Self Evaluation and Reflection

"The enviroment"

"Global warming is an expensive hoax!" tweeted the united States president elect, Donald Trump. What does this mean for the climate safety in American and around the world. As the leading nation in natural resource consumption, The United States has caused much harm to the global enviroment and has contributed to the warming. While denying the ever growing problem of climate change might be easier for Donald, the rest of the world is suffering from our unsustanable practices.

I think ahead of a positive future and I do believe it is possible. But this book is a reminder to myself that sometimes, things may not go the way you hoped. The book reminds me that our environment is deteriorating. And it is, and always has been, humanity's fault. Our selfish actions have caused the destruction of the natural world and species. Although this book is fiction, it feels all too real. Such as when it discusses the migration of populations from melting ice caps, the destruction of our ozone layer, and those who believe that global warming isn't real. I sometimes wish that humanity can come together to save our home but that is very hard to believe. Humanity is on a roller coaster that cannot be stopped.

Midterm:

This class is interesting to me for multiple reasons. Firstly, the idea of identity being multifaceted and changing is something that I always been wondering. I am glad to have been randomly place into this class because I don't think I would have chosen it on my own. That aside, the class offers a safe space for dialogue on identity. 

Paradise for sale!

Guavas. Macadamia nuts. Mangoes. Made their three thousand acres of Russet Burbanks seem downright dull. She sighed. Cass could not imagine paradise." (31)

Farmwork is extremely hard work. And even with developments in technology it still remains laborious and difficult. For Cass, I think much of the beauty of the eviroment has been drained out of her way of thinking and she no longer see it. The enviroment play a large role in her life but her idenitity no longer connects with it.

"Sometimes he treats me like I'm the one who needs looking after. When he was little, he used to crawl up onto my lap and play patty-cake with my cheeks, holding my face between his small palms. "Calm down, Mommy," he'd say, looking deep into my eyes. "I love you" (158).

This passage interested me because it relates to Yumi and Lloyd's relationship. Like Yumi, Phoenix calls his mother by her first name. And he rarely shows her any respect. Yumi treated her father very similarly, right before she ran away. I think that Phoenix truly loves Yumi, as Yumi loves Lloyd, but Phoenix can't look up to Yumi as a role model.

I truly enjoyed the trip to Norris Square. It was a bit cold but it did not distract me from the beauty of the different gardens that we visited. I loved how each garden had a different theme and I bet they are even more beautiful in the spring and summer. The gardens felt like an oasis in Norris Square. I can definitely see how it can be a place of relaxation and peace in the loud, industrial area. I also loved talking with the tour guides about life in Philadelphia and their aspirations for the future. I found them all to act very adult and mature for their ages. I thought they were seniors in high school but actually two were juniors and one was a sophomore. I really admired how they had plans for the future with what jobs they wanted or what they were looking for in their lives.

Safe. That is the single word that comes to mind when I think of the Norris Gardens in North Philly. Yes, I saw the needles and I understand the violence that happens around the lots, but I also saw the potential. I think we all did. This is the reason we have classes like "Changing Our Story;" it is out of necessity. We must learn about true positive change and be exposed to the power we all have to make in the world. It was obvious, while not as openly discussed, the inequities that forced the six Puerto Rican women to attempt to create a home for the neighborhood. It was rundown but it was there. As a place of refugee and I think that is admirable. As mother Theresa said,"I don't do great things. I do small things with great love," and that what these women did.

Though it was a cold day, I had a really great time getting to know more about the various cultures in Puerto Rico.  The students giving the tour were especally great because I learned so much from them about these cultures and the gradens themselves, but also about their lives.    I did not necessarily have a favorite garden but I did like the two biggest gardens best because they had a lot of replicas of the way of life (houses/huts, masks, instruments).  The murals were really breathtaking, but to know the community came together to put it together was great. I am really glad I got to go on this tour.  I was especially captured by the girls because it reminded me so much of my own experience.

Last week I chose the class location and I thought it would be best to have our class in the Quita Woodward Reading Room in Thomas Hall. I chose this location because I love the ambiance of the room. I think that our class had a great discussion in this warm and welcoming room. I feel as if whenever we meet in rooms with sofas, comfortable chairs, or any room with a cozy ambiance, it is easier for us to open up during discussions. I thought we had a great discussion about the readings and I believe that we should find more rooms with this type of environment to have our classes in.