The third week of the project was probably my worst week. I guess I thought I did a pretty good job with week two and forgot to think about it as much on week three. I did well with the not-eating-meat part of the project as well as the water and electricity parts (including turning off my roommate's room lights and the tv when she wasn't there!) but I did terribly with the trash part. I guess I was discouraged after feeling sick and throwing away so many tissues and other trash. Thanksgiving was also difficult. I did eat the free range turkey my family made, but I made an effort not to use the paper plates my family used throughout the week in efforts to limit the amount of dishes they had to wash. So I used other plates and washed them which made me think: is it better to use paper plates and throw them out or use water to wash plates? I decided water to wash plates because I could limit the amount of water I used whereas the whole paper plate would go to a landfill or wherever. It was also difficult to watch the amount of electricity that I used and that my family used. We had twelve people staying at our house and I know we used so much electricity it's scary. Overall I think that I have decreased the amount of electricity, water, and garbage that I have used. I haven't had a bad day yet, but I can imagine the one thing that I will probably fall back on is the water usage for my stressful-day shower. Also, I would like to continue eating a mostly meat-free diet but I think that I will be up for eating the occasional free range chicken or beef product. I think now I'll always take recognition of the amount of garbage, meat, water, and electricity that I'm using. The difficult part will be permanently changing my actions to permanently use less.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Last Week... which was last week.
So, this is coming more than a little late, but it gives me the chance to tell about this week as well.
The last official week of the sustainability project went well. I hardly drove at all, and continued with my limitations on energy and food consumption. But, this week I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Houston--my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. My parents already knew about my recent eating habits, but I hadn't told my grandparents or the rest of my family. I thought I could slide by unnoticed when I didn't take a slice of turkey, but I was wrong. The first thing my mom said when she came through the door was, "Hey, that turkey smells great. Too bad Kate doesn't eat meat anymore." Thanks Mom. My aunts asked me if I had an eating disorder and my grandpa tried to convince me that turkey wasn't really meat. By the end, I think they accepted my reasoning.
I did a little catching up with some old friends in Austin on Friday. We decided to see a movie and I suggested "Fuel" because I heard that it was only showing in 4 theaters in the US and depending on how many people go to see it will determine if it will be shown nation-wide. The movie was eye opening. It was all about America's dependence on oil and the importance of alternate energy, like wind and solar power, but mostly biodiesel. Josh Tickell was the director and "star" of the film and his mom, who had a part in the film, was there to meet everyone after the showing. It was amazing! I was like, "I just saw you on that screen, and now here you are in real life." It was crazy. There wasn't many people in the theater, so we got to have a real conversation. She really stressed getting the movie out there through word of mouth.
So, here I am--Go see Fuel! Seriously.
The last official week of the sustainability project went well. I hardly drove at all, and continued with my limitations on energy and food consumption. But, this week I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Houston--my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. My parents already knew about my recent eating habits, but I hadn't told my grandparents or the rest of my family. I thought I could slide by unnoticed when I didn't take a slice of turkey, but I was wrong. The first thing my mom said when she came through the door was, "Hey, that turkey smells great. Too bad Kate doesn't eat meat anymore." Thanks Mom. My aunts asked me if I had an eating disorder and my grandpa tried to convince me that turkey wasn't really meat. By the end, I think they accepted my reasoning.
I did a little catching up with some old friends in Austin on Friday. We decided to see a movie and I suggested "Fuel" because I heard that it was only showing in 4 theaters in the US and depending on how many people go to see it will determine if it will be shown nation-wide. The movie was eye opening. It was all about America's dependence on oil and the importance of alternate energy, like wind and solar power, but mostly biodiesel. Josh Tickell was the director and "star" of the film and his mom, who had a part in the film, was there to meet everyone after the showing. It was amazing! I was like, "I just saw you on that screen, and now here you are in real life." It was crazy. There wasn't many people in the theater, so we got to have a real conversation. She really stressed getting the movie out there through word of mouth.
So, here I am--Go see Fuel! Seriously.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Last week! (a little late)
Sorry this is coming late but I drove home Monday night passed out and forgot about school.
But now I have remembered now that I have preached sustainability and being environmentally friendly to the entire family all day today. The last week of the project came more natural to me than the previous weeks even though it was for a longer time I found it easier to be responsible and be more sustainable. As far as energy usage was concerned I lived in the dark for most of the four days I worked on the project. Unless I was doing homework I didn't use the computer, and invented ways to get light. Like carpooling you can share stuff like light, I went to my friends room or the common room when I needed to do something. As far as water consumption is concerned my quick showers are pretty much habit and I still reuse a water bottle. I have made sure to minimize my waste in every way possible from snacking less, to reusing everything I could. It was nice to sit back and talk to the family about my classes and I enjoyed telling them what a big difference awareness could make.
In the end after the project has ended I think I will continue the project in my life. Just the fact that I CAN make a noticable difference through simple actions has somewhat inspired me to do my part. In the beginning we talked about the deffinition of sustainability, and after working and thinking about my project I would have to say Sustainability is the awareness of our actions, the reduction of the impact that we have 0n the environment that we occupy, and the education of others around us toward that goal.
But now I have remembered now that I have preached sustainability and being environmentally friendly to the entire family all day today. The last week of the project came more natural to me than the previous weeks even though it was for a longer time I found it easier to be responsible and be more sustainable. As far as energy usage was concerned I lived in the dark for most of the four days I worked on the project. Unless I was doing homework I didn't use the computer, and invented ways to get light. Like carpooling you can share stuff like light, I went to my friends room or the common room when I needed to do something. As far as water consumption is concerned my quick showers are pretty much habit and I still reuse a water bottle. I have made sure to minimize my waste in every way possible from snacking less, to reusing everything I could. It was nice to sit back and talk to the family about my classes and I enjoyed telling them what a big difference awareness could make.
In the end after the project has ended I think I will continue the project in my life. Just the fact that I CAN make a noticable difference through simple actions has somewhat inspired me to do my part. In the beginning we talked about the deffinition of sustainability, and after working and thinking about my project I would have to say Sustainability is the awareness of our actions, the reduction of the impact that we have 0n the environment that we occupy, and the education of others around us toward that goal.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
third week
This last week went pretty well. I went to Austin and to my surprise i ate NO meat!! I could not believe it and neither could my friends. I did get tempting at time but i was able to survive the whole weekend. My friends and i went to lunch on sunday and i convinced them to take their own boxed for the food they never finish. Throughout the whole week I used much less light than I usually use.
hmmm
Well, as far as my eating habits this past week, I let myself down a few times. My mom threw my dad a surprise party for his birthday and we had a great dinner... with steak and chicken. I guess my carnivore behavior was to prevent my mom from feeling disrespected, plus I knew how great the cooks were. Then another day, I was very hungry and didn't have time to make a meal but I didn't have anything quick to make... except for some Chef Boyardee meat ravioli that turned about to be really disgusting. And lastly, my roommate wanted me to try some of her meat from her Lean Cuisine, and I was pretty impressed I must say. I guess it was kind of a downhill week for my vegetarianism since I started with my dad's party, but those were the only times I had meat so at least I didn't have it every day I guess. So the cold weather has stuck around the past couple of weeks, and our heater has not been as warming as it could be and I am in the process of making a very warm blanket. Aaaand for electricity and water usage, I'd have to say it's about the same as last week, I can't really recall any vast improvements or situations that arose, but there still is some let down in the lack of improvement. Well, I guess if you weigh it out I didn't do so well this past week, but hey, it's a process. Never get discouraged!
Week Three
Week three was actually pretty easy for me I have gotten pretty used to most of the changes I have made. The hardest thing for me this week was just doing all three things at the same time and thinking about all of them. I would be thinking about how I was proud of myself for not eating meat and forget to turn off the water. I think only this can come with doing things over a long period of tme and getting used to thinking about them all the time. Another hard thing for me in the beginning was cutting down my showers because I love to take long showers. Over these three weeks I have been able to consistently take 5-6 minute showers, even if they are really hot when it's cold outside I consider this a big acomplishment for myself. I have learned to try and use light in places where the lights are already on instead of using my own light, and it really hasnt been a big adjustment, and ive tried to keep my driving to a minimum only driving when it's absolutely necesarry.
My Journal Entry, Week 3
And here we are.
Well, for starters, let me say that this week was probably the worst in terms of me being a good vegetarian. The first day there was the turkey dinner in the commons, and although I DID have two very small pieces of turkey, I stopped there. The next day, I ate a little bit of this shrimp thing, and on my third day I ate a bit of a different shrimp thing, but that was it, I promise!
So, all embarrassing vegetarian-related confessions aside, it was a relatively normal week in regards to the electricity part. Nothing much changed from last week.
Finally, the water thing was pretty good too. First day, I took a 7-ish minute shower, the second day was 5 minutes, the third day was 3 minutes, and, actually, the fourth day was phenomenal because I was so exhausted from that day that I completely crashed at 8 o' clock in the evening and forgot to shower completely. So THAT was a record. ;)
All in all, this actually was a good experience for me, even if it was really annoying at points. :) I felt like I really was making a difference and I believe that this project will help me automatically be more environmentally conscious in the future!!
Well, for starters, let me say that this week was probably the worst in terms of me being a good vegetarian. The first day there was the turkey dinner in the commons, and although I DID have two very small pieces of turkey, I stopped there. The next day, I ate a little bit of this shrimp thing, and on my third day I ate a bit of a different shrimp thing, but that was it, I promise!
So, all embarrassing vegetarian-related confessions aside, it was a relatively normal week in regards to the electricity part. Nothing much changed from last week.
Finally, the water thing was pretty good too. First day, I took a 7-ish minute shower, the second day was 5 minutes, the third day was 3 minutes, and, actually, the fourth day was phenomenal because I was so exhausted from that day that I completely crashed at 8 o' clock in the evening and forgot to shower completely. So THAT was a record. ;)
All in all, this actually was a good experience for me, even if it was really annoying at points. :) I felt like I really was making a difference and I believe that this project will help me automatically be more environmentally conscious in the future!!
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