Feb. 7

Portland, Oregon would be a great place to start your business or relocate your existing one. Portland is one of the growing in technology and in the going green movement. It is a city that cares about the environment and is even considered to become the capital of the green economy. The city provides lots of options for green living and green transportation with their light rail system. After all, who wouldn't want to help out the environment and save some money doing it? Portland is also considered a home for active wear. Why wouldn't it be? The scenery is beautiful and provides the drive to want to maintain an active lifestyle. Whether it is snowboarding and skiing in the winter, to hiking in the spring and summer. It is an ideal place for anyone who is looking for adventure. Big active wear manufacturers, Nike and Columbia Sportswear, call Portland home. If the outdoors is not your thing, not to worry. Portland is also big on software. Jive Software recently relocated to to the city and provides a competitive edge.Who knows, maybe your company can be the next Microsoft. City assistance is available if needed, we were able to provide that for Jive Software. We know that you will find success in Portland. The economy is good; almost everyone owns property. There is a good university system in place where a lot of the companies go to recruit sharp minds for their companies. In this age of technology, the opportunity for networking is endless. Recreation, sharp minds, picturesque scenery, green living, and city assistance. Make Portland the new home of your business.

Week 3

It saddens me to see those kids with all those hopes and know that they might not reach their goals. I think the movie was very accurate in saying that kids do well in school up until they reach middle school, that's when they are really tested. I cared a lot about school when I was in elementary school. Homework was a big priority for me. If it wasn't done, I couldn't watch television or go outside to play. It had to be the first thing I did when I got home and my mom made sure of that. I remember she used to check my backpack for any assignments or important papers. Once I entered middle school it was more of my responsibility to get my work done, unfortunately, that was also around the time I started to lose interest in school and it build into a pattern that still follows me to this day. It makes me feel bad saying this but in a way, I take advantage of my education. I don't always put my best forward. Especially now in college where sometimes it's so easy just to slide by.

I don't think that a lot of parents take a good look at a school district when they are looking for a place to live. They either look at the area and how nice it is and/or the affordability. I was fortunate enough to go to a good middle school, well at least that's what it was when I attended. Now, I believe it has digressed somewhat, but back then it had earned a California Distinguished School title. The elementary school I attended was good too, they really paid attention to the students and made sure to place us in different groups within a class that was appropriate for our levels of learning. It wasn't until my parents moved us to Arizona after 8th grade that I noticed a major difference in the education system. Back in California, it was expected to take Algebra in 7th grade, while here, that was the class that you started in 9th grade. They were teaching me things here that I had already learned in 6th grade. Luckily, I was placed in advanced and AP classes where the teachers actually had an interest in teaching. I would hear some of the other students taking regular level classes say how they never did anything. They would just sit and talk with each other or watch a movie. I later on saw first hand when I was making up a math class that all the teacher did was teach according to the test. He would look at the book and say "oh that's not on the test, let's not go over that", then he would sit at his desk and text. I would later find out that he wasn't even certified to be teaching.

It really does depend on the area where one lives that determines the quality of education. The middle school I attended was in an upper-middle class area whereas the high school I went to was more lower-middle class.  I also think that family plays an important role in whether the child stays in school or not. My parents put a huge emphasis on education early on. College was never an option, it was a must. If those kids in the movie have the support of their families, I think they will stay in school and graduate.

January 17 Assignment

My sweetie and I have decided to move to Glendale, AZ. Rent is pretty cheap, as are the bills which is what attracted us to the area. We found a gorgeous townhouse that is perfect for both of us since we don't have any children. It is not too big but not too small either, just the right amount of space. The place includes a gym, concierge service and DVD rentals, and it's a walking distance from Westgate. We can save a lot of money on gas since the entertainment district is only a parking lot away. There is plenty of dining options and the football stadium is right there. Which is a major plus since I am a huge Cardinals fan. We found the rent to be quite reasonable considering that it is in Westgate area. It is about $770 a month. We researched other areas such as Avondale and Downtown Phoenix, but the rent in Downtown is about the same price, if not a little more expensive for a small studio, and the area in Westgate is a little nicer than Avondale.

Commute was another major factor in our decision. The 101 is an easy access and it connects to the I10, and it is only a 15 minute drive from Downtown Phoenix where I work for a law firm. It's great working there since the downtown area has made a lot of progress in the last few years. Nothing compared to what it was. There are some pretty nice places to live there but I think it's a better value to live outside of the city. It feels a little less congested and seems like a safer area to live in. The Westgate area of Glendale is new and is thriving. Many events are held at The University of Phoenix stadium such as the Fiesta Bowl that it brings in a lot of revenue to the city.

Chapter 1

It seems to me that cities try to associate themselves with things that attract tourists. There could be more to a city that locals know, but to the rest of the world, they try to associate themselves with one particular thing. As if that is the only thing that makes that city great. It's like, when people hear San Francisco, they think the Golden Gate Bridge or New York and Central Park. I've personally never been to either places but I'm sure there are a lot more things that make those cities great. It reminds me of an episode from the show How I Met Your Mother. The main character, Ted who lives in New York, has a friend visit him from his hometown in Ohio. All the friend wants to do is go to Times Square. Even after they are done visiting Times Square he wants to go again. after being annoyed with this, Ted reminds him that there is more to New York than Times Square. 


I think culture is what makes a city unique and gives it it's vibe. A city can fall victim to an economic crisis but I think that the culture will still stand. Some parts of cities alone are identified by their culture. Take East L.A. for example, it is associated with great Hispanic culture. It is also a shame that many downtown areas of cities are stereotyped and associated with negative connotations. Some of those areas are rich with art, history and culture. Some of it gets washed away when city officials try to renovate the downtown areas. 

Introduction

My name is Tanya Rocha and I am a Criminal Justice major. I was originally a Film and Media major but after my freshman year I switched  over to Criminal Justice. I plan on going on to Law School after I graduate and becoming a corporate lawyer.