Social Events

Celebration of Valentine day 2010 Improvements in the coherence of the Environmental Microbiology Group following the incorporation of new students yielded the first ever celebration of Valentine day- Day of Love - on February 14, 2010. It was traditionally based on a mountain quantity of food (not all unhealthy) and celebrated during the weekly seminar of the group occurring exactly of that very day.
Version 1: Adan is approving the quality of the sausage, or, Version 2: He is approving that the member of the group who prepared it should be allowed to live and not be executed on the spot.	Alejandra is extremely satisfied with a piece of carrot.	Luis as always is happy as long as there is something to chew.
“To eat or not to eat” assortment of edible roots before the “heavier food”. This is the dilemma facing Blanca.	Apparently, a lot of vegetables are a real treat for Luz.	How can one share two large cakes for only 12 people? Yvonne and Blanca are loading large slabs of cakes into the mini plates sufficient for only one tiny piece of cake. Sergio is not participating. He is just there.
Everybody is waiting for their large share in the cakes. Nobody seems to care about the large amount of calories one has to upload into their energy producing systems in few minutes. Yoav converted it directly to fat and avoided the energy issue (From Left; Yoav, Alejandra, Betty, Pati, Yvonne and Blanca).	Manuel receiving his 5000+ calories’ share after eating all the other food.	Betty is still waiting for her mountain of cakes while Pati took only a micro-piece.
	Even though Sergio’s plate is full and over loaded, he still has a look for more.

End of the year Posada 2009 Since 1997 when the group was first created, we celebrate the “Posada” in the last seminar of the year after receiving the evaluation of how good or bad (mostly good) we did in the year. 2009 was of no exception. We gathered 10 members (out of the 20 members we had in 2009 and did not show up for the last working days of the year or were off campus) and there were few visitors for a midday Posada in the Palapa of CIBNOR. Each member brought a culinary achievement and the few who cannot cook brought themselves plus the necessary accessories for the meal. As is common in Mexico, there is always a lot to eat and no matter how much one eats, there is always something left to take home. Tradition. The only difference from a normal Mexican fiesta is that alcohol is not permitted on campus. Some of the faces in these photos: Permanent members: Dr. Luz Gonzalez de-Bashan, Marine Biologist Patricia Vazquez, Dr. Yoav Bashan, Dr. Macario Bacilio, M.Sc. Juan-Pablo Hernández, M.Sc. Manuel Moreno, Marine Biologist Bernardo Salazar. Post doctoral scientist: Dr. Froylan Espinoza. Students: Dr. Blanca Romero - Graduated in 2009. M.Sc. Octavio Perez- Graduated in 2009; Alejandra Vovides. – D.Sc. Student; Luis Leyva. D.Sc. Student, Adan Trejo. M.Sc. student, Sergio Hernandez - M.Sc. student, Francisco Choix. Pre-doctoral student, Ulises Ortega and Felipe Ortiz- Professional Practice, Noga Bashan- Diploma. Group administrator: Isaura de la Vega.
To wash or not to wash. Is the hand clean enough to mix the drink?	Blanca has something on her mind.	Luis is explaining to Luz his secrets for his superb ceviche (raw fish plate).
Luis is preparing his always-good ceviche. The only ceviche few of us dare to eat because we know that freshness is guaranteed and no stomach aches, poisoning, or diarrhea is expected.	It is completely unclear what Alejandra is waiting for.	One of the few traditional dishes prepared.
After the ceviche that was served as an appetizer, (from right) Isaura, Juan-Pablo, Amauri (the zoologist that likes to hang out in our group), Sergio, Luis, Luz, and Yoav.	Adan, in an undefined pose.	Ira Fogel, our English editor, who always appreciates good Mexican food, passed by and was immediately invited to join us.
Is Luis thinking about his enzymatic tests or what to eat next? Probably the latter.	Juan-Pablo and Blanca having a great time.	And one second afterwards.
The chiles were a bit strong for Adan. Sergio has not eaten them so far.	This was just one sharp hot jalapeno (Adan)!	It took two hours to complete our Posada. Much was left for take-away. And the year is officially closed (from right, front line): Manuel, Luz, Alejandra, Blanca, Isaura. (from right, back line): Sergio, Yoav, Juan-Pablo, Adan, Luis.