations.
(You better treat your lil right!) Thanks for
everything. Give yourself a pat on the back. You
did a fantabulous job CO!

Now, it's time for a break...

G.A.S One Year Anniversary

It has been exactly a year since we crossed
and became official members. Seems longer.
Our class was a good bunch and we connect-
ed pretty well altogether. I miss everyone,
especially those who I haven't seen. Happy
One Year G.A.S! What's that smell?!?

Last year:





Yesterday was the one year celebration. I
came late, but I was still able to hang out
for a little bit. There weren't many of us,
but that's cool. The people who were
there were enough to make it enjoyable.





Ke'ala was a special guest








Funny...espicy corn

Rest In Peace.

I was shocked when I got the phone call
this past Thursday night. My cousin
passed away the night before. It was so
surprising and all of a sudden. A year
ago, she was healthy and as happy as I
always saw her. They told me that they
found a tumor in her brain this year and
that her treatment was doing well.
Unfortunately, her cancer spread. She
was born on the same day as me. She's
only 49 years old. It was weird seeing
her at the viewing. Brought back familiar
memories. At least she's free from the
pain. I will miss you Ate Dory.

Last Christmas 2005

Geography Journal Number Thirteen

I learned a lot about trees and clear-
cutting today. Clear-cutting refers
to the hundreds of trees that are
being cut down in a short period of
time. I am actually not sure if they
still do it nowadays, but I know that
it was a big enough problem that
people protested against it. I believe
people reduce the amount of trees
being cut by making them certified
or by variable retention. People make
sure that they work around the trees
that help the forest survive. I also
learned that the demand for wood will
increase 40% in this decade. I feel that
wood is like water because it is needed
for many things. I like to reuse paper.
I try to avoid throwing paper away. I
do not use a new notebook until one is
all used up. I do it because we need our
trees more. I do not understand how
people can throw blank sheets of paper
into the garbage. It bothers me.

Elvis - "Marguerita"

If anyone is wondering where I got my name from, here is your
answer. I was Elvis' love interest in the movie "Fun in Acapulco."
He serenaded me with this song. HaHa. Yeah right! I wish! The
real girl he's serenading in the movie is the blond beauty Ursula
Andress. But really, my mom got my name from this movie be-
cause she really liked this song, and the movie, and Elvis. I think
it's cool to have a story behind my name. If you read the summary
about the movie somewhere, I find it quite funny.

My Full Thanksgiving Weekend

I finally got a decent break from school this
past week. Thanks to Thanksgiving! BUT, I
must say the eating madness started a day
earlier and a couple days longer than I
expected. So, all weekend was all about
extra hours of sleep and over-eating. I am
very thankful for finally gaining back some
of the things that I have been lacking. Just
thinking about these past few days makes
me full. I hope the laziness doesn't stay with
me for the rest of the semester. I won't let
it. Shoo!

Wednesday: Day #1 - Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner
So, Bonnie invited me to "the friends'" 2nd year
Thanksgiving dinner at her house in SF. Thank
you for the invite and taking the time to cook a
scrumptious meal for all of us. It's greatly app-
reciated. The get-together was really fun and
it was a great way to kick off the break. The
food was yum, the random pics were funny,
and Cranium is always a good game to play.
Oh, and we had a good laugh in the end when
we did icebreakers. Jean's laugh is so contagious!

Roomies


My favorite pot holder


OoOo...check out those mashed potatoes and salad


Paul trying to open the cider with his teeth and not succeeding


Happy early Birthday Gerald!


Sassy


Photo fun!


The guys...if only Es was there


All but one


Thursday: Day #2 - Thanksgiving Day
Went to my uncle's house in the city for our
yearly tradition. Same, usual stuff. We all
eat at random times throughout the whole
day. The kids run around nonstop and pre-
tend they're in some sort of club. The adults
gossip and ask the same questions. "Do you
have a boyfriend?" or "You're really 20 years
old?!" They just want to dig out such oh-so-
interesting information, so that they can
make conversations a little more juicier. I
probably wouldn't say anything anyway.
What they don't know makes things a little
more fun and spontaneous.

More food to check out


My cousin got it hard: food coma


Load #2 - Boy, do I look excited


I ate soo much that night I couldn't sleep! I felt so
bloated my stomach felt like a huge balloon. I
wanted to prick my stomach with a needle, so it
would Kablaam! burst like in cartoons. Never again.

Friday: Day #3 - Shopping Day
Was I one of those people who waited in line all night
to get a hold of the cheapness of products? Heell no!
I already hate having to wake up early and I would
just get more grouchy if I were to be surrounded by
raging shoppers fighting over stuff that somehow
became of main importance in their lives. I did go to
the mall later on in the day though. My cousin
wanted her daughter to take pictures at Picture
People for her 3rd birthday. That was a pain in the
ass. After that, my mood just went down the pipes.
It was nice seeing Bonnie working at the picture
place, but she got to see a side of me that she
probably never seen before. HaHa. It was nice
seeing Jon too at the lovely Boudin's. I never
want to take kids shopping again.



Saturday: Day #4 - My niece/god-daughter's Birthday
I got up early today to go to Chuck E. Cheese for
Courtney's birthday shindig. Good thing it was
held earlier in the day 'cause that meant less
kids. I sat at the table most of the time. There
was hecka food! The cake was the best part.
Soo goood! Happy Birthday "Diana Ross!" I
loove yoo!

Later on that night I went to Richard's early
birthday dinner at TGIF. So many birthdays
this week! I had fun. I got to see old friends
who I haven't seen in a long time. I finally
got to meet Rich's girlfriend, which was nice.
Everyone is still the same. Richard is not a
teen anymore. Happy early Birthday Broham!

Geography Journal Number Twelve

In Chapter 16, we learned about erosional
coastal processes and landforms, which
caught my attention because I have
actually been on a wave-cut platform and
I knew exactly what the teacher was
talking about. I climbed up to the top of
the platform and the view was amazing.
I also wondered how the structure was
made. It resembled a pyramid with huge
steps. I researched it in the book. A wave-
cut platform happens when wave action
cuts a horizontal bench in the tidal zone
and extends from a sea cliff out into the
sea. Over time, if the relationship between
land and sea level changes, terraces and
multiple platforms form like stairsteps.
It is weird how nature works. The plat-
form that I stood on was in San Diego at La
Jolla Beach. I actually like that beach better
than Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It is
usually too cold to go there.

Congrats to the K.F.W class!

Activation:

Yay! Every single one of the K-Dubs crossed.
They are now official Gamma Betans! And...
Aleida and Kari are officially in the family!



Trustworthy


G.A.S minus Eddy


I'm the original "Chapter Advisor" biznatch!


Freshman year friends...where's Brenda?


Wonderful Ex-Comm plus Albert


Banquet:

It was pretty good. I would of had more fun if
I wasn't so tired and somewhat sick. There
was plenty of food. At least our historian
video worked. The whole thing was literally
made last minute. Kudos to Ke'ala and Steven
for their imitation of Paul and I. They were
right on! Funny.

Congrats to these two for winning pledge awards!


Trustworthy table


Look what my little made me! Loove it!


"The Crazy 88." Paul really looks like his character.


Hey look! It's Paul and "Paul?"


The only picture with my mask. It hurts to wear it.