Module 8 (Nov. 1 - 14)

Monday, 1 November

Journal Entry 23

Module 8

In the book that I chose to read, Their eyes were Watching God, by Zora Hurston, I was able to make many references to personal experiences that I’ve had. In the novel, the main character, Janie Crawford, has so many people forcing their own views and beliefs on her, and they aren’t the views and beliefs that she has. My Catholic upbringing in both school and home life basically told me how I should think and if I didn’t think that way then it was wrong somehow. I was always told if I didn’t follow the 10 commandments or live my life according to “What Would Jesus Do?” (remember the wristbands?) than I was basically screwed! I was finally able to expand my views through my college education and life experiences. Just as Janie led a portion of her life allowing others to tell her how to think or how to act, so did I. It was through Janie’s life experience that allowed her to discover her true identity. I think it’s impossible to develop one’s own identity if you don’t have your own set of values and beliefs and allow others to impose theirs on you.

Friday, 5 November

Journal Entry 24

Module 8

I have always struggled with the issue of feeling like I needed to act and think exactly like my mom. This is because if things aren’t done the way that she would do them, then she doesn’t think it’s correct. It wasn’t until I began dating my boyfriend three years ago that I was able to open my mind to new opinions and ways of doing things. I discovered that the way my mom acts and views things isn’t the only correct way. My boyfriends free and lively spirit/adventurous spirit opened my mind and helped me to find my own true identity. Janie’s third marriage to Tea Cake in the novel, Their eyes were watching God, is a critical part in the book because their bond is what causes Janie to realize that the bond itself which they had is what had fulfilled her spiritual journey, which included her own personal discovery of her identity.

Sunday, 7 November

Journal Entry 25

Module 8

I think that throughout our lives, there are times when our views become skewed because of the environment in which we are brought up in. Janie’s grandmother, Nanny Crawford, has a major influence on Janie’s decisions in the beginning of the novel. These decisions were which were made for her were not the ones that she truly wanted to make. This type of environmental influence can determine how a person responds to the issues that arise throughout our lives. I have lived most of my life allowing others to make decisions for me, and in turn, it has influenced the outcomes of many experiences that I have had. For example, my mom still thinks that she can make life-changing decisions for me (like Janie’s Nanny forcing her to have an arranged marriage in the beginning of the novel). My mom attempts to push her opinions on me about stuff like my future career decisions. Just as Janie’s grandmother’s views were influenced by her own environmental influences as she was growing up, so were my moms. This is the case for many people, but luckily I have the powerful tool of education which is one of the primary reasons that I have been able to develop a more holistic view regarding my place in nature. 

Tuesday, 9 November

Journal Entry 26

Module 8

Keeping a journal throughout the course of this semester has allowed me to reflect on the material we have covered regarding the environment and has actually given the lessons a deeper meaning. Instead of just having assigned work and readings, my journal was such a creative aspect that let me fully understand my experiences with the environment that I have had, such as our field trips and discussion forums.

My initial expectations of this class being difficult and extremely writing intensive were true in some ways but false in others. The difficulty for me only lied in grasping the main concepts from the Colloquium Reader. I think that my writing has improved throughout the course of this semester and the knowledge that I have gained is something I never would have learned in the classes that I’m required to take for my major. I have a different perspective now of the environment and the many different creatures and plant life that inhabit it. I look forward to coming back to this journal in the future and remembering how the impact that the knowledge I gained on the environment has helped to shape my life and views on nature.

*Note: All photos included in this journal were taken by me

Module 7 (Oct. 25 - 31)

Tuesday, 26 October

Journal Entry 21

Module 7

So, before I begin this assignment and the readings, here goes what I know about culture. For me, culture can take many meanings. To begin with, I see culture as the views and understandings held by societies and the individuals within it. The meaning of culture can be understood differently by many, but in my personal regards to the term culture I see it mainly as something that is passed down by previous generations and upheld, for the most part, by future ones.

Personally, culture is what is taught to you growing up by your parents from what they have learned from their parents, etc. Ethnically I am Cuban, and my sister and immediate cousins are the first generation of Cubans in my family to be born in the United States. My father came to the US in his mid-thirties, so the way he was raised was culturally different from today’s ways of living. Regardless of this, I have still witnessed many aspects of our culturally different views in respect to simple things accepted in today’s society which were not accepted (in fact looked down upon) while he was growing up, but are common ways of living today. For example, in the Cuban culture, children and adolescents are not allowed to sleep in other homes other than their own.

Elaborating, the children in the household have to sleep under the roof that they live under and not anyone else’s; as I can still hear him saying in his thick Cuban accent, “this is where you live and therefore where you sleep,” so one can only imagine what it was like not being able to have a slumber party with their friends or have to come home on prom night! In hindsight, I now understand his ways of thinking because while he was growing up, as he explained it, only scandalous woman slept outside of their homes. But in today’s culture, it is very common and barely even questioned. I’m sure raising twin daughters didn’t help the matter either! I think that we learn from those that teach us growing up and develop aspects of their culture, but are also able to modify these beliefs into our own which is what we will then pass down to our children.

Thursday, 28 October

Journal Entry 22

Module 7

Before reading my assigned material for SOW, I really had no clue what it could possibly contain! Obviously, my first impression was how our world and cultures have changed up until now, but I didn’t know what topics exactly it would be covering.

After reading “From Selling Soap to Selling Sustainability: Social Marketing,” it gave me such a different perspective on how our culture has changed regarding how marketing was done in the 1950’s to how it’s done now. Ironically, it has had a huge impact on our culture that I never really ever took into account. As my previous entry talks about culture in general, it can also be related to my article from SOW. As time progresses, people begin to develop different views and opinions on issues. The marketing strategies today play a major impact on that. That’s why I think with every new generation comes new cultural values and ways of looking at things. For example, before corporations changed their marketing technique from delivering facts as their main component, they weren’t profiting as much as they were when World War II was occurring.

Their switch to using human-based stories that could relate to the consumers was what revolutionized social marketing all together.  It’s changes like this that cause people to develop new beliefs. My opinion hasn’t really changed regarding culture after reading my chapter in SOW. It’s the progression and development of our society that causes newer generations to take a different aspect on culture altogether and the values and beliefs handed down to us from our parents and society will always take a different outlook on it.

Module 6 (Oct. 11 - 24)

Wednesday, 13 October

Journal Entry 17

Module 6

I have always loved to write and ever since I was little I remember having a strong passion for writing. I even remember the very first journal/diary that I ever had, and still have to this day. Just the idea itself of being able to write down how you feel and the events going on in your life at that specific moment in time is very therapeutic. Reading my old journals is so fascinating! As we grow and mature, our ways of thinking change. Reading a journal from, let’s say, five years ago, lets me go back to that time of my life and recognize how I’ve changed since then. My previous journals have included a variety of things. From crushes on boys, to what I felt was significantly going on in my life at that time, to poetry.

Saturday, 16 October

Journal Entry 18

Module 6

I think so far that my journal has been somewhat of a personal reflection on what I think about the topics included for each entry. Every journal I’ve ever had has always included dates, especially the year, because that’s what allows me to put myself back in that time.

In one of my earlier posts, I talked about the turtle that I rescued from the middle of the road. It is fascinating to put myself in his shoes. How did he make his way there? What were those speeding fast cars going by him look like to him?

I think that he was just very confused! Although he was a big turtle, he was still like the size of a tire, making him tiny compared to the environment he had just so happened to stumble across! When I walked over to him to help him, I think he was somewhat scared of me but not completely. He didn’t hide in his shell, and he managed to trust the direction I was trying to send him towards.

Monday, 18 October

Journal Entry 19

Module 6

To attempt a more factual/interpretative perspective in this entry, I’m going to describe the beautiful birds that I encountered on Lover’s Key. The Great White Heron race has such a long neck! He looks graceful, especially with the way that he walks. He takes big strides in his steps and doesn’t make too many quick movements.

The White Ibis has these brilliantly red/orange legs and beak. His bill makes this bended curve, which gives him somewhat of a funny look! As I was watching him make his way through the shore of the ocean, he had this confident but funny look about him. He seemed curious about everything, looking around and just walking down the shore! As I watched him, the only thing I saw him do was occasionally stick his curved bill into the water looking for food.

I found the Brown Pelican especially interesting. There was this intertwined tree that had a bunch of them just hanging out together on the branches. The short little legs were barely visible and the Brown Pelicans would keep their main position of having their head down with their bills practically touching their bellies!

Friday, 22 October

Journal Entry 20

Module 6

Today I noticed so many Whit Ibis’! They are everywhere! They always seem to hang out in big groups, and when people approach them or walk near them they always walk in the same direction (not quickly, but swiftly). They cover almost every lawn in my neighborhood and on the FGCU campus! You can always spot them with their bills in the ground looking for food. I don’t think that they really have an opinion of people. They seem carefree hanging out with each other and eating. It is pretty funny though watching their swift walk when they feel like someone is getting to close!

Module 5 (Oct. 4 - 10)

Monday, 4 October

Journal Entry 15

Module 5

This week’s reading on Challenges to Sustainability – Terrorism and other concerns were quite interesting. The article titled “Quarantine sought for harsh TB strain” is what really caught my attention because in my Microbiology class last year, I wrote an eight page paper regarding all the aspects of tuberculosis! The strain that they talk about in the article (XDR-TB) is such a rare strain of the virus that it’s crazy how in South Africa they are having such a significant outbreak of it that they are considering quarantining those infected.

I also found the global warming article regarding the Environmental Protection Agency very interesting as well. I was shocked to read about how they were “uncertain” about the scientific aspect of global warming. It’s ridiculous how a protection act for our environment is stating that they need more scientific research before taking any action in this environmental crisis.

Thursday, 7 October

Journal Entry 16

Module 5

Today I found a news reference regarding the article about tuberculosis that’s in the reference material for the module. The news reference is titled “TB cases becoming tougher to treat,” and talks about health officials noticing a dramatic increase of the antibiotic resistant strain of TB (XDR-TB). This is not only occurring in South Africa (as the article in the module mainly focuses on). According to the news article, this strain is increasing all around the world. Although this drug resistant strain has been a worry now for awhile, we are starting to see the actual effects of it now.

Module 4 (Sept. 27 - Oct. 3)

Tuesday, 28 September

Journal Entry 12

Module 4

This field trip was really interesting because I have never actually stopped and attempted the experience of taking a deeper look into one of the many wooded areas that surround our entire campus. I’m so used to just driving by them almost every day that it was cool to try and figure out the different species of plants.

I was able to identify these tree species, which I took pictures of with my camera during my forest field trip, and compared them to the photos and descriptions in the Audubon book:



Cabbage Palmetto




Slash Pine


 

Loblolly Bay

 

Long Leaf Pine




Saw Palmetto



I was able to identify five non-woody plants, but could only get a picture of one (the Sea Oats) because my camera died!

Other non-woody plants I saw were Spanish Moss, White Bushy Aster, Water

Hemlock, and Floating Hearts

Sea Oats



Thursday, 30 September

Journal Entry 13

Module 4

In the readings for this module, I found David Orr’s article on Ecological Literacy (pg. 106-110) very interesting. He says that we think that education is only something that can be done indoors. I agree with what he says about this because people automatically relate learning to something done in a classroom where you learn facts and take tests. Of course, we all know that we learn new things every day regardless of being in a classroom or not, but I think that Orr is referring more towards the aspect of learning about the environment. I agree with him that the chances we get to actually experience nature are dwindling because of the construct of many environments today which include more buildings than trees sometimes. That’s what leads people to be somewhat uneducated or uncompassionate about many environmental issues. 

Saturday, 2 October

Journal Entry 14

Module 4

The bird species on campus were difficult to identify because I really could only spot a couple (such as the White Ibis) and couldn’t get a close enough view of them to get an accurate identification. Instead, I identified five bird species that I saw on Lover’s Key yesterday and was able to take some really good pictures of them! It was so amazing to see all these different species of birds that were around me and so close to me. The Brown Pelican was diving into the water and his wing span was so big. The Snowy Egret would just stand in one position for the longest time, it was pretty windy out and he seemed to enjoy the wind blowing through his feathers which moved so elegantly with the wind! It was such a great experience to take the time to actually investigate and analyze these interesting creatures and their behaviors.



Laughing Gull




Snowy Egret



White Ibis



Great White Heron Race



Brown Pelican



Module 3 (Sept. 20 - 26)

Saturday, 25 September

Journal Entry 9

Module 3

As I transfer the notes that I jot down throughout the week into a document, I am beginning to notice how I really am growing throughout this course. My sister pointed out to me the other day how my attitude towards the environment has dramatically changed and I really didn’t give it much though until this afternoon.

With so many things on my mind for the past week regarding the passing of my grandmother, I haven’t been able to focus on much else. One thing that did catch my attention and my mom’s attention was when we were at the cemetery making the funeral plans and saw hundreds of flower arrangements that people had purchased for funerals that had already passed just sitting on the side of the road in huge piles. My mom made an immediate phone call to distant family members asking them to put the money for the flowers towards a mass at church in her honor.

Sunday, 26 September

Journal Entry 10

Module 3

After doing the assigned reading on the long drive home, (crossing the Everglades nonetheless!) I found John Dewey’s perspective on education quite interesting. I grew up going to private school until I entered college, so I was able to relate to Dewey’s take on a traditional education.

My mother wasn’t quite pleased on the way I viewed his articles, though! As we drove home we had a nice little debate on how I didn’t think the strict rules that I had to abide by in my earlier education were needed and how they stripped us of our creativity, whereas she thought that those strict rules were needed in order to shape us into law-abiding citizens. My argument was that parenting had more to do with that aspect and that public schools had rules of conduct as well, just not as strict.

Needless to say, we agreed to disagree!

Sunday, 26 September                 

Journal Entry 11

Module 3

So far being around a month into the class, my expectations were correct. I have to this point learned so many different things regarding our environment in terms of my everyday surroundings, to so many new facts about the Everglades. This one of the expectations that I had and has so far been fulfilled. I was kind of worried about the work that this class would involve, but the work has been really educational and not a bother whatsoever. I am so happy that everything in this online class is pretty much spelled out with every detail needed and that the assigned readings so far are actually interesting to read. Many online classes that I have taken have been horrible to say the least, but I actually enjoy this one!

I’ve been able to learn about the main plant life which surrounds my house, the mangroves. When my boyfriend was fishing on our canal not too long ago, we were talking about these bushy trees (the mangroves) that attract all the mosquitoes which were eating us alive as it got dark and he grabbed a floating stick-like looking thing in the water with a little tiny sprout of tiny leaves at one end. He’s taken many ecology courses and explained to me how these are the seeds of the mangroves and they get implanted with the leafy part facing up and grow from there. I found that quite interesting!

This picture of two mangrove seeds was taken when my boyfriend and I took my dad’s boat out and went to a local beach:

A black Mangrove seed like this one will one day produce this:

Module 2 (Sept. 14 - 19)

Monday, 13 September

Journal Entry 6

Module 2

To be honest, I have never really been one to worry about recycling, but after becoming more aware of my surroundings, I have definitely noticed almost every single piece of trash around me that isn’t thrown away! I can’t believe I didn’t notice the amount of trash before. I have been finding myself using the same plastic water bottle and re-filling it on campus instead of buying a new one, and making sure that I throw my cans and bottles away in the specific locations on campus. I’ve even been scolding my boyfriend about anything that he has attempted to litter!

I was pleased to notice today how many trees and plant-life have been incorporated in main roads, such as Alico. Not only do they help the ecology and surrounding environment, but they are a beautiful sight to see (especially with all the construction that’s been going on).

Tuesday, 14 September

Journal Entry 7

Module 2

After making my post on the forum for this week’s Module, I found it amazing to be able to put myself back in the Everglades as I wrote it. I spend so much time crossing the Everglades, and never knew which plants exactly were surrounding me as I drive right through it. Slash pines and saw palmetto’s were very interesting to discover.

As I mentioned in my discussion post, I was able to take an airboat ride not too long ago. I remember many of the facts that the guide gave us as we cruised through the swamps of the Everglades. He explained to us how the location we were in was first a Seminole Indian Village and how the tribal leader was Jimmy Osceola.  He pointed out areas where the hammocks used to be which were built by the early Indians as houses and even stopped and got up very close to a huge alligator (as seen in the picture below) and asked us if we wanted to get close enough to touch him! I still can’t tell if he was serious or not!

The tour guide explained how throughout the breeding season, alligators use the saw grass as seen in this picture to hide and protect their eggs



On the airboat (ofcourse I forgot my sunglasses and the speed of the boat was making the wind kill my eyes!)



The drive through the Everglades is spectacular, I have included pictures of the drive coming back from the east coast while the sun is setting, it definitely kills my eyes every time I get stuck driving back at that time! (and no worries, I wasn’t driving when the pictures were taken!)

Driving from the east coast to the west coast:

Wednesday, 15 September

Journal Entry 8

Module 2

I noticed this morning while driving out of my community all of the signs around me and down the mile long drive which is a part of the preserve. The signs distinctly mark the area as part of the protected preserve and how people are prohibited from entering. I have to say after living in this part of town for four years I don’t know how I missed them before! It was interesting to be able to see just how large the preserve actually extends throughout my community!

On another quick note, I think I must have annoyed at least five drivers yesterday as I was coming home from class. The main road to get to my house is a two-lane road and as I was driving down it, I saw this poor turtle sitting helplessly in the middle of my path! So of course I stopped, and this turtle was huge! I didn’t know how to re-direct it towards the preserve, and it was too big to pick up. Either way, I got out of my car and managed to get him to walk towards the preserve, meanwhile I was being honked at and there was a pile up of cars behind me! Isn’t helping the poor turtle just something that someone should obviously do, especially if we’re living in their habitat, not the other way around? If more people were concerned with even little situations like that, our environment would be so much better off!

Module 1 (Aug. 23 - Sept. 12)

Colloquium Journal

Fall 2010

Christina Rodriguez

Saturday, 28 August

Journal Entry 1

Module 1

Being a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University, I have heard so many different things pertaining to this course, from how difficult it is to the amount of work required. Obviously every student is required to take it in order to graduate, but I am excited to finally learn about the ecosystem which surrounds me every single day and am also somewhat hesitant to what kind of activities and work we will have to do. I live right across from the Estero Bay Preserve, and to be honest, before doing some research regarding our first field trip, I had no clue! Of course this makes me feel ignorant, but I am glad that the beginning of this course has already taught me that much so far. I am expecting to learn all of the different species of animals that live around me along with the history of the Everglades. I take frequent trips across the Everglades and will finally be able to have some knowledge regarding it.

As I continue to work on the facts regarding my first “home-field trip,” I am looking forward to learning more about the animal and plant life that surround me.

Wednesday, 1 September

Journal Entry 2

Module 1

After initially reviewing the questions about the first field trip, I realized it would be somewhat difficult to figure out these answers on my own! Since I live at home, I am going to have to ask my mom for most of the answers. The questions that I am so far able to answer on my own are: 

9. What household chemicals & agents do you store?   Where & how do you store them?

o   Bleach

o   Laundry detergent

o   Pledge

o   Windex

o   Joy dishwashing liquid (environmentally friendly)

o   All household chemicals are stored in the laundry room in cabinets

10. What other creatures live in and around your home?  Make a detailed inventory?

Since my house is located on a narrow canal with Gulf access and is directly facing the Estero Bay Preserve, you can only imagine the creatures that live around, or occasionally visit my home! I was able to figure out most of them on my own, but did get some help from a website which gives information about the Estero Bay Preserve!

 Fish:

o   Snook

o   Cat Fish

o   Stingrays

 Reptiles:

o   Alligators

o   Turtles

o   Crocodiles

o   Snakes

o   Frogs

Birds:

o   Bald Eagle

o   Egret

o   Heron

o   Brown Pelican

Mammals:

o   Squirrels

o   Possums

o   Manatees

o   Raccoons

(Stafford, par. 8)

Stafford, H. (2010). Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved August 28, 2010, from My Florida: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/estero/info.htm

11. Finally, ask yourself the question of what constitutes a natural versus an unnatural environment. Is your home a natural or unnatural environment?

I think that a natural environment is one which is comprised of all things existing naturally on earth; a natural environment is also thought of as the environment, which can also consist of non-living things as well. For me, an unnatural environment is one where there is no consideration for the environment, e.g. not recycling, making no attempt to better your surroundings for the environment.

I believe that my home does have many attributes which help our environment. I would say that my home is a natural environment because of that fact that I live about ten feet from the Estero Bay Preserve, and the community in which I live in has strict regulations and laws that each resident has to abide by regarding building a home and maintaining it.

12. Are you "of nature" or "apart" from it? What makes you think that?

I would definitely have to say that I am “of nature” 100%. Sitting on my balcony alone I can hear the fish jumping up from the water and making an incredible splash at any time of day or night, driving down my neighborhood I can see snakes slithering across the asphalt, and attempting to enter my front door the enormously large frogs get a scare out of me.



A racer snake (known to bite their prey and hold on) eating what seems to be a bull frog. The frog put up a fight for awhile, but the racer won in the end!



Saturday, 4 September

Journal Entry 3

Module 1

The questions which I was unable to figure out are the ones listed below. I was quite intrigued by many of my mom’s answers, because if it weren’t for this field trip, I would have never known a majority of these questions!

1. How old is the house?

o   Four Years old

2. Of what materials is it constructed?

o   Wood and concrete block

3. How environmentally efficient is the house in terms of insulation, use of energy efficient appliances, air conditioning & heating, etc.?

Insulation: Energy Efficient Insulation

o   Insulation material which creates an air-seal that minimizes air leakage in order for moister control

o   Energy savings up to 50%

o   Keeps hot air out and cool air in

Energy efficient appliances:

o   High efficiency washing machine: washes clothes using reduced levels of energy and water

o   About 40% less water is used

o   Air Conditioner: Continually monitors the indoor temperature

4. How much space is in the home, and how many people are living there?

o   Under air: 4,800 sq

o   Four people

5. How close is your home to your work, school, etc.?

o   Fifteen minutes from school

o   Twenty minutes from work

6. How is your house landscaped?

o   Shade trees

o   Shrubs

o   Pines

7. How much yard do you maintain, and does yard maintenance require the use of chemicals or gasoline - powered equipment?

o   Yard is maintained once a week in the summer and twice a month in the winter

o   Yes, fertilizers are used to maintain the lawn

8. Do you have a pool that you maintain and utilize?   If so, what chemicals are you handling & storing to keep the pool clean?

o   Yes

o   Salt-water pool system: the generator creates chlorine using salt, but creates less chlorine than chlorine tablets

o   There are no chemicals in the house stored because there is a pool maintenance company that comes twice a month

Monday, 6 September

Journal Entry 4

Module 1

After reviewing the Earthweek Diary, it was very informative to read the articles they have on their website. I did my post on invasive species because I have heard on the news consistently about how they are a threat to the natural plants and animals that inhabit the Everglades.

What was really interesting was finding out how the invasive specie the Burmese python had entered the Everglades, by their own pet owners! I don’t think that people realize the responsibility of owning a pet like this and are selfish in thinking that they can just take care of their problem by unleashing it into the wild! They are even eating the native alligators, which is what the Everglades is primarily known for.

Friday, 10 September

Journal Entry 5

Module 1

I am a huge fan of the show Escape to Chimp Eden on Animal Planet. My sister is the one who got me into watching it because she absolutely loves animals and the discovery channel and all that kind of stuff. After watching a couple of episodes of it (unwillingly, but my sister refused to change the channel), I was obsessed! This is why when I was in the process of making one of my posts today on the forum for Earthweek and browsing through the articles on the website, I had to post about the Chimpanzees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was up-hauling to read about bush-meat hunting and the killing of the chimps for their meat. Not only that, but how this could possibly lead to their extinction! Watching these Chimps on the show has made me fall in love with them as a specie altogether! They each have their own personalities and interact with each other in such a miraculous way. I really hope that this issue in this part of the world can be taken care of before they become extinct in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, how sad and devastating would that be?

A quick fun fact: Chimps are the only animals that can recognize themselves in the mirror!