Reflection: Weeks 13 & 14 and Overall Course

WEEK 13

The Monday of week 13 we ended up having class at Goodwill.  It was awesome!!  I seriously loved the switch up of things, the tour, the group challenge of spending only $20, and everyone who worked there seemed so kind.  I never knew that Goodwill offered jobs for people with disabilities, I think that is great!  By employing people with special needs they actually get that work experience of working with people, being on time, and learn communication skills that they can use throughout the rest of their life.  I also enjoyed listening to the man who spoke to us and toured us around the building.  I could tell he loved his job and it was so nice to see the employers there wave to him as we were walking around.  This was probably my favorite day of class.

WEEK 14

This was the last day of class and unfortunatley I could not make it.  I ended up getting stuck up in the UP until Monday night, so that was kind of a bummer.  From the course calendar and other posts all the students brought in their junk projects and shared them to the class.  If you look at my previous post I shared mine through a blog post since I was unable to make it.  I also heard that I missed out on a delicious snack
:( bummer. 



OVERALL COURSE REFLECTION

I went into this course having no idea what environmental health was even about.  I am a psychology major, so it felt a little awkward to be in the beginning since I wasn't aware of much in the field.  I am so glad I decided to stick with it!  This class ended up being one of my favorites and I learned so much valuable information that I can relate back to for the rest of my life!

One big thing I learned was how to blog.  I heard of the term before, but I no idea how to create one or what I would even post about.  I now feel totally confident when using them and realize it could to a great tool to use for my future career.

I also loved the eco-chic lifestyle change!  I decided to get outdoors 3 times a week.  Overall, I reached my goal each week, with th exceptions of when I was very ill.  I realized that once you put enough energy into something and continue with a change, it eventually becomes second-nature and I can't even remember when I didn't work out.   I am very lucky to have had gotten this opportunity to make a lifestyle change that could benefit me.  Although, one thing I'm thinking about switching up is to bring a baggy along and pick up any trash I see while I am outside running (once the weather gets warmer of course). 

Overall I feel like I have gained so much knowledge from being in this course.  Now I realize how important it is to recycling/resuse, how critical it is to support no smoking campuses, that it's better to buy stuff in large quantities, buying local food betters our environment greatly, and that reusable bags rock.  Before I had the idea that I couldn't do much to better the environment, but now I realize it's the little things that matter!  Hope you all have a good break and good luck with finals everyone!

Reflection: Weeks 11 & 12

WEEK 11

On Monday we had our Advocacy Issue Overview due.  I completed mine on a bill that wants to decrease the amount of children and adolescents that are overweight and obese.  The assignment took a lot of time, but it was very interesting going through the questions and finding related information on the internet.  During class on Monday we got into small groups and went through an exercise where we were given an object and had to think of some creative idea of what the object could be reused as.  It was very fun and quite amusing listening to the groups' ideas.  On Wednesday we had our Eco-Chic lifestyle post due as usual and on Friday we had our fourth quarter of our Reed 'n' Seed posts due.  I loved the book I read, but it was nice to finish it, since my homework load is getting heavy, as the semester is coming to an end.

WEEK 12

On Monday we had our Photo Essays due at the beginning of class.  Everyone then hooked up to MckLinkey hop on Dr. V's blog, then we took turns sharing our essays infront of the class.  I found this to be very interesting and eye opening.  I never knew so many people are actually junking when they don't even realize it!  Such as my dad--the Craig's List fanatic.  It was a very fun project.  On Wednesday, as always, we had our Eco-Chic Lifestyle update and unfortuneatly the Thanksgiving holiday got to me and I did not reach my goal as I intended to...bummer!!  But I am hoping this coming week will be better.

Reflection: Weeks 9 & 10

Week 9

On Monday during class we learned about what advocacy was through three class presentations based on the three readings that were due at class time.  Two of the groups did a skit and the other group gave a pretty thorough presentation.  I really enjoyed being involved in the skit and watching the other skit, because it gave me a visual image and scenario that I could relate advocacy to.  I'd recommend making a skit relating to advocacy a course project, rather than just listening to someone explain the reading...just my opinion though! 

Also we had a advocacy project due at class time, which brought about our political representatives and their contact information.  On Wednesday, as usual, we had our weekly update of our Eco-Chi Lifestyle change, which mine is getting outside three times a week.  I reached my goal successfully, thanks to the beautiful weather we had throughout the week.  On Friday we had our third quater of our reed 'n' seed due.  I think this post was much better than my previous reed 'n' seed posts, because it was more concise and I just highlighted the main topics.

Week 10

On Monday we watched a clip from the documentary series called "Unnatural Causes".  The part that we watched was about health and wealth and how they correlated.  I loved this movie!!  I did not know the correlation between the two was so great, and this video gave me great insight to why the association seems to be true.  It seems that people who are poor have such a hard time dealing with medical costs, health problems, housing factors, and even getting food on the table.  This was a big eye opener that something needs to be done in America to get universal health care, so people can sleep easier at night.  I also thought itw as crazy that the United Statse spends 3 trillion dollars (if I remember right) on medical services a year, but we are bumber 30 on the list of the healthiest countries.  That is crazy!  We should learn from other countires and get on track.  During the movie we got to snack on delcious banana apple bread that was brought in by Danielle.  It was soooo good!!! 

Dr. V also went over the Photo Essay an the basics dealing with that assigment.  From what I've heard, it seems like this is going to be a pretty fun assignment.  Our advocacy project dealing with healthy people and THOMAS was due at class time on Monday and I decided to pick a goal dealing with obesity and nutrition.  On Wednesday we also had a lifestyle change update, and I just gave a summary of how I have been reaching my goal.  It's been a good two weeks and I can't wait for the junking project on Monday...hopefully I can think of something creative!  Have a good weekend!

Reflection: Weeks 7 & 8

*The past two Wednesdays we have been posting an update about our eco-chic lifestyle change.  I struggled with my change (getting outside 3 times a week) when I was sick, but lately I have been getting outside a
lot--making up for the lost time.  Sometimes it's tough to get my butt out the door, but I have enjoyed this change very much!

*During week 7 we had an eye opener due at the beginning of class which was a website that listed a bunch of cosmetic products and their rating of being hazardous.  I couldn't believe that my face lotion that I apply everyday has a risk of 7 out of 10!!  It is almost gone, so when it is time to buy a new bottle I am definitely going to buy a different brand.

*During week 7 we also had the second quater of our reed 'n' seed due, so I wrote a post about what has been going on in the 100 mile diet.  After I went back and looked at the post I realized I had rambled on and on and realized that for my next read 'n' seed post I should be more concise, so my readers do not feel so overwhelmed with all the wording.  Anyways, this book is really showing me how much America's food organization is changing--basically that we strongly rely on our food to travel great distances, rather than growing it locally.

*The Monday of week 8 we also had another eye opener due called "Get Your Junk On".   Dr. V showed us this great website of how people turned their trash into treasure.  It was quite interesting and super cool to see all the different types of decorations.  In class during that day we watched a documentary called "Thirst".  I found this film to be very interesting, but also bummed me out.  It made me so upset when that local worker quite his job since the company he worked for became privitized.  It was nice to see how much he loved his job though, and almost made me a little teary-eyed...hehe.  I also couldn't believe that the water in India is being pumped out by Coca-Cola and that the costs are now as much as milk!!  That is crazy that a huge corporation is charging and making a profit off of locals.  Anyways, overall these have been a very interesting past two weeks.  I can't believe midterm has already came and gone!!  Have a good weekend people.

A light bulb being used as a flower holder...fancy

http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/images/2007/beautyTrash_236x236.jpg

Reflection: Weeks 5 & 6

Last Monday we watched "The Future of Food" which was a great documentary about critical factors of the production of food.  One example they brought attention to is how large farming companies are trying to wipe out the family owned farms by sueing them for having some of their pattened crop in their field.  I thought this was outrageous!! And personally, I feel that something pertaining to nature should not be pattened, rather it is there for the world to use.  It made me feel so bad for those farmers because by destroying their land and crops is basically destroying their family's many generations of hard work.  During week five we also had our second eco-chic lifestyle update post.  So far I have been getting outside about 3 times a week.  Although, it has been so rainy out lately that I usually am not out for too long, because it gets chilly quick.  To overcome this weather conflict, I have been bundling up and trying to get outside when it is not raining.  I am looking forward to the snow however, because I feel there will be more outdoor activity options, instead of just walking or hiking in the icky rain.  We also had our first reed 'n' seed due, so I gave an update of my 100 Mile Diet book, you can check it out on my other blog post labled reed 'n' seed if you have not.

The Monday of week six we watched a video called Diet for New America.  This movie was led my John Robbins who went into discussion about how many farms are ran and how their livestock is treated.  I found it so saddening, but also interesting, that meat that is known to be tender and lighter in color is really from animals who are treated with very little care and that have barely any walking space in their barns.  It made me aware that when I buy that type of meat I am basically supporting this treatment of the animals.  It really opened my eyes to look into what kind of meats I am purchasing, and to be sure that the meat that I do eat is from healthy, well treated cattle.  We also had to figure out how to make a header and add it to our blog.  I finally got it figured out and decided to put up a picture of a sunset on a lake in Minnesota.  Happy Friday everyone!!

Raw Milk Truth

Reflection: Weeks 3 & 4

I feel that I have learned quite a bit over the past two weeks.  The Monday of week three we actually didn't have a class, but instead had a meeting with either Steve or Jayme.  I ending up meeting with Jayme and she went through the list of stuff that was required so far for a student going for an "A" grade.  She was very helpful and showed me how to add the labels to my blog since I was having difficulties with that.  We also had to decide which book we were going to read for our Read 'n' Seed project.  I looked through a list of Environmental books on Amazon and found a reading called Plenty: The 100 Mile Diet.  This book is about a Vancouver couple eating locally (foods only within 100 miles of their apartment) for one year.  I thought it sounded interesting because I feel that this would be a hard challenge and wanted to see how they overcame their difficulties.

During week four we had to have the ecological footprint eye opener assignment done before class.  This is a quiz that basically tells a person how much earth is required to fit their lifestyle.  I couldn't believe that we would need five earths if everyone lived the way I do!  That is so crazy and got me thinking I should really make some changes to the way I live.  I was actually not in class this Monday because I have been sick with a really bad cold and fever this week, but I am feeling a lot better now, I just have a cough that I need to get rid of!  I have not had the chance to rent An Inconvient Truth yet, but I plan on watching it this weekend when I have more time, since I have been playing catch up in all of my classes.  I read about the video though and it is a documentary on global warming and how people are the main cause of it, but they emphasize that there is time to change our ways.  Anyways, even though I have not been in class for the past two weeks, I'm still learning lots and enjoying it.

Reflection: Weeks 1 & 2

The first week of class we did the "Star Wars" activity.  The core purpose of this activity was trying to get ourselves to think in a different manner and also realize that people make assumptions before thinking about situations in a different light.  Secondly, we learned how to create and manage our own blogs.  It was a little overwhelming at first, but I think I am getting the hang of the whole thing.  I can't believe how many blogs there are out there and that some people are "bloggers" for their living!  Seems crazy to me. 

During the second week of class Dr. V. posted quotes related to Environmental health and we discussed them as a class.  I thought this was a good exercise because it got the students thinking on their feet and people got to express their own ideas.  It showed me that people can have completely different views of what something means, but both of their opinions can make sense.

I feel that this class is going to benefit me greatly. This class is expanding my knowledge on blogging and aspects of environmental health and I believe what I learn in this class will better me for the rest of my life.

Intro Post

Welcome to Paige's E Health Blog!  I thought of something a little more creative, but now I can't figure out how to change it, so I guess I'm sticking with this title.

My name is Paige and I turned 20 years old in July.  I transferred to UMD last fall from a community college down in the cities.  I am majoring in Psychology, but not quite sure what I want to do after I graduate, I guess time will tell.  I have two younger sisters and a dog named Scout back at home in Plymouth MN.  I don't know much about Environmental Health, but I'm hoping my blog covers a variety of topics of how we can make the planet a greener place.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

-Advocacy Project

-Eye Openers

-Reflections

-Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change

-Read 'n' Seed

-Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all five kinds of posts.  You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page.  All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. http://mediterraneanmelissa.blogspot.com/


2. http://ashleysgreenlilypad.blogspot.com/

3. http://paigesehealthblog.blogspot.com/

4. http://malsrainforest.blogspot.com/


You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."


I am looking forward to this course and hoping to become more environmental friendly throughout the semester.  I want to gain knowledge on the environmental troubles the world is facing and become familiar with ideas of how people can change their habits to make the world a cleaner place.  Happy blogging and have a good day everyone!

Blogged for the Welcome Linky Party hosted by http://ecochicwithamy.blogspot.com/.