IDP Christmas Party

(Arlene, Nikki, Millie and I-these girls are our clinic coordinators and they schedule all the patients for our students)

Last night was my work Christmas party...and let me just say Jared and I had a blast!!! I work in the International Dentist Program (IDP) at Loma Linda University Dental School and our department is so fun. Our students are dentists in foreign countries and in order to get their DDS in the states, they have to complete a 2 year program, like IDP. I work administratively in the deparment. So last night we had our Christmas party at Dr. Mitchell's house...you should have seen the food from all over the world there...the amount of languages spoken in side conversations...the diversity in the house...and yet the sense of total "family." All together we have 44 students, and about 15 faculty and staff members and we all love to be together to enjoy some down time to relax and not have to worry about school and the pressures that come with being a dental student. I love my job...and most of all I love the people that I work with.

Dr. Sofia and I (She is one of our faculty members...originally from Mexico)

This was the highlight of the "white elephant" gift exchange we had...a stuffed Santa on a reindeer that would sing and then do flips.

Crowded into the living room for the gift exchange

Down stairs we had Rock Band going. I had never done this before, but I decided to get in there and I performed "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. Made a fool of myself, but had fun doing it.

Several of our students...from Nicaragua, India, Honduras, Syria and the Phillipines.

Dr. Rana Skaf and I (she is a student from Syria)

Early Christmas with the Adams

Last weekend the Adams came down to celebrate an early Christmas with Nate, Jared, Kim and myself. The pictures here are when we went to the Getty Villa Museum right out by the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu. The museum featured Roman and Greek culture/artifacts...it was really interesting. After Kim got off work Saturday night we all had a delicious dinner at a place called Pane y Vino (authentic Italian...even our waitress spoke Italian) on Sunset Blvd and then stayed the night at a hotel. Sunday we all went to Reality LA for church, had lunch and then took off for Loma Linda to show Juan and Debbie our life out here. We all had a great time! It was a quick trip, but the time with family was very meaningful and special. Kim, I apologize we never got any pictures after Saturday night with you in them...I guess we were too busy enjoying our time! :)

What's a Saturday without a coffee?

Sunset from the PCH as we were leaving for dinner. Isn't this beautiful!!!