Monday, November 18, 2013

Going to Class is Important?



For years professors and students have discussed and argued over the importance of going to class. Most of these discussions don’t address the root of the issue. If you’re going to talk about whether or not class should be mandatory, they should ask why students would skip class in the first place.




I asked over 40 students if they have ever skipped class before. If they answered yes, I then asked if it was for work reasons, family, appointments, sleep or if it was because they thought the professor’s lecture wasn’t important. The results showed that 42% of the students said they missed class because of sleep. 24% said it was because they thought the professor’s lecture wasn’t important, and 26% said they missed class for all of those reasons stated (I happen to be a part of the 26%).

This leads us to our first question: why would anyone skip class because of sleep? Back in high school, we started class at 8:00am every day. Why is an 8:00am class so hard to make now? Well, college is different then high school. College students’ days are a lot longer, and they use more hours of the day for activities, homework and work. When it comes to sleep, that boils down to the individual. Every human prioritizes what they think is important.  If you’re a person that views sleep as important, you make sure that you get enough hours of sleep. You would be less likely to spend those extra hours of sleep on a project or a social event.  If you don’t view sleep as important, you would be more willing to spend 2 or 3 more hours on things like projects or work.

In a blog I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I talked about the importance of sleep for energy, but it’s also important for learning.

“If you know that class only puts you to sleep, then why not cut out the middle man altogether? Classes that don’t spark any interest aren’t necessary to attend because without the passion to learn, you can’t learn all that much.” - Steve Coulter, Brobible.com

“Research suggests that sleep helps learning and memory in two distinct ways. First, a sleep-deprived person cannot focus attention optimally and therefore cannot learn efficiently. Second, sleep itself has a role in the consolidation of memory, which is essential for learning new information.” – Division of Sleep Medicine at
Harvard Medical School

The second point made was that 24% of students skipped class because they thought the professor’s lecture wasn’t important. This goes against the common notion that attendance is important for getting good grades.

“Many professors say attendance is necessary to do well, and attendance and course performance are positively correlated. That being said, there would be no need for mandatory attendance, as students seeking high grades will quickly learn that they need to attend the course regularly. Inflating grades with 10-20 percent of your score coming from attendance is a poor judgment of an individual’s competency in the course.” – Sam Artley, Michigan State University

We all understand the importance of attendance when it comes to doing well in a class. At the same time, I can also understand why 24% of students said they skipped class because they thought the lecture wasn’t important. From personal experience, I’ve found that some classes don’t give you an incentive to attend class. If the professor recites material straight from the book, allows no class discussions, and posts all the power points online, then there really isn’t a reason to attend class. I’m smart enough to read the book; I don’t need you to recite it to me. The whole point of going to class is to get material that’s not in the book. I also do the most learning when there are discussions involved. I use those discussions as examples to look back on when I’m taking a test.

So what am I saying exactly? Am I saying it’s ok to skip class? Well, really it’s up to the person. The student is the one who pays tuition. The student is the one who receives the grade, so the student is the one who decides if class is important to attend or not. If you know the consequences for skipping and you believe it’s ok, than you should be free to make that decision. We also have to consider if it’s a class that you’re really interested in, it would be hard to imagine a reason to skip. On the other hand, if it’s a class that you feel that is a waste of time, you would have a hard time imagining reasons to go. It’s all a part of the process of growing up. We get to make decisions for ourselves.


 Just a Thought, Devonte Hill

 Resources:




Friday, November 8, 2013

Why be sad on a rainy day?





Most of the general public believes that weather affects their mood. I know I did. That’s why most people associate cities with good weather as happy places. I asked myself, “Why is that? How does weather affect our mood?” In this blog I investigated the myths and facts about weather and mood. Here are my findings:

I went and asked student staff at the Rec Center about weather and its effects on their mood. Most of them had similar answers.  Sunny weather makes them happy, active and productive. Rainy weather makes them sad, sleepy, unproductive, and makes them want to watch a movie.

 “If it’s cold and gloomy I’m going to stay inside and watch movies. If it’s raining, you’re most likely going to sleep because you don’t want to go outside.” - Demi, Service Assistant

“Yes, I don’t like cool weather, it’s kinda depressing to me. I like sunny summers or spring, but I hate winter. Being cold makes me uncomfortable.” – Stuti, Group X instructor

“Yeah, I guess on a subconscious level, I don’t really get sad if it rains generally, but I get happy when it’s sunny.” - Tony, Outdoor Pursuits

This is in line with the typical idea that most people have. Though this is the most popular assumption, the research says otherwise. Marcus Huibers J.H. abstract studies states, “Weather conditions were not associated with mood, and did not explain the seasonal variation we found. We conclude that, contrary to popular belief, weather conditions and sad mood or depression do not seem to be associated.”

This is the most common finding in the Google Scholar searches. Their hypothesis is that the effects of weather are all in the person’s mind. The person subconsciously associates an emotion with a current type of weather. Whether this is true are not is up for debate.

Another theory is the belief that weather doesn’t affect a person’s mood, but rather certain weather aspects have an effect on mood.

The main aspects of weather that affect mood are:
1.)  Humidity
2.)  Temperature
3.)  Sunshine

Jeffery Sanders and Mary Brizzolara’s “Relationships Between Weather and Mood” says that, “The pattern in inverse relationships suggests a general state of enervation characterized by feelings of diminished physical energy, reduced interest in social interactions, and somewhat flattened effect.” Basically, during days when it’s really humid, generally people have a tendency to be less active and stay home. Low energy levels have bad effects on mood. That is also the reason why cold weather could have a lowing effect on mood. The less active you are, the lower your mood tends to be.

The last aspect is sunshine. According to Deborah Kotz from health.usnews.com,
“When the sun's UV-B rays hit the skin, a reaction takes place that enables skin cells to manufacture vitamin D.” The article goes on to say that fair skinned individuals only need 10 minutes in the midday sun to get enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of vitamin D. The article also says that dark-skinned individuals produce less vitamin D (possibly because of the higher concentration of melanin in the skin) so they would need more time in the sunshine to produce the same amount.  Kotz goes on to state, “The darker the skin, the more it's protected against skin cancer, but the less able it is to absorb UV-B rays.”  Maintaining your vitamin levels is a big factor in mood and in health. Generally, the healthier you are, the happier you are.

Most of these findings say that there isn’t a correlation between weather and mood. Rather, it’s the correlation between energy levels and mood. So next time when you find it raining outside or it’s a gloomy day, maybe try working out. Working out causes your body to release endorphins; which gives you a positive feeling. It might just change your mood for the better. 

- Just a thought, Devonte Hill

Resources:
 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2008/06/23/time-in-the-sun-how-much-is-needed-for-vitamin-d?page=2
 http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression 
Relationships Between Weather and Mood by Jeffery Sanders and Mary Brizzolara
  http://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/soco.1994.12.4.309
Rec Center Employees 

Friday, October 25, 2013

You need Energy? So do I !



With everyday struggles and long days, it’s hard to stay focused and awake through out the day. I know sometimes I find myself starting my day at 8am and it may not end until 8pm. It’s especially hard when you spend most of your time sitting on your butt; whether that’s in class or at work. Well don’t fear, I have researched some good ways to regain the energy you need to make it through your day.

The most common thing to do these days is to take a ton of 5 hour energy shots, drink a gallon of coffee or shoot yourself up with energy drinks until you bounce off walls. This can be a quick fix at times, but most of these “energy enhancers” are load with either too much sugar, caffeine, or an unhealthy amount of Vitamin B. If you truly want to gain energy the health way, you have to do it the natural way.


When trying to find ways to get more energy, you must first look at what you are doing. You need to know what exactly is causing you to not have energy.

You want to look at:
  1. Sleep
  2. Eating habits
  3. Amount of exercise
These factors are important. If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, you’re not allowing your body to recuperate.  The “Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics" published a review about partial sleep deprivation and energy balance. Partial sleep deprivation is getting 6 1/2 hours to 5 hours of sleep a night. This review found that reduced sleep might: 
  • Disrupt appetite hormones
  • Promote greater food intake
  • Change body composition to favor more fat storage
Even though it may be hard, try fitting a solid nap in your day. If that’s not possible, you might have to give yourself a bedtime and go to sleep every day by a certain hour. In order for your body to function at it’s highest level, doctors say you need at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

Eating habits is another factor that can affect your energy levels. It’s important to look at what you are eating, how much, and how often you eat. Sports nutritionist Rebecca Scritchfield stated in her 2009 Washington Running Report that adequate levels of the mineral iron (which carries oxygen throughout the body) contribute to sufficient energy levels. Healthy, leafy greens, like spinach, are rich sources of iron. 
Besides iron, you also want to look at carbohydrates. Carbohydrates contain the most glucose and give the quickest form of energy. If you need a quick fix, crackers or some kind of whole grain bread would be the way to go, BUT you have to be careful. Any extra carbohydrates will be stored in your liver. If you put too many carbs in your body and you max out your liver, your body will then turn the carbs into fat.  If you want to have longer lasting energy, also try adding more brown rice, lentils, and beans to your diet. 

Protein is another mineral that is important to energy. Your body needs protein for cell replacement, maintenance, and energy. Protein is mostly stored and used by your muscles.  It takes about 3 to 4 hours to affect blood sugar levels, so protein is good for energy you want later after your meal. It would be a good idea to have a mix of carbohydrates and protein in your diet. That way you are getting the materials needed to make quick energy and energy for later use. 

You also want to look at how often you eat. It’ better if you spread out your meals. Instead of having 2 big meals a day, try have 3 meals a day with snacks in between. That way you’re allowing your body to have a steady flow of food and your energy will be spread out throughout the day. 

So now you’re aware of the importance of sleep and diet, but there’s one more thing to consider: exercise.  According to Jennifer Warner from WebMD Health News, expending energy by engaging in regular exercise may pay off with increased energy in the long run. 
Researcher Tim Puetz, PhD, of UGA says, "We live in a society where people are always looking for the next sports drink, energy bar, or cup of coffee that will give them the extra edge to get through the day, but it may be that lacing up your tennis shoes and getting out and doing some physical activity every morning can provide that spark of energy that people are looking for."

Any time you increase your circulation, you allow materials to get to viral parts of your body easier. It serves no good for you to fill your body full of rich carbs and protein if you have poor blood circulation. Getting up and moving could make a difference in your day. Luckily SFA has an amazing Rec Center to help us out. 







Just a thought - Devonte Hill


Resources:





Friday, October 4, 2013

What's with Microwaves?



In today’s society, most people have no idea how everyday items work. We go about our daily lives using machines that we have no understanding of how they work. Earlier in the week I asked 50 people, “How often do you use a microwave for heating or cooking?” 33% of those people said they use a microwave 3 times a week. In the hope of shedding some light on our seemingly dark world, I decided to investigate microwave ovens (or microwaves for short).

Microwave ovens use microwaves; a concept not hard to understand. What’s interesting is how it uses microwaves to heat up food or water. Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with alternating electric and magnetic fields. Since the electric fields alternate between positive and negative, when they hit a molecule they cause the molecule’s electric field to shift back and forth causing the molecule’s particles to move. The movement of the particles causes friction, and friction causes heat. Microwaves ovens basically use microwaves to make the molecules in food vibrate and make friction, which in return, heats the food up. This is why you sometimes have cold spots in your food. Microwave ovens can only “heat” the areas that the microwaves hit.

 
Hitting food with crazy waves seems kind of sketchy to me, so I wanted to figure out if it is safe to use or not. When looking up information on microwave ovens, it’s very confusing deciding which information is correct. On one hand, people say it’s bad and can cause cancer. On the other hand, people say it’s good and can help prevent cancer. It’s hard to make a decision when you have conflicting information. Here are just a few of the quotes I ran across during my research:

“While X-rays, gamma radiation, and even sunlight can cause cancer, microwave radiation cannot because it simply doesn’t pack enough power to damage your DNA.” - Gary Zeman of the Health Physics Society in McLean, Virginia

“I generally recommend that patients microwave their meats for 1-5
minutes and discard the juices before grilling.” [The juices are said to be linked to cancer]- Cyndi Thomson of the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona

“If you microwave your food you’re zapping away nutrients and risking your
health,” says physician Joseph Mercola, who recommends that consumers
get rid of their microwave ovens and eat at least a third of their food raw.

“Actually, microwaving retains more nutrients than other forms of cooking, if you don’t use a lot of water and don’t overcook the food.” - Barry Swanson, food scientist

“There is a tendency for most microwave users to cook everything on high power, except when defrosting. High is the default setting. The higher the power, the stronger the electric field, and the more damaging it is to nutrients. So, the lower the power, the safer [it is]. But only some microwave ovens are capable of true low power cooking. The microwave ovens equipped with inverter magnetrons actually reduce the power instead of just cycling it between high and off.” – John Andrews, naturalnews.com

“Cooking food destroys nutrients, whether it's on a stove, or in the microwave oven. But microwaving food on high power can be more destructive than cooking on the stove. So if you use a microwave, use one with an inverter magnetron, and cook on low power. Cooking on true low power (not intermittent high) will greatly reduce the amount of damage done to the food. Even on low power, I still don't know if a stove or microwave is worse. It's like asking me if I'd rather get beat by a club, or shocked by a taser.” John Andrews, naturalnews.com

The information on this topic is very conflicting. I even ran across an article about a little girl’s scientific experiment of microwave water verses boiled water that has been recycled all over the web and doesn’t show any true scenes of origin:

Ten Reasons to dispose of your microwave oven:
1.) Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term – permanent – brain damage by ‘shorting out’ electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
-Unknown Origin (many users)

Is this experiment real or not? Who knows? In the world of the Internet, anybody can post information about anything and claim that it’s true. Even Youtube was divided on the issue. After 3 hours of watching microwave videos both pro and con, I still can’t tell you if it’s safe to use or not. That’s pretty ridiculous! I can only tell you how it works and the side effects of cooking with a microwave oven. Since water evaporates when exposed to high energies, your food can be dried out or even taste funny from being cooked in microwaves. As far as it causing cancer, I don’t know. The official U.S. Department of Health website had no information on microwave use, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did cause cancer. It seems like everything in America causes cancers these days. I guess we’re just forced to do what we think is right and see what happens afterwards.

-Just a thought, Devonte Hill

Resources:

Friday, September 27, 2013

Hey ! Get out of the house!



 
The fall season has officially started and the weather is finally getting nice. The days of it being 100 degrees every day are now at an end. This beautiful change means one thing; people have no more excuses for not going outside. The weather is nice, and there are fewer bugs outside. Why not enjoy the outdoors?






The SFA campus is surrounded by beautiful trails that you can explore at your leisure. If you’re having problems finding trails or you just want to know more about them, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of some of the trails around campus:

SFA Mast Arboretum
The Arboretum is probably the most known trail around campus. It’s a 10-acre garden along the Lanana Creek. If you walk to the Rec Center, it’s literally across the street to the left of the IMS fields. The gardens were first made in 1985 as a small project on the south side of the Agriculture Building. After years of care, the gardens expanded into one of the most diverse collection of plants in the South.

Azalea Garden
The Azalea garden is right next to the Arboretum. It contains 46 planting beds, 1.25 miles of universally accessible trails, and 50 benches. The garden features over 550 varieties of Rhododendron, 100 varieties of Camellia, and over two hundred Hydrangea varieties. The Azalea Garden is a highlight of the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail. There are a ton of special events each March that are held in the garden: guided tours during azalea season, an annual Azalea Symposium, and even a Little Princess Tea Party.

Pineywoods Native Plant Center
The Pineywoods Native Plant Center is a 42-acre garden on Raguet St. past the football stadium.  It's a unique mixture of uplands, mid-slopes and wet creek bottoms. The Tucker House serves as the central feature of the property, which is surrounded by native forest and gardens that celebrate the diversity of native plants in the region.



If you would like more information on trails around campus, visit the Outdoor Center located in the Rec Center, or visit the Outdoor Center page of the Campus Rec website!


Just a thought, Devonte Hill

Friday, September 20, 2013

What's with all this Twerking??


People now are trying to find new and fun ways to work out. You can now do crazy things like playing video games on a stationary bike and even jump rope with out a rope.  In today’s blog, however, I would like to address twerking as a potential workout tool.

Now for those who don’t know about twerking, it’s been around for years. It was mainly seen at clubs and other adult venues. Over time it turned into a Youtube craze and then eventually, it became mainstream, thanks to Miley Cyrus. Reactions and opinions vary on this subject, but this proposes a legitimate question: “Twerking looks difficult; can it be used as a possible workout? Or is it just ‘sexual dancing?’ This would not be the first time something comes from the nightclubs and into workout studios. Recently, people started using pole dancing as a form of working out; now there are studios for pole dancing. To begin this twerking quest for answers, I first started by gathering opinions from Rec Center patrons/employees.

“Twerking can be viewed as an intense movement and shaking of the hip and buttox area, which enhances mobility skills and provides a good, productive workout” – Stephany O. (Fitness)

“Yes, it burns your legs and would be a great toning exercise… IF done correctly. Not Miley Cyrus twerking!” – Tiffany L. (Admin)

“I could see it being a part of a workout routine, but not just doing it in random places like the basketball courts.” – Bethany W. (OP)

The general outlook of twerking as a workout tool is positive. Most people could see it being used as an effective workout. But what do the professionals say?

Brian Krans from Healthline.com says, “Twerking burns between 5-8 calories per minute for a 150-pound individual. Twerking for an hour (should you choose to do so) will burn somewhere between 300 and 480 calories in an hour, about the same as 60 minutes of power yoga or an hour of moderate jogging.”

Glennisha Morgan from Frugivoremag.com quotes, “Dancer, dance-fitness pro, and the creator of Hip Brazil Dance and Fitness, Vanessa Isaac said that ‘twerking’ is good for cardio and also muscle toning. She says in addition to its fitness benefits, it can also be tons of fun. The few times that I’ve tried it in my mirror, I’ve walked away feeling sexy, confident, and full of laughter.”

 

Overall, twerking (done correctly) takes a lot of muscle control and it could be used to tone the hips, legs and butt area. It seems like this generation is more accepting to new and different ideas. I even tried giving twerking a shot, but I soon realized that I am a guy and my body doesn’t move in certain directions. Anyway, if you want to try twerking in the mirror sometime or do it with your friends and see how it works for you, you’re free to do so. As with anything, it’s all about what you want to do with it. 

- Just a thought, Devonte Hill


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Rec Center Massage Presentation




When I heard the Rec Center was having another massage presentation, I had to seize the opportunity. If you keep up with the blogs, you’ll know that I wrote about massages last year. I felt it was time to take the next step and learn some techniques. With the help of my trusty partner, we made our way to the Rec Lobby to receive our first lesson. Therese Hostetter, the massage therapist at the Rec, went over some of the dangers of massage and what potential hazards to look for. She used the acronym “In Heaven Divine Therefore Bring Apples” to help us remember what to look for. It stands for: Heart problems, Deep vein blood clots, Trauma, Brain problems and Blood pressure. You must check to see if the person has any of those problems before you massage them. If you don’t, you can cause serious injury or even death.

After getting scared a little bit, we eventually got into the fun stuff. Here are some of the techniques we used:

Long stroke
It’s one of the easiest techniques we learned. Let’s say you’re massaging someone’s back. To perform a Long Stroke you simply press lightly, starting at the waist, and gradually increase pressure as you get closer to the heart. Then, you lightly lift your hand without completely removing it from their back, and move back down to the waist. After that, you repeat the process. You can perform this technique anywhere on the body as long as you start at the farthest point from the heart and gradually gain pressure as you get close to the heart.

 

Kneading
Kneading was my favorite technique. To put it simply, you basically grab a piece of the person’s muscle and pretend that you’re trying to make meat balls or burger patties with it. Move the muscle in our hands in a grabbing motion. It feels great and it’s fun to do.


Strike
Strike is a type of Tapotement technique used in Swedish massage. It involves using rhythmic strikes on the part of the body you’re massaging. There are several ways you can do it. You can spread your fingers and use the outer edge of your hand, you can cup you hands, or you can use the tips of your fingers. This technique is really useful when you’re trying to wake up or excite your nerves. I might have to bring this technique out during finals....



Therese covered a lot of techniques in the two hours I was there, and I’d recommend anyone try it. It's free, very informative, and the Rec created a friendly environment for learning.

If you are interested in talking with Therese Hostetter or would like to get a massage from her, walk in and schedule an appointment at the Rec Center admin office or call 936-468-3507





-Just a thought, Devonte Hill






Thursday, September 5, 2013

Are you Surviving?


 Tools for Surviving the Semester 


It’s another year in school. By now, things should be pretty intense. Homework is piling up, projects are close to being due, some people even have a test next week. Well, I have a couple of suggestions to charge your energy and help you get that boost to survive this semester.

Yoga


I have to admit, before going to one of the Group X classes in at the Rec, I though yoga was just for girls. Most advertisements show only girls doing yoga, but after trying it, it seemed like a really good experience. At first I felt pain in my legs from the positions, but the breathing exercises really gave me energy. Walking out of the class, I really felt energized and really to take on the world! Or just my homework.  I recommend trying out any of the different yoga classes and see if it fits you and your schedule.




Working Out







One of the best stress relievers is pumping iron. Now, I’m not saying you have to become a body builder. If you want to get energized and even shed a few pounds, try working out with lighter weights and with a lot of reps. Another good stress reducer is running. You use your whole body when you run. If you are outside or on the trails, you can experience great scenery and scents. There’s something about trees that help get your mind off things. If running or lifting weights aren’t your thing, you can always join a Zumba Group X class or other fitness classes. Anything high energy will do your body and your mind good.




Cut down on fast food


If you need more energy during the day, make sure you’re eating the right things. Although burgers and fries are delicious, they don’t do a good job giving you that burst of energy and you find yourself tired and sluggish afterwards. Try eating healthier and see how that effects your body. You’ll notice you’ll have more energy during the day when you eat the right things. 








-Just a thought, Devonte Hill

Friday, May 3, 2013

So it’s that Time of the Year...


 FINALS!!!


So it’s that time of the year. Every end of the semester, teachers decide to unleash a wrath of projects, assignments, homework and tests all right before Final Exams. It’s every college student’s worse nightmare. Luckily, the Rec Center is a great stress reliever. Here’s my list of activities that could help you relax and be ready for finals:



 
1.)  Float it away

The pool is a great stress reliever. You can literally float your stress away in the lazy river. It’s the one place where being lazy is a good thing.





    2.)  Work it out
     When you’ve had a stressful day, it’s not a bad idea to pump some iron. Working out (no Group X after today) helps release built up negative energy. For some people, it energizes them and gets them ready to sit and study.



 

3.)   Massage it away
Massages are a great way to relax and relieve stress. All the lactic acid from stress simply gets rubbed away. But don’t forget, all massage appointments have to be scheduled 24 hours in advance.

 

 

4.)  Hit the stress out

Another great way to relieve stress is to get hit something! The Rec and the HPE both have Racquetball courts. Just simply check out racquets at the check-in desk. If you’re looking for something to hit outside, you can check out tennis racquets and play tennis at the Tennis Complex right next to the Rec.










Hopefully with these tips, you will survive the Dead/Finals weeks. It always helps if you stay optimistic. A good attitude is half the battle. Besides, it’s just one week. It’ll be over before you know it.


  -Just a thought from Dev. Hill


Friday, April 5, 2013

Life in the Back Country

  
Spring Break at Jackson Falls: Part 2 Camp Life



Last week I said I had the great privilege of joining 15 fantastic people on a Spring Break trip to Jackson Falls in southern Illinois. The sport climbing was simply amazing, but that was just one part of the trip. The trip also offered a chance for people to experience real back country camping. Imagine an entire week without running water! No, toilets, no shower, no sink to brush your teeth or wash your hands in. This was real camping, and I was diving right into it  with no prior experience. The challenge was on.

 
The first thing I had to get use to was using the bathroom outside. Since I’m a guy, simply unzipping my pants took care of #1’s, but #2’s was a whole other animal. Naturally there’s a fear that comes along with the idea of exposing yourself to the world, but it was a fear that had to be faced. 



I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a cold, and dark night. Before I headed out I grabbed the bathroom kit. This special kit contains a shovel, toilet paper and a little bottle of hand sanitizer. To perform this task successfully, you have to go far enough away from the group to not be seen, but not too far that you get lost and can’t find your way back. Then when you find a spot, you have to dig a hole using the shovel and squat over that hole. Afterwards, you would fill that hole up with dirt and mix the contents together. For a good jester, you then put a stick on top of the whole so other people won’t dig in that same spot (or worst, step in it). After wandering around for what seemed like hours, I found a nice spot next to some fallen trees. Throughout the whole experience, I thought I was hearing raccoons in the near bushes. This was definitely not a safe position to be in when flesh-eating raccoons are around you! Ok, so I’m exaggerating. The experience wasn’t that bad. I actually found it easier to use than the traditional toilet.

Being out in nature for that long was like traveling back in time. It’s amazing what you do and how you behave when you have to think about the bare necessities. Every day we had to conserve our water use and measure our food intake. To take advantage of the natural sunlight, we woke up at sunrise and went to sleep when the sun went down. We didn’t have to worry about schedules or deadlines. It was just us, and the adventures we decided to go on. On this trip you also realize the simple things you miss out on in live.  Each day we were able to see the sun set and disappear on the horizon with its orange glow. We saw the billion of stars at night that lit up the sky. 

It really made you appreciate how beautiful living simple really is








- Just a thought from Dev. Hill