Recycling Center Santa Cruz

This morning, after a lecture on biodiversity, we toured the recycling center here on Santa Cruz. Funded by Toyota and the World Wildlife Fund, it was fun to go and see some of the processes. As a recycling junkie, it was really neat to walk through. I would love to find a way to take a group of students through a recycling center or waste management center back home (umm… Laura?) When you see where your trash goes it really personalizes the process and makes you think twice not just before throwing something away, but before buying it and consuming it in the first place. One of the ways I think this trip will change me the most is by getting me back on track with my personal improvement plan. Last January, I made the commitment to get in shape, eat better, recycle, etc. I did great until August. I ran and worked out five times a week, cut out all meat, recycled everything, and I felt great. Once school started this year I got so busy and out of the habit of everything that I gained back all the weight I lost and have just felt tired, stressed, and lazy. My mission now is to translate some of those healthy practices into the classroom and into my family to try to make a positive impact on others and to have a little bit of accountability. I'm totally reinvigorated to that end.