Colloquium Part 2

 

The Colloquium experience 

The class brightened my worldview somewhat. The state of the world was interesting to read. What hit me the most is the chapter on the food shortage in Africa. There are people starving to death right now. There are those who dont know for how much long they will be able to feed their families. We are presented with all of these issues going on around the world and in our own backyards. However, that’s as far as it goes. What is there to do about it? What I read and learned during this course I would probably have never read on my own. Sometimes when I get full of I complain about how I have such little opportunity. This class has reminded me that not everyone has the same opportunities as me. You know there are people dying to go to school. And I want to find a way to make that possible for others.

 I did know that animals were slaughtered terribly. I’ve seen videos that Pita has tried to show anyone with the sense of sight, footage of animals being strung up and butchered alive. What do I do about it? I buy 4-dollar eggs that are supposed to be organic. I buy almond milk. I try to avoid Tyson and any other companies that are similar but I still don’t know if what I am purchasing is ok. I tell my friends to do the same which some are not willing to do. What I am doing is not enough but I also won’t be able to do it alone. The main thing that needs to be settled is how animals are raised and the dangers of these raising and killing farms. Is it better for animals to die humanly? Because in the end they are going to die and be eaten either way. I try to stay away from items that contain monosodium glutamate, which is in just about everything. Don’t even get me started on Monsantos. If other companies grow to such a power as them then at anytime we all could all be wiped out. It is very sad that one woman’s son had to die.  His death sent her on a journey. All she wanted was an apology but what she got led her for an even bigger search. I think it’s sort of the American way to treat people as cattle. I don’t mean that we all go out and make others lives hard. However, look at the job market. We have workers in factories that are getting their arms chopped off and they are still paid minimum wage. We also have illegal immigrants who very often do awful jobs. They do these jobs for the money just like everyone else. Even though it barely keeps them surviving. We have commercials glorifying being a soldier so that everyone wants to join but it can come with the price of death, whether it be yours or someone else’s.

       A land remembered was also a good book to read. It’s one of those books that make you feel like crying and laughing. You here about wars and the trail of tears through history books but to read a story about it, is much different. It draws you in because you feel like you know the people from the book. It really amazes me how people once lived. OF course some do still live this way. Though time has passed, the only thing that has evolved the most is technology. We have the same issues, from wars, to differing forms of slavery. 
I am glad that I decided to take your class Mrs. Borden because you are just so excited about teaching and it is so motivating especially at 8am in the morning. I don't think I could have learned all this information from anyone else. All in all my Colloquium experience is two sided I guess I learned about several things but if I learn all of this stuff and do nothing about it then it’s pointless.

 _________________________________To the moon

I am Sailor Moon, oookay at least I wish I was 

Space is a dangerous place it has no oxygen no gravity and no reason for humans to travel up to it. Still scientist find a way. The sky is very beautiful to look at in the night. Most would agree that it gives you a sense of peace. You think of how small you really are in this huge solar system. The moon is sort of an extension to the sun it brightens the night. I can look outside the window and know that I will see at least some part of the moon on most nights. I look at the phases of the moon and I think that they are amazing to look at but I wouldn’t want to be any closer to it now. Fascinating superstitions are linked with the moon.  One that I didn’t know was that  if you don’t have any money, during the new moon it is considered unlucky. however if you do have  change in your pocket and turn them over without taking them out you can also make a wish  while doing this,  you may gain even more money in the upcoming month. I learned that a waxing moon is when  the lighter side appears to grow bigger the lighter side is on the right. When the lighted side appears to get smaller the moon is waning the lighter side is on the left.

    When I was younger, I watched a show called Sailor Moon and I loved it. It was about the moon princess Serena who was sent to future earth along with other sailor scouts. They were sent to earth in order to save the universe. These other scouts were reincarnations of other planets. Sailor Mars had the power to set things on fire while sailor Mercury had the power to freeze anything with bubbles. Sailor Moon on the other hand had no specific powers; she always had to use some type of weapon to attack enemies. Though she lacked physical powers like the other scouts, a fight could not be completed without her. She was the center of it all. Their powers combined created an almost unstoppable force. The moon is a plain old round thing that orbits the earth. There is nothing very distinctive about it. You expect nothing to come of it. Some planets have several moons. Essentially, what I’m trying to say is that the moon is of great importance even if we are at the time unaware of it. The show is a great example of how teamwork can be beneficial.  Back in elementary school my friends and I had this power that we thought would last forever and it was great while it lasted.  ________________________________________________________



                                   

                                              Corkscrew swamp photos                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ________________________________________      Fort Myers Beach                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                 Back on the bus

Fort Myers Beach

The trip to the Fort Myers beach was interesting. The Island is 1 mile wide and 7 miles long! I didn’t expect to have a bit of a history lesson at the cottage. It is the 2^nd oldest existing cottage. One of the most interesting facts that I learned was that the library began as a small rented space in 1955. Librarians would go around the town and collect books from residents to borrow. Now the library is under construction and is as big as ever. I found it so amazing that Jo Hughes lived through so much history. She remembers in 1934 when many people began to use electricity. Mrs. Hughes noted that the water at the beach is no longer as clear as it once was; there was a time when you could see everything in the water she said. Mosquitos were a very huge issue you couldn’t walk into your home without them trying to come in with you. Your front door would definitely have a screen door. In 1949, DDT was brought in for mosquito control. However, DDT was later found to injure birds. It’s also so interesting how most houses on the beach are built so high up. I figured that they built them that way in case of a flood.

On the Matanzas Preserve we learned about the different types of mangroves. They help to filter the water and protect the island from collapse. So they are very essential.

Red red pointy-head----- pointy leaves

Black checkered back------- black trunk

White bolts on tight--- rounded leaves with glands on the end

The boardwalk is made from recycled milk jugs.

Also I’ve never been to a ships loading dock so that was fascinating. Though it’s not somewhere I’d like to stay. I don’t even know how to swim. I seriously am planning to learn. Friends have offered to teach me but I’d really rather learn from someone certified.

Furthermore I don’t usually go to the beach unless it is near sun down as I don’t require a tan. (I say this laughing) Friends of mine want to go out and spend the whole day at the beach and yea I’m not up for that. The sun is amazing but it is hot and I am not a fan of the leather skin.

The habitat

 When I think of my neighborhood back home in Haines city, I think of oranges and Love bugs.  I think of my family and high school friends. My home is blue and white. I prefer Haines city to Fort Myers because I am more familiar with where I grew up. Moving to Fort Myers was hard for me to get over in the beginning. I had asked myself over and over again why had I come to Fort Myers? I never found the answer; living in Fort Myers is not all bad just different. It was harder for me to move than I thought. I missed my family. I have four sisters and one brother. In Haines city, I lived with 2 of my sisters, my parents and 3 nieces and nephews. Also other relatives came in and out. My house is defiantly a hotspot with people coming and going. In Fort Myers, I live in an apartment with not nearly as much people.

I miss the noise of the children running around the house. I miss my mother waking me up early in the morning for no apparent reason other than to annoy me. My neighborhood has changed quite a bit since my move to southwest Florida. More shopping centers have been built and construction has increased tenfold. Wal-Mart was once the biggest shopping center. Now we have a mall, though the mall is not located in Haines city it is near enough that I no longer have to travel to Orlando, which is about a 45-minute drive. Having fun in Haines city all depends on what you consider enjoyable. There’s not too many places to go so most of my time was spent with family or talking on the phone with friends. If you want to go to the movies Downtown Disney is your likely destination. Visiting the Walt Disney World theme park is also a great pastime. Usually someone knows someone who knows someone that works at Disney who can sign people into the park for free.
 Moving to Fort Myers has taught me the value of family and with all of the friends that I have made here I have learned that family is not only by blood.. 

I had frequent soccer practices at the community park when my school was under construction.

  

I pass this place so often that I just had to take a picture.

----------------------------------------------------------The Road to ECHO

     

Echo  

                                             Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization

When I first thought of echo, I thought it would be a place full of badly fertilized plants and tree huggers. I really don't like going outside unless it involves playing sports. However when I got to ECHO t the atmosphere was inviting. I really liked the concept behind all of the technology. For example, the biogas digester that uses organic wastes and creates methane gas for cooking.  Hunger is such a prevalent problem in all countries. I’ve never had to experience severe hunger and I am very grateful for that. However I always wonder about those that are experiencing these tragedies, what are they thankful for?

               The lemons were huge, in the Haitian culture lemons and limes are heavily used for cooking.

Echo has cultured a diversity of plants.

The Maringa tree is known as the Miracle Tree.
The many uses of the Moringa trees have been said to be used to combat malnutrition, among infants and nursing mothers.

 Moringa seeds can be used to sanitize water. One seed treats one liter of water. The Moringa coagulates and clumps together many particles. The water then must be sifted in order to get rid of the inedible matter.

Rice

Different techniques are used for worm Composting.

                                                                           

The Duck/ Tilapia pond was also a clever way of raising farm animals. Because they yeild several benefits. Duck droppings fall into the water and feed the algae. Tilapia live off of Algae and thus humans are able to eat the fish from the water. Ducks are also valuable because they can lay eggs and their size allows for consumption with very little having to go to waste. Since not everyone has access to refrigerators. 

mock homes to show conditions of how others live around the world.

Hillside farming is also a very interesting concept. 

It was very interesting to see what techniques echo has created and borrowed from others to bring to

different people around the world. One thing that I noticed on ECHOS website that I felt was odd was that

Echo does not work with farmers in the United States.

The ECHO website says “Those who suffer from hunger in this country have access to food banks, food stamps, soup kitchens, and charities that help meet their needs. These services are seldom available in developing countries, so ECHO has become an "extension agent to the world."

I thought that was an odd statement. Soup kitchens do run out of food and not everyone qualifies for food stamps or are able to go to food banks. There are people starving right now in America despite all of the programs that are offered. It just seems like there is another reason why ECHO says that they do not want to work with U.S farmers. While ECHO is not the cure of all cures it is a great start.