Sunday, January 24, 2010

Last day in Silicon Day January 22

Hi Everyone,

Today was our last day in Silicon Valley. We left for the airport at 9:30 am. Our plane was planned to leave around 12:30 however due to bad weather we were delayed. We arrived in Minneapolis around 7:00pm. It was a very good flight. I arrived home around 11:00 pm.


Thanks for following my blog,

Bryan

11th day in Silicon Valley

Hi Everyone,

Today is our 11th day in Silicon Valley. Tomorrow we are leaving. This trip is going so fast. Our first stop today was at Peet's Coffee shop to discuss book reports. Today Adam, me, and Aaron presented. The book I presented on was The Numerati.


The first company we visited was Facebook. We met with Dave Fetterman, he talked a lot about what we they look for in college graduates. He was very encouraging. When hiring for a job they look for people that are passionate about the job and they don't focus to heavily on what skills you have. I enjoyed talking with him because he talked more about what opportunities to look for in our future and less about Facebook.



Our next stop was Microsoft. Our first meeting was with Dan l' Lewin. He was one of the first employees of Apple at the beginning of the company. We learned a lot about how Microsoft keeps the Entrepreneurial spirit in their employees when Microsoft is such a large company. It was a honor to get to talk with him. After our meeting with Dan we meet got to see a large computer table touch screen that allowed you to navigate through programs using touch screen technology. It was awesome and they are only $10,000.

After our meeting at Microsoft we met with Neil MacAvoy at Intel. He talked about the steps that need to be taken in order for a chip to be created. It was very interesting and I was excited that I knew a little bit about what he was talking about. We had discussed some of the things he was talking about in my MIS class.

After our meeting at Intel we went back to the hotel.For dinner we ate an Italian restaurant called La Strada.




I had the Grilled Wild Salmon Pantesca for my dinner entree and for desert I had Soffiato di Cioccolato "La Strada" which is warm shokinag chocolate souffle with vanilla gelato. Both were very, very good. After dinner we went back to the hotel and I started packing.

That is all for today.

Bryan

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Tenth day in Silicon Valley

Hi everyone,

Today is Wednesday, January 20 it is our tenth day in Silicon Valley. Today we visited Google. We got the opportunity to talk with someone from Google University Relations, Google Enterprise, Google Books, Google Maps and blogger. Then we got to tour the GooglePlex. It was really awesome. I wish I worked at Google. After our tour we ate lunch at Charlie's Cafe. The food was very good. Then we went shopping at the Google Store.


After we got done at Google we went to a Computer History Museum and got to see a Babbage Difference Engine work. After that we went downtown Palo Alto and wandered for a little while. Then we met with Al Brudos, a Luther Alumni, to discuss his experiences as an entrepreneur and investor. He gave a lot of very helpful advice on how to invest and what to do after college. He advised us to take as many opportunities as possible. After our meeting we went back to the hotel and later we ate at Cold Stone.


That is all for today.

Bryan

Ninth day in Silicon Valley


Hi everyone,

Today is our ninth day in Silicon Valley. This morning Jeni, Kiflu, and Drew did their book reports. Then we went shopping in Stanford mall. Today we met with Benetech. This company is a non-for-profit company that creates technology for those that have a disability. For example, they scan books into the computer so the blind can read any book. They find a place where people need help and develop technology that will help them. They are a very interesting company.

After the meeting Kaitlin, Drew, Aaron and I went to Subway for lunch. Then we were off to Sierra Ventures. This is a venture capital company. The person we talked with Sierra Ventures knew a lot about LED lighting and energy efficiency.


After the meeting we went to Stanford University and walked around. Then we went to an Indian restaurant with our Google Host Craig Cornelius.

After dinner we went back to hotel and I finished my blogs.


That is all for today.

Bryan

Day 8 in Silicon Valley



Hi Everyone,

Today is our eighth day in Silicon Valley. Today it is raining. We went to Monterey Bay Aquarium. On our way to the Aquarium we stopped at a Redwood park and walked the trails.


When we arrived at the Aquarium and ate at Amarin Thai Cuisine restaurant for lunch.



We left the Aquarium at 5 pm. When we got back we ate at a pizza place called Applewood.


That is all for day.

Bryan

Day 7 in Silicon Valley

Hi Everyone,

Today is our seventh day (Sun, January 17) in Silicon Valley and our last day in Fisherman's Wharf. Today is moving day. This morning I went shopping for souvenirs. There were a lot of souvenir shops around our hotel. I ate lunch at a local restaurant next to the hotel. Then we for Menlo Park. Tonight we went to a Turkish restaurant in Menlo Park. I had the Kofte. Which is seasoned lamb and beef mixed served with rice, grilled tomato and Anaheim peppers.


After dinner Aaron, Adam, Jacob, Megan, Kaitlin, Jeni, Brad, Kiflu and I played down and up the river in Brads room. Then I wend to bed.


That is all for today.

Bryan

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sixth day in Silicon Valley

Hi Everyone,

Today is our sixth day in Silicon Valley. We started this morning off with a bike ride. We road bikes from the bike shop across the Golden Gate Bridge and then I made it up the hill on the other side of the bridge to a look out point. We could see Point Bonita Lighthouse from where we stopped. Brad, Adam and Aaron got all the way to Point Bonita.




After biking Brad, Adam, Megan, Kiflu and I ate at In-N-Out Burger. I had a burger and fries. It was very good. After that we went to the hotel for a little while before going to the Alcatraz Night Tour.

Around 3:50 we got to the Alcatraz Night Tour and got to ride on a ferry over to the island. Alcatraz has a lot of very interesting history behind it.




After our trip to Alcatraz we ate at a restaurant called Wipeout. I had canadian bacon pizza.

Well that is all for today,

Bryan