tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70161103407645360652024-03-12T21:55:50.113-07:00CELL Iceland 2012 BlogIceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-88006926727161246762012-11-16T13:37:00.002-08:002012-11-16T14:35:25.490-08:00Má ég taka mynd af þér?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These
are the people of Solheimar. These are the people that teach me
<i>íslensku</i>, twirl me around the room, and laugh at me when I butcher
their language. They are the reason that I'm able to wake up in the
morning even when it is pitch black and bone-numbing cold, knowing
Christian will greet me with a huge hug and a kiss and hoping that I
will be able to squeeze a smile out of Runar. And when I leave in <i>tólf </i>days, it will be a <i>sjaumst</i> rather than a <i>bless bless</i>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Noga</span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-23545832558006980662012-11-16T13:04:00.000-08:002012-12-06T16:08:15.053-08:00Blog Post the LastMany things change in life. One thing that doesn't, however, is the
passage of time. Time moves steadily onward, day following day
following day. Whenever one starts something new, it feels like it
will last forever... but every time, it eventually ends.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I write this to you from the end of the most significant semester of
my life. I write this to you because your life, like mine, is finite.
I write this to you because no matter who you are or what your
situation is, you have things that you need to contribute to the
world and things that you need to experience.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As people in a mostly materialism-driven global society, what are we
going to do with the unknown amount of finite time that we have left
in our lives? Will we follow the culturally approved path for a human
being, the standard K-12 to college to graduate school to career to
retirement to death model, perhaps with a few spouses or children
thrown in for good measure? The lifespan of a person is now nearly as
predictable as the lifespan of a similar disposable product, like a
paper cup.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am not, of course, saying that any of those things are bad.
Careers, spouses, education, and children are all potential
ingredients for a happy, satisfying life.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
am, however, saying that we should start thinking
about what we really want out of life. Too often, the standard life
path brings with it a sense omnipresent anticipation with no real
resolution: we're always waiting for that <i>one
thing</i>
to happen so that we can finally be complete, finally be happy. We're
trying to get to the next grade level, to high school, to college, to
grad school, to our first real job, to a promotion, to a stable
career, to another promotion, to retirement. We're trying to find a
great spouse, trying to have kids, trying to get the kids out of the
house, trying to get our marriage back on track, trying to start a
new marriage.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We're
always waiting. We're always striving. And if we ever get to the
point where we can relax and say, “Okay. <i>Now</i>
I've done it. <i>Now
</i>I
can finally sit back and enjoy life”, it's in our twilight years.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So,
what I'm saying is simply this: it's time to become present. It's
time to realize that life, the very best part of it, is happening
<i>now</i>.
Whatever moment you're in, this is it. This is life. It's not waiting
around the next bend.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the best responses to this realization is simply to start
intentionally enjoying life more. Appreciate the beauty of the sky in
the morning. Turn off your TV and learn a new skill. Explore new
places. Spend time with your friends. Make new friends.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
However,
there's a more urgent response to this realization, especially if
you're younger. Our planet is in trouble. Though
not many people realize it yet, we live in a time of great change.
One might compare it to having just pushed off from the top of a
giant water slide: you're not moving fast enough for it to be scary
yet, but you're about to be, and there's nothing that you can do to
stop it. Our world is hurtling into a period of societal,
environmental, and intellectual upheaval. This upheaval is driven by
the fact that our culture is based on the idea of endless
consumption; a consumption not matched by endless resources. In so
many ways – climate, water supply, food supply, mineral
exploitation, and others – we are pushing the limits of what is
possible with the resources that we have. Our global infrastructure
has been cracking, unnoticed, under the strain, and it is now
crashing to the ground.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Your heart is bump-bumping the rest of your life away. What are you
going to do with that life? Enjoy it, yes. But you also have a
responsibility. Whoever you are, you have a responsibility to use
some of your time to ease mankind's load on the planet. You have a
responsibility to help society transition into a period of deep
uncertainty.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you're a potential CELL student, then the best possible way that
you could go about that is by signing up for this course. It will
teach you how to live in the moment as well as educate you about the
major issues going on across the globe. It will give you the skills,
both intellectual and practical, for you to enjoy life to the fullest
and make a real, significant change in the world.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For
everybody else, do some reading. Start with <i>Eaarth</i>
by Bill McKibben and <i>Cradle
to Cradle </i>by
Michael Braungart and William McDonough. Figure out ways to make your
own life more sustainable, and then spread your ideas outward to your
community. Be an active voice. You'll find that many of the things
that are good for the Earth are also good for your own health and
happiness. Building stronger, more connected communities is
synonymous with building more environmentally sustainable
communities. An amazing number of the world's problems can be solved
by taking a critical look at our lifestyles and changing them to
include the things that <i>really</i>
make us happy instead of the things that our culture tells us should
make us happy.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And no matter who you are, remember to be present in your everyday
life. After all, the present moment is all that there really is.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Connor</div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-77659076907949423952012-11-16T08:54:00.000-08:002012-11-16T13:16:11.966-08:00Preparing for Departure<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3 style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Today
in our NWEI discussion Karin said something that struck me. Although I had been
realizing it through out our entire trip, things sometimes hit you unexpectedly
with the simplest phrase. She said “you are all changed people”. And without
question, she’s right. We have lived together for three months, become friends,
been vulnerable, laughed, shared stories, “passed the squeeze”, cried, placed
each other in Hogwarts houses, had our fair share of cleaning conversations, cooked
(the basic food groups being kale, quinoa and beans of course), sang, “killed”
each other with socks’, fallen (Tara), </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">farted
a plenty </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(you know who you are) swam,
trekked to the gym, played soccer, and lastly, laughed some more. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We
have analyzed who we are, the lives we lead, the world we live in and our place
in it. No matter what we do with our new knowledge, whether we continue our
previous lives or transform entirely, we are all changed people. We have shared
an incredible experience together that we will forever look back upon and
smile. What we have done, the friendships we have made, the landscapes we have
seen, and the discussions we have had are some of the most valuable memories of my
life. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Personally,
I have gained a somewhat ironic realization. In the midst of confusing
discussions where the best option is unclear, I have found clarity. For
example, what I previously thought was good, green, renewable energy (geothermal) is now
possibly not so limitless, or wanting to have solar panels and a wind turbine
at my house but needing a well paying job that goes through the traditional,
expensive, competitive, education system to do so. When something’s have
felt like lose-lose situations, and when some conversations have left me with
more questions than answers, I have gained clarity. Clarity about who I am, and
clarity about who I want to be. About not only my future career goals, but who
I am in present time, the person I want to portray in present time, and the
decisions I can make now.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> This environment, my teachers, the
documentaries, the readings and most importantly our discussions and the people
that create them, have forever changed me. When deep discussions get so deep
that the conversation suddenly turns silent and all you can see are peoples
minds twirling, realizing our world is in deep trouble, you know you are apart
of something special and world changing. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 13.6pt; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We
are all changed people. We are united by an experience only these 16
individuals have experienced. I am sad to leave, sad this moment can never be
replicated, but happy it will forever be a part of me. Thank you Iceland, thank
you </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sólheimar, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">thank you Karin, thank you Hank and thank you CELL group
2012.</span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 13.6pt; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Margaret Hoyt</div>
<h3 style="line-height: 13.6pt; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-28744030237076075372012-11-16T08:36:00.001-08:002012-11-16T08:46:05.155-08:00The Security of our Routines<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daily routine. What is a daily routine? What is your daily routine? Possibly a day to day routine consists of waking up for work or school in the morning. You have breakfast, drive to your destination as you listen to your favorite talk show. While at work you spend the day at your desk minus when you escape for an hour for lunch. Finally, the work day is over and you come home where you cook dinner, do the dishes and finally flop down to watch a popular television series.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Give or take a little and this is the routine of most people. What does this routine have in common with everyone else’s routine? No, it is not the mundane commute to work or the hassle of doing the dishes but rather it is the sense of security. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The main satisfaction most people receive from their daily routines is security. When we are enveloped within our everyday activities it acts as a form of shelter. Our worries and troubles are focused on deadlines for homework and we tend to feel a sense of contentment once all our emails are answered. </span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We need to lay down the shield known as our daily routines and face the truth. There are bigger deadlines that stretch way beyond the realm of work and school. Various events threaten our lives every day yet are shrouded by the safety of our ritualized lives. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do we ever think about global climate change during our commute to work? Do we see hydro fracking as a threat to when dinner will be on the table? As we sit down on the couch to tune into our favorite tv show do we begin to think about the depletion of valuable ecosystems such as in the arctic and the rainforest?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, we do not share these thoughts unless the hydro fracking is in our backyards or unless the food we put on our table for dinner becomes a hazard to our health. This is why we need to fill out days more with concerns about the degradation of our earth.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first way we can inflict change is through acknowledgment. We must acknowledge that although global climate change may not be apparent on our way to school tomorrow, it will become noticeable before we even know it. The next step is that we must incorporate our effort to aid the environment within our daily lives. If we ride a bike to work or spend a half an hour a day writing letters to politicians before we sit down to watch our tv show change can be made. Most importantly this change will be integrated within the safety of our routines and therefore will not pose a great threat to our regimens. If we integrate good deeds for the environment within our everyday lifestyle the change will be beneficial yet not an overwhelming task. We do not need to be radical treehuggers or hippies to influence change. We can take everything step by step and day by day. We can alter this planet for the better and yet still maintain a little of our safety net known as our “routines.”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tara Byrne</span></span></span></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-81234452153375288802012-11-16T08:32:00.002-08:002012-11-16T08:39:38.327-08:00The Lessons We Have Learned <br />
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When I first found
out that I had been accepted to the CELL Iceland program I was extremely
excited. However, that was quickly followed by a wave of nervousness and
doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew the majority of the
program would focus on environmental science and sustainably, both of which I
had never studied before. Hard sciences make me nervous and I couldn’t even
begin to tell you what sustainability meant. I was first interested in the
program when I saw I would look in depth at the Icelandic culture and study its
history. As an anthropology student, this was fascinating to me, but hearing
about all the science made me a little hesitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Another aspect
that made me a bit nervous was the possibility of all the new East coast people
in the program I was going to meet. I had had a bad experience on a previous
program with some East Coasters and was afraid I would have trouble fitting in
and making friends. This fear came to be non-existent when I finally met all
the lovely people who, over the next three months, would come to be my crazy,
funny, slightly odd, and extremely loving Icelandic family. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fear of the science appeared to be
silly as well. With my friends and teachers supporting me, I embraced the
challenging aspects of the class and opened my mind to the new ideas all around
me. I have learned about the challenges our world faces including
Hydro-Fracking, social rights issues, poor agricultural practices,
environmental exploitation, global warming, and the list goes on. However, we
have also learned a lot about how small groups and communities around the world
are joining together to try and solve many of these issues. We are learning a
lot about the bad in the world, but also coming away with knowledge of the good
things that are happening and how we can help.</div>
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CELL brought us
together with the common goal of learning more about our world, but in the end,
it taught us so much more than that. We have learned about communities and the
ties that bring people together. We have learned so much more about each other
and ourselves. We have formed a bond that, even after we part ways and even
after time passes, I don’t think any of us will forget. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
We have learned
that the future is in us and that we have the power to make great change
together. This is a lesson I will never forget and these are the people that
helped me learn it in a beautiful country I never thought I would find myself
in. So thank you guys for helping me along this crazy, beautiful journey and
for teaching me things I will never forget. I love all of you so, so much.<br />
Jordin Muller</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-33740923691738965322012-11-16T08:17:00.000-08:002012-11-16T08:17:42.953-08:00"A View of Solheimar: a Re-Imagining"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Day 72-</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s getting
colder. It’s getting darker. I wake up after seemingly hours and
hours of sleep to find out I don’t know whether it’s day or night. Eight hours go by, it’s still dark, two
more hours, getting lighter, and by mid day we find ourselves entrenched in
what barely passes as daylight. I
wake up hungry, but there is no time to feed. We have to meet.
So instead, we walk. We
make our way, through the dark, not knowing if we are going the right way. Most mornings are brisk and dark, but
we have no choice. Finally, we see
the building where we have to meet.
The people seem to appear from nowhere. No one knows why, but they do it every morning; even we
don’t know why we do it with them.
We hold the hands of people we barely know, they speak in a harsh,
otherworldly tongue, which we have no ability to understand, and at the end
they pass something off as singing.
The only piece that keeps us coming back is the opportunity to find out
what is for the mid-day feed. The
rest of the day seems to pass in less and less time. It is as though we are waiting for the darkness to return. Perhaps something is empowering about
the darkness, a false sense of freedom.
Today the darkness came even earlier, and we were simultaneously
shrouded in a veil of snow. The
beauty is the way this land of ice can be so tremendously terrifying and
remarkably gorgeous concurrently.
The chance of being suffocated by ash from an erupting volcano is ever
present, or perhaps being devoured by the lava itself; there is the
ever-existent feeling of being frozen in time by this land’s power, as though
we have no control. Yet day after
day, we overcome, and do it all again. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-8655265256001809392012-11-16T08:08:00.000-08:002012-11-16T08:09:35.787-08:00How have I grown?<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This semester has been a whirlwind and has really
flown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have grown as a person more
than I ever imagined that I would, and have so many wonderful people to thank
for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following is a collection of words and phrases that describes just
how I have grown, and what I have gained from not only my teachers and
classmates, but the people here in Solheimar who have taught me so much. So,
just what have I learned? How have I grown?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Icelandic- but not quite enough. The power of wind. Fears.
Courage. Invitation. Egil’s Saga. Places we call home. The chill of the air and
the warmth of geothermal power. Deforestation. Reforestation. Connection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Colors. Energy. Destruction.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Undersea cable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Impression. Inspiration. Beauty. Live in the present.
Nature. Fresh air. The grandeur of a summit. Secrets of simplicity. Ecological
footprint. Northern lights. Magic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Religion. Spirituality. Vastness. Barrier. Every little
thing’s gonna be alright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Critical thinking. Community. Comfort. Transformation.
Worries. Values. Generosity. Sustainability. Sadness and hurt. Hope.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hydropower. Turf houses. Pancakes and waffles- as a snack.
Sunrises. Sunsets. Darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sheep. Horses. Walks. Sympathy. Disappointment. Mountains.
Country. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Morning song. History. Sesselja. More Icelandic weather phrases than I thought I could learn. Cradle to cradle. Be good,
not just less bad. Biomimicry. Nature as a model. Nature as a measure. Nature
as a mentor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Workshops. Joy. Communication- even in the smallest ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Volcanoes. Waterfalls. Environmental amnesia. Education. New
knowledge. Hugs. Smiles. Passion. Kindness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recycling. Change. Relationship and responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The power of a party. The power of music. The power of kale.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gratitude circle. Ecovillage. Live with the rhythm of the
stars. The awe of a clear night and the gloom of a cloudy day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Knitting. Togetherness. European backpacking. Moss. Rivers.
Reality.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Giving. Receiving. Calling. Wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love.</span></u><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Margie</span>Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-66427162358807404172012-11-16T08:06:00.000-08:002012-11-16T08:19:15.794-08:00Lighting a Spark<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> Lighting a Spark</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">In the past couple
of weeks I have been able to really step back and think about people
and how they define themselves. I see that most have a certain
“drive” that help them find what is important to them. Each
person has a form of creativity that is the basis for their deep
thoughts and actions. I believe that anyone can relate their thoughts
through there creative doings. Something that really stood out to me
was our conversation with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #412412;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lárus,
who is the woodworking workshop and music therapy coordinator. During
our conversation, we talked a lot about art, a gateway in Lárus'
creative path. He emphasized his passion for paintings and music
especially. He then compared the two and explained what they both
mean to him. “Music is everything,” he explained. Music is
everywhere, art is everywhere, it is how we express ourselves.
Creativity. Spirit, soul, and body, Lárus explained is the basis
for anthroposophy, which he relates with music. “</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Anthroposophy
is a human oriented spiritual philosophy that reflects and speaks to
the basic deep spiritual questions of humanity, to our basic artistic
needs, to the need to relate to the world out of a scientific
attitude of mind, and to the need to develop a relation to the world
in complete freedom and based on completely individual judgments and
decisions.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #412412;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">”
It appears to me that art is a universal practice by all, everyone
creates and expresses creativity one way or another. Weather you are
a mechanic working on cars or a insurance agent taking claims, you
find your own way to create. Lárus has music which is able to
capture what he believes is his spirit, soul, and body. He plays
with passion, he plays what he wants, what is natural to him
(spirit), he is able to feel music as a way of life, teaching, and
learning (soul), and he is obviously engaged in physically connecting
it all and playing the instrument (body). The spark is lit. Lárus
can relate music to just about anything. It is all connected,
everything. His spirit and soul is not just from the tune that comes
from within him, it is with the trees that provided the instrument,
the water that provided the tree, and the earth as a whole, which
provides a base for all living beings. This is where his spirit, soul
and body lie.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #412412;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #412412;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #412412;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">- Ben Palladino</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-81672592622860987142012-11-16T08:01:00.001-08:002012-11-16T08:52:40.389-08:00Beauty of the Trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The most beautiful things that have ever happened to me in
Iceland was not the tranquil sunrise by the river; it was not the cold-to-the-bones
glacial rivers that I have crossed; it was not the quietude sitting by the
window, looking at flakes of snow kissing the passersby, and reading a book in
my hand; it was not even the moment when northern light, green as the fairy’s
wings, dancing in the sky and pouring down onto my cheeks. It was none of the
beautiful sceneries I have seen along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The most beautiful things are those who accompanied us, those
who taught us, those who showed us what is this place that we are in, what Iceland
is, what its people are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a tribute to those in this trip. Remember every laughter
we had, and every tear we shed, every mile we traveled, because in the end,
those are the things that matter the most and that could never come back. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Margret</div>
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Connor</div>
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Yuan</div>
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Jordin</div>
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Pall</div>
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Rosa</div>
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Karin</div>
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Tim</div>
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Margie</div>
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Curator of the Restoration Museum</div>
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Old Fisherman</div>
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Hank</div>
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Herdis</div>
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Alicia</div>
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Bob</div>
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Tara</div>
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Shelby</div>
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Kristin</div>
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Hannis</div>
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Ben</div>
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Steph</div>
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Old Volcanologist</div>
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Anar</div>
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Herdis and Anar's Daughters</div>
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Hodor</div>
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Restoration Director of Geothermal Company</div>
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PR of Geothermal Company</div>
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Recycling Worker</div>
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Andri Snær Magnason</div>
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The Priest</div>
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Andrew Alan Smith-Esquire</div>
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[MISSING]</div>
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Noga (who refuses to have her picture to be taken)</div>
<br />Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-37738844880719898932012-11-16T07:56:00.003-08:002012-11-16T07:56:50.359-08:00i am here<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">I have trouble pinpointing what exactly holds this community together. Sesselja comes up pretty often in conversation. She was Sólheimar’s founder and matriarch, and is remembered fondly by most (she died in the 80s, I think). According to Erla, who teaches Eurhythmy, Sesselja lived with the rhythm of the stars, and stirred soup (which was cooked directly in the hot spring) with love and a wooden spoon. During her life, she was undoubtedly the center of this place, and yet it holds together quite well in her absence. Erla explained Sólheimar’s continued success by telling us that spirit lives everywhere – it’s not just one person who holds it; it’s all of us. It’s a strange feeling to be hit in the face with something you already know. But somehow this idea – that spirit is in all of us – at that moment was important for me to hear. Being a member of a community is an enormous responsibility; it is a job that continues even while you are sleeping. My mood, my body language, my level of interaction, my presence or absence at any given moment – it all has an effect on the space I inhabit, and those I share it with. We are social beings, with emotions much more interconnected than we usually care to acknowledge. I forget sometimes that silence does not make me invisible, that it is impossible to be only an observer. Even as a transient presence here, I am a part of Sólheimar. We are all responsible for the health of the social space we create and inhabit together. And if I fail to nurture myself (in mind, body, and heart), I am doing nothing short of robbing this community.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">Shelby</span>Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-24313135537444843272012-11-16T07:48:00.000-08:002012-11-16T07:48:06.421-08:00The story of garbage<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 1:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vU4i1eNuP9k/UKZZRV3oQhI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ejhChf5nKvU/s1600/DSC09826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vU4i1eNuP9k/UKZZRV3oQhI/AAAAAAAAAQg/ejhChf5nKvU/s320/DSC09826.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Before we stepped into
the station of the recycling company in Iceland, we saw a group of birds gliding
in the sky. They changed directions all at once, creating pretty patterns
collaboratively in the smelly air with a background of giant cubic containers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we stood in such broken and
industrial landscape, I was amazed by the bird dance in the drizzle of that
day. This place is the home for those birds. They are the guardians of trash. I
keep thinking that the things they guard deserve a better name then “trash”.
However, it seems no one really cares the “useless” stuff that have been dumped
away.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 2</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlPtD6_0p_0/UKZZoJ77jYI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Rvi_Wc6MXBY/s1600/DSC09833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlPtD6_0p_0/UKZZoJ77jYI/AAAAAAAAAQo/Rvi_Wc6MXBY/s320/DSC09833.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">This is one of the
major recycling companies in Iceland, located 20 miles away from the capital
Reykjavik. We learn that after recycling products were collected from
recycling bins, they would be sorted, packed up in such recycling station and
sold out oversea to the country such like Netherland or Norway. There is a global
market for processing recycling products. Following the footprints of these
usable trashes along the shipment and process, one might find out that the trip
ends in a country such as China or India. Actually that is not the whole story,
when new products are produced in China or India after using the processed
recycling materials, they can be sold back to Iceland again. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 3</span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkUVQ8uqdHw/UKZaBKkACBI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/C8oicSHBE6Q/s1600/DSC09834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkUVQ8uqdHw/UKZaBKkACBI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/C8oicSHBE6Q/s320/DSC09834.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To some extent, it sounds pretty sustainable
when people use recyclable materials in production. However, the quality of processed
recyclable materials, health issues with adding chemicals to bleach paper or
re-boil the plastic and labeling of products made of recycling materials are
questionable. Secrets are hiding in recycling products processing. However it
is not ordinary people’s responsibility to care about this last sector of
production. But to retain the value of usable materials in trashes and use them
as raw materials in production, it is our concern to ensure the quality of
recycling products if we treat those as the raw materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One important note people need to keep in
mind is to clean the recyclable products before dumping it into a recycling
bin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, it will discredit the
value of recycling products. The worst of all, recycling products will be transported
to landfill when they are considered to be contaminated. </span><br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 4</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSTZU8bY3F0/UKZaQ7PLPyI/AAAAAAAAARA/rG2WF9oFiU8/s1600/DSC09842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSTZU8bY3F0/UKZaQ7PLPyI/AAAAAAAAARA/rG2WF9oFiU8/s320/DSC09842.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Different recycling
products including paper (office paper and household paper), plastic (dairy
product plastic, plastic bags, others), timber, battery, metals are being
separated in different blocks. It is really confusing to figure out how the
manager categorizes recycling products. Last year this company sent out 8000
tons of recycling products and 4000 tons were cardboard.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dxWfFcUBZI/UKZa0pWjQbI/AAAAAAAAARY/wcALN69KxFA/s1600/DSC09848.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dxWfFcUBZI/UKZa0pWjQbI/AAAAAAAAARY/wcALN69KxFA/s320/DSC09848.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxv1NO15u_w/UKZagAPpW2I/AAAAAAAAARI/0aJ_G1idmCI/s1600/DSC09846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxv1NO15u_w/UKZagAPpW2I/AAAAAAAAARI/0aJ_G1idmCI/s320/DSC09846.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 5</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">There are the
plastic tubes for coca cola bottle before they are blew up. They were sent to
recycling company because they are defective products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZdIAJDuYCk/UKZbp1mwJjI/AAAAAAAAASI/BOtel6pjToo/s1600/DSC09864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZdIAJDuYCk/UKZbp1mwJjI/AAAAAAAAASI/BOtel6pjToo/s320/DSC09864.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 6</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">People sent a cart
of brand new metal paper with wrong prints to the recycling station. The
manager plan to grind those paper and find a market to sell them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDjLK2oA1DE/UKZbRYy6GrI/AAAAAAAAARs/d96G7O5ayCQ/s1600/DSC09859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDjLK2oA1DE/UKZbRYy6GrI/AAAAAAAAARs/d96G7O5ayCQ/s320/DSC09859.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 7</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Caption 8</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Household wastes
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<br />Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-81540815188703224522012-11-16T07:29:00.001-08:002012-11-16T07:29:17.164-08:00Influential Songs<br />
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The other day we did an activity that I found especially fun and interesting. We were instructed to come up with a song or spoken word piece that instills a “feeling of connection to the natural world or connects you to social or environmental issues.” As a class, we were excited for this project because it would open our minds to difference means of inspiration and it would introduce us to each other’s musical interests, which tell a lot about a person and are often different than expected. On the day that we presented our songs to the group, we sat together in the sun room and listened to beautiful and inspirational songs or pieces. Because it was one of our favorite activities, I decided to jot down everyone’s songs and reasons for choosing them so I can compile them into one easily accessible place. I highly recommend checking out some, if not all of them! Here it goes…</div>
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Jordin: Same Love by Macklemore <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0</a> Macklemore focuses on the importance of gay and social rights in our modern world. He challenges the hip hop community and dictates what’s okay to say.</div>
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Michael: Jesus Of Suburbia by Green Day <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKPYhXmzoE" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKPYhXmzoE"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKPYhXmzoE" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKPYhXmzoE</a> Green Day wrote this song about the amount of pressure put on our kids and teenagers nowadays. They sing about how difficulty in expressing themselves results in other forms of expression, which are frowned upon by society.</div>
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Drew: In Our Talons by Bowerbirds <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC7Jo69XH-Y" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC7Jo69XH-Y"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC7Jo69XH-Y" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC7Jo69XH-Y</a> In Our Talons is an environmentally themed song that shows how people have the power and ability to destroy the beauty of nature through their actions. By focusing on a few different creatures within nature, the Bowerbirds told a story about how each of them were, inevitably, doomed by the harm, pollution, and destruction of humans. </div>
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Ben: For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY</a> For What It’s Worth debuted during the Vietnam war when other bands were singing about similar topics, but not as upfront as Buffalo Springfield. This song urged people to open their eyes to see what was really happening in the world during this time period.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Yuan: Wine Songs/Original Ecology Folk Songs <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnT-HExxPVY" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnT-HExxPVY"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnT-HExxPVY" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnT-HExxPVY</a> This folk song does an excellent job of conveying local chinese culture and the beauty of surrounding areas. The song mimics the sounds of animals and nature through special instruments made in villages near Mongolia. The combination of sounds and video clips shows how much happiness is gained through singing songs in nature and how important recognizing that “today is a good day.”</div>
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Noga: Build A Home by The Cinematic Orchestra Feat. Patrick Watson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjc59FgUpg" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjc59FgUpg"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjc59FgUpg" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjc59FgUpg</a> This song was written to convey the importance of feeling emotionally attached and invested in a place. To reiterate the meaning, it tells a story of creating something beautiful only to have it destroyed in later years.</div>
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Margie: Shostakovich 8th Quartet <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvTTfbpWjY" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvTTfbpWjY"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvTTfbpWjY" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvTTfbpWjY</a> This quartet was originally written as a self-loathing piece after Shostakovich joined the Communist party. After some years, he dedicated this piece to the victims of fascism and war because it portrayed the sorrow of war and hatred towards others. The lack of words within this piece amplifies its inherent meaning.</div>
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Hank: Hieroglyphic Stairway by Drew Dellinger <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW63UUthwSg" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW63UUthwSg"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW63UUthwSg" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW63UUthwSg</a> Spoken word, in general, relates directly to the heart and brings the topics to life. However, while spoken word is very powerful, it is only a piece. More people must listen and take this inspiration out into their daily lives. The spoken word piece performed by Drew Dellinger talks about the future of our planet and the importance of correcting the issues our environment is faced with.</div>
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Shelby: A Change Is Gonna Come by Ben Sollee <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk97KgC_XMw" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk97KgC_XMw"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk97KgC_XMw" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk97KgC_XMw</a> While most most socially or environmentally focused songs can be sad or discouraged, A Change Is Gonna Come is much more inspirational and hopeful. It focuses on how spreading a message of hope is just as important as spreading a message that something is wrong in the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Tim: We Are Winning by Flobots <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woqm8tlEa3w" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woqm8tlEa3w"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woqm8tlEa3w" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woqm8tlEa3w</a> The Flobots is a group that sings primarily about the social issues of our world. This song in particular focuses on the importance of informing ourselves because it is the only way that change will occur. Expressing concern about these issues is the first step of progress towards solving them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Connor: Lou’s Song Feat. Micah Lother by Jason Upton And The Goodland Band <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5vGLl7Q1uE" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5vGLl7Q1uE"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5vGLl7Q1uE" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5vGLl7Q1uE</a> Lou’s Song focuses on life, death, and connection with people because it is written as a conversation between a troubled young man and his father figure who is dying of cancer. This songs shows how, above everything, connection is the most important thing in the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Alicia: First Writing Since by Suheir Hammad <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fhWX2F6G7Y" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fhWX2F6G7Y"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fhWX2F6G7Y" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fhWX2F6G7Y</a> This spoken word piece is centered around the societal aftermath of 9/11 and opens your eyes to the experiences of other cultures. By listening to each other’s experiences, spoken word pieces can be fantastic educational tools.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Margaret: Metal And Wood by Tyrone Wells <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKK5rUAyFPI" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKK5rUAyFPI"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKK5rUAyFPI" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKK5rUAyFPI</a> In this song, Tyrone Wells reflects upon the personal feeling that the world isn’t necessarily as beautiful or amazing as we thought. He mentions numerous environmental and social issues, which shows that the outcome of the world’s wellbeing depends on us.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; text-align: justify;">
Me: Stand Up by Flobots <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdF-YkECTVc" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdF-YkECTVc"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdF-YkECTVc" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdF-YkECTVc</a> Stand Up touches upon a wide range of social issues. Through their song, the Flotbots are challenging us to defend what is right and follow a dream of making a difference.</div>
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Karin: We Shall Overcome by Martin Luther King Jr. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJoWrLQWrEc" style="color: #444444; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJoWrLQWrEc"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJoWrLQWrEc" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; outline: none 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJoWrLQWrEc</a> This famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. has had widespread use throughout the decades, such as a gospel song or means of protest. It has united groups through difficult times and continues to serve as a powerful piece.</div>
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Tara: Time After Time (To Wear Sunscreen) by Tara Morris (We were unable to find a link for this song or piece.) This piece is actually an excerpt from a graduation speech. It provides a wide range of meaningful advice geared towards young adults in their life.</div>
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While the majority of us found it difficult to narrow down our list of songs and choose just one song that we found to be meaningful, it was a great activity and opened my eyes to the social and environmental meanings behind a lot of our music.</div>
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- Steph Krail</div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-29785508940038674382012-11-16T07:22:00.003-08:002012-11-16T07:26:59.740-08:00Untitled<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All alone on this sad little rock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fighting the war that’s always been fought</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shivering cold, frost and darkness out there</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fill my head and heart with despair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People seem cruel, twisted looks on their faces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Greed sneaks into the tinniest spaces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Uncertainty reigns, confusion cultivated</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ensuring that individuals can be manipulated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I want to scream, but I’m still alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trying to shove titan kings from their thrones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When hope is gone and all seems lost</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Warmth from another’s hand melts the frost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grasping me tight to pull me back from the brink</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back into hazy light, my human link<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no escape from power and corruption</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No matter where I go, I will find and cause destruction</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perfection is a fantasy; we’ll never fix it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes I’m empowered, while other times I stall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But just like choirs with staggered breaths</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all take turns feeling depressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes it’s your turn, sometimes it’s mine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as one body still higher we climb</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fighting the war that’s always been fought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seeking justice and balance where it ought to be sought</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How beautiful to be part of this community</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To lean on each other when trampled by insecurity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To remember that though sometimes we feel alone</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That the world just sucks and all our endeavors are blown,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A warm hand toward us will always reach out </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leading us back into light, giving hope, blinding doubt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*Inspired by the passion and tears of my classmates</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Alicia</span></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-81086538541965695522012-11-15T16:17:00.000-08:002012-11-15T16:19:08.032-08:00Huston, we have a problem<style type="text/css">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9JvJYmJnK1g/UKWEl-m0y-I/AAAAAAAAAQM/uM0i9AszYoM/s1600/earthrise+big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-9JvJYmJnK1g/UKWEl-m0y-I/AAAAAAAAAQM/uM0i9AszYoM/s1600/earthrise+big.jpg" width="400" /></a>One tiny blue world, one out of
trillions of orbs spiraling about in the universe, one. 150,000,000
(km<sup>2</sup>) (15 billion hectares) is an estimate of the total
land surface area of Earth, 45 million are good for farming, 105
million are covered by snow, mountains, are too dry for piratical
agriculture, or simply do not have topsoil. 40 million of all of
that, the total, are forested, 9.8 billion acres, probably more if it
were not for deforestation. About 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers
(km<sup>3</sup>) of water in total, 3,475,000 of that is fresh water
with almost 70% of that locked away in ice. 8.7 million species,
estimated, of all living things excluding the countless
micro-organisms, an estimate because we probably have not studied or
are unaware of 80-90% of the total species. A little bit over 7
billion humans. That totals roughly more than half a hectare of
forest per person in their 2.14 hectares of land, most of which isn't
practically habitable or productive, <span style="font-weight: normal;">131,142,668
gallons of fresh water</span>, most of which cant be used, and one
other species per 100 persons even with the mass extinction we are in
currently. Big numbers aren't they? Big, rough, numbers here equally
distributed amongst everybody equally. But that isn't how the world
works, and that is only for the current here and now population. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(tangent alert)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Figure that most of the fresh water is in some way contaminated,
either naturally from minerals, or from out pollution, organic and in
organic, at least a billion people don't have “clean water”.
Clean water is a strange concept, in developed countries clean water
is filled with chemicals, countless chemicals, hundreds that do not
have to be recored or reported in the case of municipal water
supplies. Not that we could ever have totally pure and distilled
water, but “clean water” isn't all that clean, and most of those
chemicals have long lives, all the while shortening ours. Consider
this, you can pollute waters and just bury them in some old oil well,
inject them into the skin of the earth, and the total effect that has
on our world water supply is slightly diminished because the water
cycles take water from the oceans to the mountains to the watersheds
and if not all of it makes it back to the ocean it is none the wiser,
for a while. Still then we are left with toxic brews going who knows
where, changing in ways we cant monitor. We are still left with this
water and one day we will want it, and it will likely still be just
as toxic. Tis water will seep into qualifiers, and up into surface
waters, some its contaminates will precipitate into silt and clays
and rocks, going somewhere yes, but still there, yes still here. When
the plans grow there they will take some of those compounds up, and
whether for our direct food source or not they can still make it onto
the dinner plate through cycles growth and decomposition, spreading
with the waters in floods and the natural geological shifts, the wind
and food chains. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now remember you and your close friends and family
have one entire species that is sharing all of that with you, its a
tight squeeze isnt it? Now is it fair for them to suffer your
pollution? Do I need to mention future human and non-human
generations? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have considered running away to some
distant mountain forest, or Iceland, where I could live simply away from the
effects of humans, but its too late for that, the acid rains make
their way to every distant peak, the effects of the warming cycles
are changing the fragile, once stable, environments, in some
instances killing them off completely. There is no way that I could
escape the effects, there is no place to go to that is untouched. The
message is that there is no escaping this for anybody, the damages
will be dealt directly or deceptively, you may not even fathom the
connectedness of why you are sick is related to the hydraulic
fracturing, fracking, a few states over. The message is we only have
one, and all of our actions affect very limited resources, and every
action has a reaction, for us, or to someone else in some other time.
Actions are like drops of water filling a basin, eventually it
overflows if the water doesn't stop.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We can debate if it is the governments
responsibility, or the corporations and businesses, the individuals,
the education system, or cultures responsibility to effect change and
set the precedent, some say it needs to be big, it needs to be
technology, it needs to be revolutionary, and while those can all be
important, it also does truly matter that the small things happen, or in some cases dont happen. While they seem minuscule like dust
compared to a star, a star is only because of dust, and time. The
problems we have are all because of small steps taken throughout
history intermingled with technology and policy, cultural shifts and
what education teaches us, most importantly though it all happened
because of personal shifts and individual actions spanning centuries.
I can easily find it disheartening that what I am doing
doesn't have tangible instant results now, and there may not be any
during my life time, but I still change anyway because I am a human,
capable of thinking about the future, I have empathy for the present
living beings and the ones yet to come, I can understand the our
actions now affect our survival rates of the future. We can choose to
overflow the basin or create a star.<br />
<br />
Waldo </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-79621194434122734452012-10-29T05:56:00.001-07:002012-10-29T05:57:27.739-07:00The Grand Atlantic <!--[if !mso]>
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I have lived all
my life near the Pacific Ocean. I spent many of my childhood days playing in
the muddy banks of the Puget Sound and I would take any opportunity I could to
make the long drive to the coastline. Some of my favorite days are spent on the
beach climbing on the rocks and just sitting and staring at the waves. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
I have always felt
a strong connection to the ocean and this trip to Iceland is my first time in
memory getting to see the mighty Atlantic. For some people this may not be a
big deal but for me it is amazing to see another entire ocean. I feel an
awesome sense of smallness but also comfort when looking at this cold, vast,
seemingly endless ocean. I also feel a primal urge to explore when looking out
at the waves. I find myself looking into every nook and cranny of the rocks and
climbing on the huge lava cliffs to as high as I dare so I can get a better
view of the waves. The coastline becomes a wonderland to me without me even
realizing it. I better understand the Vikings and their never ending need to
explore. The feeling the ocean gives you is like a calling. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgAuatx52v4/UI58n6r1L0I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ZOnRcoeDsxQ/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgAuatx52v4/UI58n6r1L0I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ZOnRcoeDsxQ/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As similar as the
two oceans are, my familiar Pacific and my new friend the Atlantic, I can’t
help but feel a distinct personality difference in them. It’s not that one is
more powerful or vast than the other. It feels much deeper than that. It’s a
feeling that I can’t put my finger on but I think it is one everyone who has a
relationship with the Oceans feels. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
For all of us here
on this trip, I think I can say that each of us, on some different level, has
had a great experience with the Ocean and the beaches. I think the most
memorable, though, for many of us was the chance to see wild whales hunting
right off the beach. The wild Orcas were breathtaking and magical to see. We
all gathered on a cliff yelling in excitement and wonder at the sight of these
huge beautiful creatures. We don’t really know what it was about the whales
that seemed to bring us all together on such an unseen and very emotional level
but I think we all felt it in those minutes of watching the whales. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vS5dzNcmRVk/UI587lJ53JI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LD8yli4JdFc/s1600/IMG_1071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vS5dzNcmRVk/UI587lJ53JI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LD8yli4JdFc/s320/IMG_1071.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“G”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-indent: .5in;">
~Jordin
Muller </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-79244955451549306352012-10-29T04:51:00.001-07:002012-10-29T07:12:21.722-07:00We Sustain One Another <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Throughout this program we have been studying the importance of sustainable communities. Communities, in which a body of people live together in one location, is essential to sustainability. When humans live together they tend to have a lesser carbon footprint upon the earth. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Members of communities share common resources and space in one centralized area. There are many benefits to living within close quarters. A local businessman who lives within a community does not need to outsource if there is an able work force amongst his or her neighbors. If a family’s lights go out in a storm they can receive help from a neighbor with a generator. Neighbors can walk to one another’s homes instead of driving to visit one another. If members of the same area need to travel long distances they can carpool. If a neighbor is ill and is all alone a friendly neighbor from across the street can provide company.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are dozens of benefits to living within a community. Throughout my stay here in Soheimar I have been surrounded by a wonderful community of students. The kindness of these fellow students in a way is a type of sustainability. My fellow peers sustain my hope when I feel hopeless. These people have come to aid me in time of need. The kindness of my fellow students, may not directly help me reduce my carbon footprint, but indirectly give me the push I need to continue my work as I further learn how to be sustainable.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The positive traits, personalities and actions of these fifteen people have </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">sustained </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">me thus far...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Noga: The vast knowledge Noga has about all energy resources, especially oil, never ceases to amaze me. I admire her determination to become an expert in a field that can, at times, be distressing.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Margie: Margie’s clear empathy towards animals and all that is living is very commendable. She has a never ending heart open towards helping all people and animals.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Connor: The passion Connor exudes for geology is truly remarkable. This focus inspires me and reassures me that there is a niche for everyone on this planet you simply have to find it. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ben: One day when I was upset Ben went out of his way to comfort me. A person who takes the time to help you in time of need is the main trait in a great neighbor and a great friend.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shelby: Shelby’s constant analyzation of all of her surroundings is a quality of great importance. She has a unwavering moral compass and knows the difference between right and wrong all of the time. She should be admired by all.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Michael: Michael is the neighbor who will never let you fall. On all our hikes throughout Iceland every time I was descending from a steep ledge Michael’s hand was always there to assist me.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Drew: Drew radiates confidence and happiness. His good natured personality is contagious. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tim: Tim is the neighbor down the street who is reliable and willing to help at moment’s notice. He is selfless and will put aside all of his time to do a favor for someone else.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Margaret: Margaret is one of the most trustworthy people you will ever meet. She has a fun loving personality but at the same never fails to notice when another person is in need. She is truly a great friend.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jordin: Jordin’s laughter sustains all of us. She is compassionate and does not fail to ask you how your day was. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Alicia: Alicia is a sponge for knowledge. She can never take in enough wisdom. Her desire to always want to become better is an example to us all.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yuan: Yuan amazes me more and more every day. Her profound thoughts make you step back and reevaluate yourself. She is a deep thinker who at a very young age already has an abundance of wisdom.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Steph: Steph emits a beautiful calmness. She is always steady and dependable. She is a wonderful listener and is an idol for everyone.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hank: Hank is a revolutionary person who operates unlike anyone else. He has a connectedness to the land that is incredible. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Karin: Karin’s quirkiness intertwined with her compassion makes her unique. She will first listen to you and then make you smile through her smile. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In conclusion, I have learned that a healthy environment is as sustainable as healthy people. We must make an effort to surround ourselves by wonderful people first before we create a wonderful earth. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CzkjrC6v4c/UI5qPUrp11I/AAAAAAAAAPY/admV8Lqjg7s/s1600/DSC02103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CzkjrC6v4c/UI5qPUrp11I/AAAAAAAAAPY/admV8Lqjg7s/s320/DSC02103.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"G"</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tara Byrne</span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-55490831342262604282012-10-29T04:36:00.002-07:002012-10-29T04:37:23.292-07:00Mornings by the River <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Mornings
by the River<o:p></o:p></div>
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I
would call the place the River. It is a place about 20 to 30 minute-walk away
from Solheimar. After you left the front entrance of Solheimar, you would start
walking on a sandy path next to the road. There would always be horseshoe marks
on that path. If it is early in the morning, the frost would still keep the
ground hard and you could see all the trial marks left on the day before. After
you see the road makes a broad turn to the left, and tree line starts to
emerge, you would soon see a rather inconspicuous green iron gate, which would
lead you to the path to the River. It is always a good idea to keep the gate
closed by lowering the iron bar on top, just in case any sheep would want to
take a look at the world out there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-braaAEQNSAI/UI5lhzwSHJI/AAAAAAAAAOM/EVCfT20aaeQ/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-braaAEQNSAI/UI5lhzwSHJI/AAAAAAAAAOM/EVCfT20aaeQ/s320/IMG_1151.jpg" width="235" /></a> That
path, what I would call the River Path, is rather straight. It has two parallel
trials that are separated by a grass line less than a foot wide. If it rained
the day before, the trials would be rather wet, especially when there is dew
dangling on the meadows surrounded the trials. When that happens, it would be a
good idea to walk on the grass in the middle. There are also a lot of trees on
the sides of the trials. They are rather dense at the beginning of the trial.
As you walk on, trees would get sparser and sparser, and they would finally
disappear as being replaced by endless meadows and moss. When that happens, you
would encounter another gate, exactly the same as the one at the entrance,
signifying your exit of the property. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From
then on, you would need to rely on waterproof boots and discerning eyes. There
would be a lot of hidden creeks buried under the meadows. One wrong step would
lead to a total suck-in of your feet. Of course you will be able to drag your
feet out when that happens, but only at the expense of getting all muddy. When
it is cold, however, and sun rises rather late in the morning, such as late
October, it could be your lucky day. Water would be frozen before the sun
rises, and it would still be really bright for you to walk and find your way.
When that happens, all you need to do is to pretend you are walking on grassland,
only with cracking sound of ice for every step you make.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By
that point, you would already see the river, vast and majestic. If the sun has
yet made its appearance, the water would look rather tranquil, without the
exciting reflection of light. But, the sun would mark its place by spreading
colors on the clouds and mountains and meadows. He is indeed a brilliant
artist, with mixing colors that are even inadequate for language. Not far in
the east, where the mountain across the River lies, would be on the rather
bright orange/red spectrum. The closer to the sun, the brighter it would be,
but even the place with most light would still be rather gentle and soft when compared
with the sun itself. If you turn your head gradually to the north and to the
east, you will see the gentlest transition of color. The west is filled with the
coldness of dark blue and grey, while the east is diffused with the warmth of
orange and red. If my eyes could be further apart, I may be able to experience
both at the same time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HyuoiKeDv-s/UI5kVSQD2XI/AAAAAAAAANg/tY4nTkvPkhM/s1600/IMG_1087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HyuoiKeDv-s/UI5kVSQD2XI/AAAAAAAAANg/tY4nTkvPkhM/s320/IMG_1087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvmFdRyGk5g/UI5k9htU82I/AAAAAAAAANw/DKrlVwhJul8/s1600/IMG_1145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvmFdRyGk5g/UI5k9htU82I/AAAAAAAAANw/DKrlVwhJul8/s320/IMG_1145.jpg" width="239" /></a> Finally,
you would reach the bank of the river. Stepping on the black volcanic sand,
walking by the water, seeing the water shining like fish’s scales, listening to
the creek merging into the big river, smelling the light touch of moisture. The
feelings of moments like that only belong to the moments, and the moments
alone. No words could be sufficient to describe those feelings, and neither
could one completely comprehend such feelings from another person.</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Cons<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COjKGqds7c4/UI5l1S5_fhI/AAAAAAAAAOo/3TnehMyIj-Q/s1600/DSC03262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COjKGqds7c4/UI5l1S5_fhI/AAAAAAAAAOo/3TnehMyIj-Q/s320/DSC03262.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. "G"<span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-47240735536548406872012-10-29T04:32:00.002-07:002012-10-29T04:35:37.040-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Change</span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Small change
happening on daily basis doesn't make me feel much about changing. But after a
period of time it becomes sensible and even striking to realize how much I’ve
changed in Iceland with such a group of awesome people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Infusing in a community
is hard for me in many senses mainly because my Chinese background and mind set
nurtured by that culture. With two years education in the US, I didn't adapt
well in blending into American culture. Rather I found a floating identity with
such study-aboard experience that re-shaping my value as a global citizen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I practiced language and communicational
skills to find a way to express myself in daily dialogue. However, it hasn’t been
working well until here I come to Iceland. In the past, as an outsider and one
of the minority back to my school, it was hard to share my thoughts with people
out of the classroom because of different social and value system. I used to attribute
that communication gap to culture differences that are difficult to overcome.
Now I think it is not true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Time and space have
significant impact on people’s way of thinking. Living in a communal space with
a group of American students to share ideas very often, my feeling has changed
so much. I feel I am much more an insider even though culture barriers still exist.
We are a community because people tend to accept the difference instead of
escaping or ignoring it no matter how different they are. And importantly, such
acceptance goes beyond culture. If I imagine everyone as a cultural entity with
different background and habits, then CELL group will be like United Nation
that facilitates global changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">To figure out that
change of feeling between my experience in America and that in Iceland, I think
Iceland certainly provides a distinctive environment for people to jump out of
their previous lives and learn to be more open towards surrounding people. For
me, Iceland is special because people live much more humbly and resiliently
facing the harsh natural conditions. And people here incorporate that humbleness
and resilience into a simple lifestyle, which offers them more time to
communicate with each other and to feel respects by listening to each other. Influenced
by this social atmosphere, I feel no pressure when I talk to people in whatever
the language is. People are patient about me when I encountered problems in my
articulation. And sometimes a conversation can develop in depth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Therefore, I feel
so grateful that I am here to learn and experience this magic place with such a
wonderful group and a program. I like to slow my path down just to know more
about life and people around me at present time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I want to bring this feeling with me no
matter where I go in the future. As long as I am spending time to communicate
with people, I believe words retain its power to be heard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">by Yuan Zhuang</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Here is one of my good friends ! "G"</span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYLhMM5PAk8/UI5pOvEIZXI/AAAAAAAAAPM/9R1NYDJYgOo/s1600/DSC01742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYLhMM5PAk8/UI5pOvEIZXI/AAAAAAAAAPM/9R1NYDJYgOo/s320/DSC01742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-39904865142665009992012-10-29T04:28:00.004-07:002012-11-02T16:48:58.804-07:00More is less, less is still less, and sometimes less is more, and more is more.<style type="text/css">
<!--
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Usually more has always been better,
more money, more stuff, more food, more items for cheaper, more
buildings on campus for more students getting more educated, more
cars and roads for them cars to be going more places, and more houses
for those cars and more lights for those houses, and more
power-plants and water plants for it all, and more mines and wells
for those raw resources and energy. But what does it really mean to
have more, in one very real way it means someone, something, or
somewhere has less. Its business as usual isnt it? Yes, business as
we know it, and fair is it? You, we, them and they all pay for these
things dont we? Well of course we do! A fair price though? Thats
becoming harder to actually know, a fair price for the labor, the
other resources used, transportation, processing, marketing,
developing, all bundled up into “the product” and very often the
price excludes a very serious value, a very serious deficit, an error
of the economics.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The price of the health care costs
these products incur is one that can be monetarily measured, but only
to a degree, what about the trauma, grief and angst from watching
loved ones and strangers alike succumb to cancers and illnesses the
like of which we didnt know about only a century ago, or atleast ones
which weren't on the forefront of the battles of staying healthy.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The price of pollution. Pollution, its
not just chemical, but light, noise, aesthetic, and to some
spiritual. None of us have to be astronomers to adore and wonder
about the stars on a dark nite. None of us audiophiles to appreciate
the clear crisp sounds of nature, or meditating monks to seek the
silence. Nor landscape photographers, backpacker extraordinar's, or
wilderness survivalists to revel in amazement at vast expanses of
untamed and untouched lands. You do not have to be a
transcendentalist or a vision-questing sojourner to feel something
unknowable and immense flowing in the forests, circulating in
canyons, whispering in the winds, and ongoing in the oceans. You just
have to be a living being, a human with eyes and ears open. Pollution
is the fundamental cause of every illness in some way shape or form,
biological or chemical, its all chemistry in the end. How exactly
would one measure the price of pollution? And how would you allocate
the alimony out to those affected? You can pay a land owner for the
materials in his land, but when you disperse pollutants to the winds
and waters how do you pay those affected, persons living feet to
fortnights away from the point source polluter, for the unwanted
collateral chemicals, for the view now gone, the wildlife now absent,
the sacredness that has been scarred? We live with a constitution of
'correlation is not causation' and its no concern for the companies
if your conscience concludes that chemical contaminates from these
corporations and conglomerates cause you harm, you simply cannot
charge them for their carcinogens and cohorts of compounds that
conspire to corrupt your cells. Aesthetic and intrinsic vales are not
measurable in any definitive way, they do not work with the
equations, this pollution cannot be compensated. So here you have
more and you also have more, more of what you want and more of what
you dont want, more of what makes you feel happier or better, and
more of what can cause you grievous physical and emotional harm.
Whats advancing technology worth is it comes at the cost of causing
more sicknesses? Will technology really be able to leapfrog over its
self to fix its past and present downfalls without creating more for
the future? So here you see you have more of the things you want and
things you dont want, as well as having less of some things you may
want, of things you may appreciate, like forests, and open
coastlines, and wild salmon, and clean air, and clean water, and
escapes from society. I cannot speak for everybody, I cant imagine
that everybody consciously wants these things, but I also cannot
imagine that not everybody does not appreciate these things on some
fundamental level. Even the polluters after having damaged and
degraded one environment secure sanctuaries in others more pristine,
they buy ranches one could spend days traveling across, or alpine
cabins in remote undeveloped areas. Why? To get away from the
pollution, the light and noise and dirty cities, to get away from
phones and persons to have some time alone in wonderment of the
world. Thought they may never admit it in that way.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When we take more now it leaves us less
for later. The short term gains of clear cutting a forest means more
money now, and less forest now, the long term effects mean more
erosion and less life supporting land here, but rather dumped into
the sea somewhere, it means less water retention for year round water
supplies, and less of the natural filter that makes our water clean,
it means less habitat for life of all sorts, it means a less liveable
landscape for the future, and more money being spent to find remedies
for these problems and soon you find all your capital from the clear
cutting gone to attempting to amend its downfalls, so fewer forests
means less money, and more man made fixes that aren't as aesthetic as
a forest, and operating at a cost unbelievably unsustainable.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvK9ALtqxp4/UI5n4-a-nyI/AAAAAAAAAPE/aVPb7VYixeY/s1600/IMGP9427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvK9ALtqxp4/UI5n4-a-nyI/AAAAAAAAAPE/aVPb7VYixeY/s640/IMGP9427.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"G"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So I entertain that less is more. Less
impact lives that take fewer resources mean more of the life
supporting functions of the world stay naturally in the more than
capable means and ways of the world, not the meddling hands of half
million year old humans and our hubris towards having it all figured
out.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So what now with more? More water,
clean air, healthy landscapes and habitats in more places with access
for more people. More resources for everybody means more people have
their fundamental needs met in safer cleaner ways so that more people
can have more fulfilling and healthier lives.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So I invite you to ask yourself whats
worth having more of?<br />
And what is worth having less of? They are infallibly intertwined, so make you decisions carefully, make them informed, make them conscious of all other lives, those that are, and those yet to come. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Waldo.</div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-16644354096347101022012-10-29T04:23:00.001-07:002012-10-29T04:25:46.759-07:00An attempt at poetry<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><b>Humility</b></u></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Black rock, grey sky.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
blue water</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
hissing through cobbles
post each crash.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
silence, ocean.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
clouds stretch out, over
land and sea</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
blanketing all.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
gloves off;</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
this is a place where your
hands <i>should</i> be cold</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
wet</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
salt-kisse<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">d.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
skin
sliding over smooth monoliths
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
of
stone, twisted and dark;</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
fingers
dipping into hidden pools</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
of
clearest water</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
stillest
water.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
landscape is not cheerful,</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
yet</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
it is
imbued with a joy, deep and melancholy</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
that
resonates with impossible power.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
here
mortality catches in your throat</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
as
waves batter the slowly retreating earth</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
par
they would batter a watcher's frail frame.</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Man</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
is in
his true place here</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
small</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
in awe
of the forces around him</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
subject
to them</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
no
longer omnipotent;</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
arrogance
dashed against the cobbles<br />
like so much ocean spray.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jehOALz5II/UI5mb6lcptI/AAAAAAAAAOw/QLbooRZEhdc/s1600/IMGP1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jehOALz5II/UI5mb6lcptI/AAAAAAAAAOw/QLbooRZEhdc/s320/IMGP1500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The coast that inspired the poem<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kxSyV_HgsI/UI5mhDdb3ZI/AAAAAAAAAO4/RVBB6ceYyaw/s1600/IMGP0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kxSyV_HgsI/UI5mhDdb3ZI/AAAAAAAAAO4/RVBB6ceYyaw/s320/IMGP0452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
"G"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Connor Mulcahy</div>
<br /></div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-68775964044322510342012-10-29T04:18:00.011-07:002012-10-29T04:20:35.999-07:00The Whirlpool<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Margaret Hoyt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We
have now been in Iceland for two months. A speedy six weeks yet so much has
happened. We have seen the
northern lights, killer whales, breathtaking sunsets, massive glaciers, and
quaint harbors. We’ve laughed, had meaningful conversations and created incredible
friendships. Two months in and so much has happened, none more monumental than
my personal revelations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbgOyJQSTNE/UI5lo3rzy-I/AAAAAAAAAOU/qA5f1aCwLoc/s1600/DSCF2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VbgOyJQSTNE/UI5lo3rzy-I/AAAAAAAAAOU/qA5f1aCwLoc/s320/DSCF2256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last
week, we were given a mid-semester assignment. Naturally, I huffed at the news
and added it to my list of things to do. After looking at the assignment, I
began reflecting and summarizing all of the realizations I’ve had while here
(there’s been a lot!) I started contemplating my past; my childhood, my high
school years, my college experience thus far and I experienced a significant
personal revelation. I realized I had a romanticized depiction of who I was.
Growing up, I described myself as unique, eclectic, a leader rather than a
follower, an original. What I realized was how incredibly inaccurate this was.
I gave myself credit in some senses of who I was but as far as an
environmentalist goes, a person advocating for the earth and setting examples
for my friends and family to follow, I was failing without even realizing it. To
put it bluntly, I was being a phony.
I was an environmental science major, learning about overcapacity,
overconsumption, renewable energy, and resource depletion but was living my
life as if I were an economics major. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
was following mainstream norms; living my life the way society expected me to
and buying the products media encouraged me to. I was idly living my life,
following the current; happy and healthy with an amazing circle or family and
friends but simply going through the motions without every asking myself: is my
lifestyle sustainable? Is my lifestyle propelling the destruction of our
planet? I was casually and carelessly floating through life in a whirlpool of
societal norms and mainstream trends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After
much deep introspection I decided now would be the time to switch directions. I
have made an honest commitment to change my life, to not only talk to talk but
walk the walk. Turning around and switching directions in a whirlpool of this
size is going to be no easy feet. It would be much easier to give up and once
again be caught in the current of society. It would take less effort, cost last
money, take less time (at first glance) and less mental thought and
self-reflection to live in the whirlpool but when I quickly consider that, I
immediately ask myself “why would I want to live my life in a way that requires
the least mental thought? The least physical and mental effort? The easy
route?” I refuse to live idly, following the current, continuing to fuel a
destructive system that destroys the planet and the organisms that live on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being here has not only encouraged me to reflect in this way but it has motivated me to change. I am so thankful to have had this experience. I have accepted that my previous life was no better than anyone else’s and have consciously made a pledge to change. I have dreams, ambitions, and inspiration that I’ve never experienced in my life. It may be slow and it’ll definitely be challenging but I am ready to reverse the direction of my life from a conventional lifestyle that damages the human spirit and ruins the environment to one that simply follows what is right and what is good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSqUALu0Dow/UI5k_GyqvOI/AAAAAAAAAN4/VfczTQKxmtw/s1600/DSCF1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSqUALu0Dow/UI5k_GyqvOI/AAAAAAAAAN4/VfczTQKxmtw/s400/DSCF1814.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"G"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-25152092925186943852012-10-29T04:16:00.001-07:002012-10-29T04:17:39.188-07:00my eyes to serve.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"Keep the earth below my feet,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>For all my sweat my blood runs weak,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Let me learn from where I have been,</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQN4Xq51RK0/UI5hIoiGCEI/AAAAAAAAAMY/OimBNIRLRbE/s1600/DSCN1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQN4Xq51RK0/UI5hIoiGCEI/AAAAAAAAAMY/OimBNIRLRbE/s320/DSCN1090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introduction to Iceland: Landmmanlauger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R4WNuXI3Yts/UI5hPI-E4JI/AAAAAAAAAMg/W9XzZ4O7EwI/s1600/DSCN1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R4WNuXI3Yts/UI5hPI-E4JI/AAAAAAAAAMg/W9XzZ4O7EwI/s320/DSCN1165.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many people can say they've hiked over a glacier?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ-9iW4PQjU/UI5hT5HyY6I/AAAAAAAAAMs/BJ6v9x1RNFE/s1600/DSCN1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ-9iW4PQjU/UI5hT5HyY6I/AAAAAAAAAMs/BJ6v9x1RNFE/s320/DSCN1309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4ZkZ6rwvg8/UI5hZLPDAwI/AAAAAAAAAM0/7iy9wPewZ_c/s1600/DSCN1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4ZkZ6rwvg8/UI5hZLPDAwI/AAAAAAAAAM0/7iy9wPewZ_c/s320/DSCN1323.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun shines over a small coastal town in western Iceland.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkhhtX1jQrY/UI5hfYO_ETI/AAAAAAAAAM8/cXagloHgg8w/s1600/DSCN1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkhhtX1jQrY/UI5hfYO_ETI/AAAAAAAAAM8/cXagloHgg8w/s320/DSCN1344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes a clumsy moment can lead to a beautiful view.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Obzb2GwjwDk/UI5hk64BhcI/AAAAAAAAANE/ya2yrOwWmmY/s1600/DSCN1389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Obzb2GwjwDk/UI5hk64BhcI/AAAAAAAAANE/ya2yrOwWmmY/s320/DSCN1389.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to think that praying monks once looked out of this peephole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Noga</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-45814277322493057282012-10-29T04:15:00.003-07:002012-10-29T04:17:39.053-07:00A morning in the life of a CELL studentIts 8:30 a.m. and the sun
has yet to rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A groggy crew gathers
together in the living room to “become present” and discuss any household
issues and plans for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
meeting draws to a close I get my coat, hat, and gloves and head to put my
shoes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s approximately 8:45.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am usually the first one out the door, so I
put my shoes on and head outside to go to morning meeting thinking of what
phrases I should have written out to ask people and guessing who the first
person to greet me will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walk
down the hill towards Solheimahus I consider how cold it is and how I should
have worn another layer of clothing, or how icy the path is trying not to fall,
completely oblivious to the joy that is about to ensue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I turn the corner I start to see those who
have been waiting, sometimes as early as 8:15, and watch as their faces start
to light up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">góðan daginn” to </span>Eyþór
as I walk by heading for the rest of the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am greeted first by a hug and a stroke of the cheek from Kristján
which always brings a smile to my face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Kristján I am greeted by a hug and smile
from Hanný and Disa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go to my normal
place across the circle and greet Gísli in hopes for a response and listen as
he <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">says
“Frost </span><span class="hps"><span lang="IS" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">á</span>
morgun. Ekki </span>í dag.” (“Frost this morning, none today”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stand there I watch as my fellow
classmates and teachers start walking in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First come Steph and Alicia who are greeted with many “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">góðan daginn”’s and the
occasional hug from </span>Hanný and Disa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then Shelby, Karin, and Noga walk up and are immediately swarmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch as Noga also gets a hug and a cheek
stroke from Kristján and goes on talking to Guðlaug, Erla and Ólafur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelby is greeted by Guðlaug and talks to her
about her sparkly hat and gloves. Karin is greeted by a big hug from Hanný and
continues by asking her and others questions in Icelandic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reynir walks in and flies around the inside
the circle like an airplane and Valgeir enters and follows him before taking
his place in the circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birgir enters
and helps Helga stand since she can’t sit because the bench is covered in
frost. The circle takes its form, I take Gísli’s hand as well as the hand of the
person to my right, and we all wait in silence as we wait for the church bells
to ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing the community together
is a very special moment, and seeing the silent interactions among others is
quite fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally the bells ring. Einn.
Tveir.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9E" title="Þ"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Þ</span></a>r</span>ír. Fjórir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch as Reynir nods to each chime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fimm. Sex. Sjö. Átta. Níu. “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Góðan daginn.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting then starts with </span>Guðmundur<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> asking </span>Ólafur
Benediktsson for the date and continues on with the normal business of who is
attending school, people going to town, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helga chimes in telling Guðmundur about her
comments on the days’ events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelby
then raises her hand and in Icelandic mentions that we are showing a movie in
Sesseljuhus tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guðmundur nods and
the group is impressed with the perfect Icelandic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disa, very excited about the movie, exclaims “YES!
YES!” jumping up and down, and everyone laughs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting comes to a close with Sandra
telling us what is for lunch: “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fiskur og </span><span class="hps"><span lang="IS" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: IS; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">grænmeti</span></span>.”(fish and
vegetables).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joining hands again, we
stand <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as
Laurus starts and leads the community in the morning song:</span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lof s</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">é
Guði ljómar dagur, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lífgar
sólargeislinn fagur<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allt
um heim sem hefur líf.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gef
oss Drottinn gott að iðja<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gef
oss náð að vaka og biðja,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vertu
styrkur vor og hlíf.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
raise our hands and I stand and watch as everyone goes in their respectable
directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day has begun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the whole meeting was in Icelandic I
walk over to meet with the rest of my classmates and the volunteers to talk
with Herdis and Axel about what was discussed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By now I understand most of what is mentioned, but there are still some
topics that I know less about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally
we start to make our way up the hill to class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We meet up with Siggi who had been waiting for us and talk about our
days and what we are going to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is nothing like the interactions and laughter of a morning meeting
to start your day.</span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cIKNMR7Zqg/UI5lFrCH9uI/AAAAAAAAAOA/9WAv8M8mJ18/s1600/drew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5cIKNMR7Zqg/UI5lFrCH9uI/AAAAAAAAAOA/9WAv8M8mJ18/s200/drew.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"G"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p>-Margie</o:p></span>Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-33688952181584804732012-10-29T04:14:00.006-07:002012-10-29T04:14:31.709-07:00Living Simple
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Living Simple</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Prior to my time here at Solheimar, I
have always been curious of what it means to live simple. I still do
not know all that it entails, but I do know I am living simpler than
I can ever remember. At home in the United States, I feel like there
is a lot of expectations for people to always be busy. To work long
hours most days of the week and rely heavily on technology to speed
up productivity. There are so many due dates in the states. I have
seen a direct correlation between our rapid pace of living to the
health of people both physically and mentally. I have also seen how
our fast pace has influenced the degradation of our ecosystems and
social interactions. We are too concerned about profits and egos
rather than looking at the “bigger picture.” The stresses of many
people to get a good job and support themselves and their family is
too common within the United States. These stresses are not always as
necessary as we can sometimes portray them to be.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Solheimar has taught me that we do not
need to live with much stress to be productive and live comfortably.
With a population of around 100 people, Solheimar is a close-knit
community. Being in such a defined community has given me a first
hand experience of its positive outcomes. Because the people at
Solheimar work together within the community they live a more simple
life at a less rapid pace. As a result, they are healthier physically
and mentally, work on preserving the local ecosystem, and enhance
their social interactions with one another. Since the people here at
Solheimar do not live in such a fluttered environment, I believe they
are able to step back and make sense of their surroundings more
effectively. Most of the members of Solheimar are able to work within
the community. Those who are not only commute a short distance to
work. This allows a large interaction between people. There are many
gatherings here that enable people to interact with one another.
These interactions allow everyone to disperse their ideas to others
in the community, ultimately making it a better place. For example,
when the CELL students arrived here we had many meetings about how we
can benefit to this community and also how we can benefit from this
community. We are able to give our ideas to others and have been able
to make a difference. Our 2012 class has already been exposed heavily
to many environmental and social situations helping out and learning.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have noticed the working environments
are more laid back and personable here. I notice little impact on the
productivity within the jobs and a lot more devotion and creativity.
There are few conflicts and little stress, resulting in enhanced
communication and natural expression. These jobs play a very
important role within the health of this community as well. For
example, a lot of the people within the Solheimar community get their
vegetables from the greenhouse here. This community is blessed with a
great staff of workers, interns, and home people alike that maintain
the greenhouse with love and foster great produce. These workers love
what they do and give back to the immediate community. All the while
decreasing the import of goods, reducing resource consumption,
pollution, and spending. In the United States it can be hard to find
Local communities producing their own vegetables to support most of
its inhabitants. People instead resort to shopping at grocery stores,
encouraging pollution, use of resources, spending, and less
interaction. I feel like people, at least in the United States, are
missing out on the power of a “functional community.” How many
people even know their neighbors?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How has living simple at Solheimar
effected me?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am able to take a step back and see
what is truly important to me and to help create a healthy community.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Be supportive and caring</b> –
Everyone feels like a brother and sister that I should look out for.
We support each other allowing there to be less tension and healthier
relationships and foster thinking and creativity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Promote sustainability</b> – Rely
less on imports and support local produce and manufacturing, promote
environmental stewardship, deal with waste responsibly, and educate
others.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Eat Healthier</b> – I am able to
take my time cooking food that is healthy and delicious! There is no
need to rush to get food that may be unhealthy. Instead we take our
time to eat good food and interact with one another, ultimately
creating a better environment and living healthier.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
These are just some of the factors that
I feel living simpler has taught me to acknowledge and pursue in this
community.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Imagine the possibilities if we could
speak to our community members, exchange ideas and care for one
another. Imagine if we did not have to be a target of large
corporations and organizations to control our daily life. Instead we
live peacefully to make our local communities a better place. I have
received a </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
better grasp on the many possibilities since I have been
here at Solheimar.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
- Benjamin Palladino</div>
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Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7016110340764536065.post-23960184518314280642012-10-29T04:14:00.002-07:002012-10-29T04:26:21.822-07:00Visions of Sustainability<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please answer the following questions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How does your background motivate you as a
learner of sustainability? </span><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How have you challenged yourself in the
first half of this semester? What have you learned from these experiences?
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How have you grown as a person, community
member and sustainable world citizen? <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is your relationship with and
responsibility to the sustainability of the world? </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What have you learned about sustainability this
semester?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These seemingly humble questions inspired some of the most
significant community building of the semester. They’re pretty short, nothing
like the detailed prompts I typically receive during a normal semester. They’re
not verbose, abstract, or vague. Instead they are concise and direct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tell us about your past.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are your challenges and how have you
learned from them?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you changed in some capacity?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does the future look like?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, what have you learned?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simple. Basic. Questions that by their very nature draw down
your walls. There are no fancily worded parameters to struggle between and
therefore the door is left open for honest, authentic, and penetrating
conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that is exactly what we had. This assignment was about
reflecting on our semester only on the fringes; at its core this was an
exercise designed to allow us to open up to each other and form greater bonds.
I heard my classmates express thoughts that I’ve had myself. I heard people
connect over the common experiences they’ve shared. Despite the fact that we’ve
all come from different places, we can now know for certain that we are not
alone in some of the things we are feeling. I was touched by the amazing
positive feedback I received and enjoyed giving positive feedback to others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was also inspired by the amazing voices of my classmates.
Hearing them eloquently craft thoughts with words – thoughts that I shared, but
would have stated differently – was enthralling. It might not make sense to be
thankful for a person’s phrasing, but I am. Maybe it’s indicative of our dual diversity
and similarity – shared thoughts expressed by different means. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the best things I gained from this exercise was a
deep respect for the people with whom I’m sharing this semester. They are
remarkable. Knowing them and seeing the greatness they are capable of inspires
me and gives me hope for a better future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Alicia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"G" and others</td></tr>
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Iceland Fall 2013http://www.blogger.com/profile/18286379123135804190noreply@blogger.com0