Author: Lisa Beach
February Already?!
It’s crazy how fast time flies! I’ve had a crazy busy past couple of months, but they have been wonderful! School ended mid-December for the semester and I finished the semester with a 3.5 GPA, which was great!
I spent just about two weeks at home with my family for the holidays. They were a wonderful and much needed two weeks of vacation! We went to a Sacramento Kings game and spent the New Year in Tahoe with my God family.
Now that I am back in Fresno, I have been working endless hours at The Collegian selling advertising space. I love my job so much!
In addition to work and school, the team has been great. We’ve had three competitions so far this semester and head to Texas next weekend to compete against TCU and Oklahoma State.
Short update, but better than nothing! Keeping those fingers crossed for my USF grad school application still!
New Job!!
So so so so so excited to say that Fresno State’s student newspaper, The Collegian, hired me for the Spring 2013 semester as a Special Projects Coordinator for advertising! Here’s to a new chapter in my life, and I cannot wait.
I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Sunday 🙂
Hawaii to the Mainland
November 28, 2012
As I’m back in California from Hawaii, all I can do is reminisce on the great times I had the past week in paradise.
We spent Thanksgiving morning hiking to the Maunawili Falls. It was an absolutely beautiful 45 minute hike to a gorgeous waterfall. Brandon convinced me to jump off of the trail and to swim to the waterfall so I could sit under it and take in the beauty. I am so glad I did because it was stunning. After the hike to the falls, we went back home and cooked up a storm for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
Friday morning we woke up early and went on the most insane/amazing hike I have ever been on, Olomana Three Peaks. The hike was uphill the whole way, with cliffs and rock climbing to get to specific points. This hike took 4 hours and 58 minutes from start to finish and was the most intense hike I have heard of, but after completing it, I feel like I have conquered the world.
Saturday was my last day on the island and Brandon surprised me with a day out on a catamaran. There was no better way to spend my last day in Hawaii than out on the water. Throughout the ride, we saw flying fish and looked for whales, which are just coming into season. We were able to see Maui off in the distance and had a beautiful view of Honolulu and Diamond Head. It was absolutely stunning and I loved every moment of it!
All in all, this past week in Hawaii was an amazing vacation and I would not have changed any of it for the world.
Aloha
November 21, 2012
Honolulu, HI
Wow. What a beautiful state and Oahu is just stunning. After being here for five days, we have seen and done so much. From going to the beach, hiking, hitting up concerts, and relaxing, I have had the time of my life.
Day 1 I met up with my friend Brandon from high school and we went to the Sublime concert. It was great and the view was beautiful! Honolulu skyline in the background with the nice ocean breeze.
Day 2 we had a nice relaxing day. I cooked a yummy breakfast and then we went to a BBQ at Kapiolani Park with some friends and hung out there for a couple hours grubbing and telling stories.
Day 3 both of us had to attend class, except mine was through Skype. After class, we took the bus to Kailua and spent the day there. It was absolutely beautiful. We went to California Pizza Kitchen, my all-time favorite place, for lunch and then walked to the beach where we hung out for a couple hours. The two of us then walked to some friends house who I hadn’t seen in three years and we sat around for a couple hours chatting about life until we came back to Honolulu. Once we got back, my friend Jessica walked over to our house and we went out too a bar called Lulu’s with the girls and has a fabulous girls night.
Day 4 was a rainy day. I slept in, did some homework and studying, got a work out in and made a delicious lunch. Once the rain calmed down, we went on a beautiful hike, Pu’u Ohia and Manona Cliff Trail. The guys showed me a ton of new things that I had never heard of or seen before and it was absolutely stunning. After the hike, we had a little “date night” and went into Waikiki and had dinner at Duke’s on the beach. It was a great way to end the day!
Day 5 so far has been my favorite. We drove up to North Shore and laid around on Sunset Beach. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. The beach was empty so we had it to ourselves. We napped and played in the water and got sunburns (even with sunscreen). But, it was fantastic! I couldn’t be happier here! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are beginning to prepare our meal.
Happy Thanksgiving and aloha! 🙂
Travel Obsessions
November 15, 2012
The month of November is flying by! Can you believe we’re already half way through? It has been an extremely busy month for me, but with amazing experiences traveling all over Texas.
I flew out of Fresno International airport on November 1st with fellow student-athlete, Derek Oliver, to Dallas, Texas. Derek and I were chosen to attend the four day NCAA Leadership Forum as Fresno State Athletics representative’s. It was one of the best weekends of my life! I learned so much about myself and how to be a better leader while meeting life long friends. Derek and I are now planning a leadership conference to put on for the athletes here at Fresno State before we graduate.
We flew back on Sunday, November 4th and then just three days later, I was back in the Fresno airport with the Fresno State Equestrian team as we flew to Dallas, Texas for three competitions against Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, and Texas A&M University. It was a rough weekend score wise, but we all had a great time and learned a lot about our riding.
Now, I am preparing to fly out to Hawaii for a week long vacation to see a high school friend this Saturday. I am beyond excited to spend nine days catching up and relaxing before I head into my final semester of my under grad studies!
Life Update!
Wow! It has been so long since I have updated my blog. I have been unbelievably busy. It has been an amazing two months since I have been back in the United States with my family, friends, school and all of my internships. I don’t even know where to begin!
I landed in the states back on August 9th. It was such a bitter/sweet feeling being back. I miss the lifestyle in Europe, but man oh man did I miss my family and animals here in California! My parents surprised me with my dog in the airport. We all cried of happiness to be with each other. It was fantastic.
I moved back to Fresno about a week after I got back from Spain and began classes and practice. They have both been wonderful. The equestrian team go a new head coach, and she has been great! I absolutely love her and I also love all of my classes. It has been a lot of work but all is going well!
I’ve kept up with my internship with Fresno State Athletics communication department and I love going to work for them! I have written four press releases so far and a feature for the football media guide. All in addition to working at volleyball and football games. Men’s basketball starts up this coming week and I am super excited for the 2012-13 season to get underway.
I will be better about keeping my page updated from now on! It took me way longer than I thought to get back in to the swing of things in the American lifestyle, but I am finally all caught up!
Have a great day and I hope you are cheering on our Fresno State Bulldogs tonight as the take on Wyoming! GO ‘DOGS!!!
Club Hípico Jaizubia
Riding horses is my passion and my career. Why not begin to train internationally?
As three months would have been way too long for me to go without riding a horse, I decided to bubble wrap my saddle, bring it aboard my flight, and ride in Spain! It’s one of the best ideas I have had because riding here has been an amazing experience. I ride at Club Hípico Jaizubia in Irun, Spain. It’s outstanding.
My trainer, Xavi, is a wonderful trainer. All of my training is done in Spanish (I’m the only one who speaks English there) and I’m learning the Spanish-style of riding. I never would have thought it would be so different than “America-style”, but it is! Actually, pretty funny, Xavi told me “tú montas muy americana,” claro. I am American, and I have been riding in America for 16 years now! But, now he says my riding is becoming very good and I’m learning the Spanish-style very well. Hopefully that isn’t a bad thing, because I really like it!
Since no one speaks English, I’ve had to learn all of the horse terminology the hard way, getting lost and confused. But no worries, or in Spanish we say no pasa nada, because I think I have done quite well! Here is some of the “equestrian” vocabulary in Spanish:
Paso – walk
Trote – trot
Alope – canter
Fuera el pie – dropping stirrups
Cambia el mano – change direction
Culo – haunches
Gambas – splint boots
Silla de montar – saddle
Trancos – strides
Reinas – reins
Pisa – corners
Espuelas – spurs
Saltar – jump
Cambia el pie – change lead
Levanta – lift
Colecta – collect
Recoje – bring back, shorten
These are only some of the words, but I think you get the gist of it! A lot of it is self explanatory, but when you’re in the moment of riding and getting these words thrown at you, it can be difficult to understand. But I absolutely love it!
I ride a different horse just about every time but my three favorites are Villa, Bruma, and Espina. They are all so wonderful!
I have also made great friends and met some very nice people. I ride with a girl, Selene, just about every time and her and her family are so sweet! Her boyfriend takes pictures every lesson and brings me discs of the photos he’s taken of me. Selene and I also go on beautiful trail rides through the river after every lesson, it is beautiful! One of the nicest families I have met, they help me with so much!
I can’t thank my family here in Hendaye enough for helping me with this opportunity to ride. They drive me every time to Irun for my 20:30 lesson, bring the dogs and watch me. They are the best!!
Club Hípico Jiazubia has been an amazing barn and with school done and 10 days left here in Hendaye, France, I am so excited to ride everyday before I fly back to California. I am so blessed and thankful for the best life ever!
65 Days in San Sebastian, Spain
Wow! What an amazing time I have had in San Sebastian! As I finish up all of my classes, I move back to Hendaye, France for 2 weeks before heading back to California.
I can’t even begin to explain how outstanding this summer has been. I took eight credits and ended my classes with A’s and B’s. Better yet, my Spanish is so much better now! I love it.
San Sebastian is a beautiful city in the heart of the Basque Country that has three beautiful beaches, wonderful hikes, and the best food you could ever imagine. I spent just about everyday after class on the beach doing my homework and studying. Most evenings I would run along the Paseo Nuevo. It was an absolutely beautiful run and right outside my apartment door. Life in San Sebastian is just outstanding.
In addition to spending my summer in San Sebastian, I traveled around Europe on the weekends. It was great! I went to Barcelona, Spain, Interlaken, Switzerland, Sorrento, Italy, Capri, Italy, Rome, Italy, Pamplona, Spain, Porto, Portugal, and Faro, Portugal. They were all beyond amazing! I had great experiences and so many adventures.
This summer was beyond words, absolutely amazing. I have just two weeks left in Hendaye, France before I head to Paris and then California! I am so blessed and so thankful for my life, words will never explain.
Save the Best for Last
Pete Beiden Field – May 5, 2012. Fresno, California
As Fresno State took the series, 2-1, from Sacramento State in WAC play in my last weekend to intern for Fresno State Athletics, I had the pleasure to write my first article for http://www.gobulldogs.com. It was a great way to end my internship for the 2012 spring semester, and I am far blessed to have this opportunity! I will keep this short so you can read through the article. Enjoy!
www.gobulldogs.com – Baseball Buzzes Back, Rips Hornets 10-6
Lisa Beach 