Guest Blog Post: Dolphin Dancing

Note: This guest post is by Sarah J, who is staying with us right now.  This is her second contribution to the blog!  Maybe we’ll even get one more!

On the list of things to try in life, swimming with dolphins has to make my top ten.  As it was a Sunday morning when we departed for Subic, Nick was able to drive “like in the U.S.” which was a good thing since there were two women in the car who couldn’t hardly wait to get to Ocean Adventure where dolphins awaited us!

Never to be one to pass up a good show, Sarah made sure to time our arrival so that we could fit in the High Dive Show and the Sea Lion Show prior to our swim.  The dive team put together a fun routine with a mix of kid-humor and showy stunts, the most shocking being a dude who got his protective suit lit on fire before diving off the board.  The Sea Lion show was a total throwback to the days of the Como Zoo in St. Paul and the Sparky The Seal Show, so it was great for the memories but to be honest I could barely sit there knowing that there were dolphins right around the corner in the ocean.

Our dolphin swim lasted about 30 minutes and included: being carried across the pool while holding onto the fins, assisting the trainer with commanding tricks, learning the proper feeding technique (head first), “dancing” with the dolphin (you hold her fins and wrap your legs around her middle as she spins you both in a circle) and play time where you just swim together and splash back and forth.  Our dolphin was Misty and meeting her was such a powerful experience, that I nearly started crying!  The pictures do speak volumes, so I will let them tell the rest of the tale. Woo-hoo!

What NOT to do when an Earthquake hits Manila…

Well folks, I can now add another natural disaster to the list of things I’ve survived in my life, which currently includes:

1.  Tornadoes
2.  Blizzards
3.  Golf-ball-sized hail storms (hurts the car every time)
4.  Typhoons/Hurricanes
5.  Near-volcanic eruptions
6.  EARTHQUAKES

Yes, that’s right.  I lived through my first earthquake.  It was a crazy little thing.  Shook the floor for about 30 seconds.  I later learned that it was a 6.2 on the Richter scale – WHOA, huh?  It sounds worst than it felt.  In fact, I thought it was all kind of exciting.  Here’s how it played out:

It was roughly 1:30 in the afternoon and I had just arrived at the 6th floor of Carewell, where I volunteer with the Cancer patients.  I was saying my hellos when all the lovely ladies started praying loudly and clutching their chairs.  I didn’t realize it was an earthquake at first, just thought there was some construction nearby, so I jumped right into the prayers in an attempt to “fit in”.

10-15 seconds in I heard the word Earthquake and everything clicked.  What was funny was that I had no “flight or flight” response programmed for earthquakes.  So I just found myself standing there smiling, a bit in awe.  I even screamed a bit for fun just to feel a part of the chaos!

Now, in retrospect, I realize that this was NOT appropriate behavior.  I should have been getting in a doorway (I think) or going to the roof (so as not to be crushed by the collapsing building).  Did I do any of that?  NOPE.  I danced around like a 6 year old instead.

Note to self: don’t zone out in the future at Emergency Disaster Preparedness Training!  Happily, I lived to tell the tale and I can now say that I survived a 6+ earthquake!

Can someone please walk me through an Earthquake drill, because all I’m programmed to do, I realize, is:

-go to the basement
-get away from the windows
-get into a tucking position
-bring my head to my knees

Not proving to be overly effective for typhoons and earthquakes…

Tondo in the News – One Final Post

Here are a couple of great videos about Tondo that aired on TV in London last week.  Lynie, who led our tour is featured.  You’ll recognize many shots from my pictures.  And I promise, no more posts on Tondo awhile…

Lessons from Tondo

I’m having a hard time letting go of this experience, feeling that my sharing is still incomplete.  I’m hoping that in doing one last post, I’ll feel like I did Tondo the justice it deserves.

Over the last 24 hours I’ve been noticing the impact that Tondo had on me.  First there was the physical toll – the burning eyes from the methane, the exhaustion from being out in the sun and then the inability to sleep.  It was hard, no doubt, but insignificant compared to the emotional toll that came next.  I am fairly certain that I experienced true despair for the first time in my life.  It was compounded by a sense of hopelessness and desperation; a fear that perhaps I couldn’t handle being with sorrow and pain of this magnitude.

Surprisingly, the vastness of the problem made me want to shut down instead of stepping up, which is not a typical reaction for me.  Once the overwhelm passed, I was still left feeling disturbed but also discovered a deep sense of gratitude that radiated to the core of my being.  I realized that I may not be able to make a large difference at Tondo, but I have the skills and the will to make an impact somewhere else.  My thoughts turned to my Coaching and I felt myself being called forth to step into something bigger with my life, to better use the education and resources that have so abundantly been given to me.

I do not  know what the final impact of Tondo will be, but I can already sense that it has changed me, that I can no longer be the same person given what I have now experienced.  Big stuff, I know.  No idea what I’m supposed to do with it yet, so I’m going to let it incubate for awhile.  I will keep you posted as things develop…

I want to leave you with a few last images that I feel compelled to share.  The first is of the swimming hole.  Kids floated around on scraps of foam while children swam unabashedly in the nude.

Here is the scrap wood area, where lumber and tree parts are collected and either re-purposed or sold.

This area was where charcoal was being made, also to be sold.  I couldn’t get over the soot-covered toddlers running right by the fiery coals.

Mmmm, appetizing.  This appears to be a stew made of chicken that was scavenged from the trash, with the addition of some fresh veggies as well (or those might be scavenged too).  I was amazed to realize that almost everything gets put to a second use.  It was truly incredible…

I leave you with this last vignette, which was perhaps the most impactful exchange I had the entire day.  I was photographing a young girl who was fiercly clutching a giant m&m’s bag.  She pulled some smashed, dirty m&m’s out of the bag and handed them to the boy that was with her.  He ate a few and then extended a hand to offer me some.  That soot-covered hand generously offering to give me half is the perfect metaphor for what I have come to know about the Filipino people.

Even those stripped of their possessions or overtaken by disease will still have the grace to offer you a smile and half of whatever they have left.  I truly believe that such radical generosity could start a movement that would change the world.  I am grateful to be learning these lessons hands-on, as I know they will stay with me the rest of my life.

I leave you with one of my favorite Filipino sayings, “Bahala na, God will provide.” Translated, it becomes: Happen what may, God will provide.

The Scavengers of the Dump

Picture from Rage.com

Instead of engaging in my typical St. Patrick’s Day activity of beer drinking and social events, I had the opportunity to do something vastly different this year.  I was invited to go on a tour with the Philippines Christian Foundation (PCF), an organization that is helping the poorest of the poor that live in Manila’s garbage dump called Tondo.  There are currently over 1.5 million people that live and scavenge at Tondo, roughly 12% of Manila’s entire population.

PCF has designed a variety of initiatives to help this population move beyond life at Tondo.  Their most recent project is a brand new school facility located on the dump site.  What’s so innovative about this school is that it was constructed entirely of donated shipping containers, which were then coated in concrete, as you can see in this next picture (which is how we viewed it).  Incredible, isn’t it?

Because there is a lot of pressure on the children to bring in income for the family, parents were forcing the children to scavenge instead of going to school.  To combat this, PCF designed a points system in which various amounts of rice and canned goods are given out each week to kids based on attendance, good hygiene, and clean uniforms.  This has dramatically reduced the attendance problem, as the children are now able to bring home their contribution by going to school.  Again, sheer brilliance!

There is also a daily feeding program on the site that provides all children with breakfast and lunch.  The children are weighed each day and if found to be underweight, given an additional afternoon snack.  Opportunities can be found at the PCF website to sponsor a child to eat.

Health is also of top concern.  Kids receive a vitamin each day and de-worming treatments are given out several times a year.  A recent birthing center was added at the dump site as well, to assist with pre-natal care and deliveries.  Housing initiatives are in full swing too and sponsorships of $300 can provide a new home for a family of 3 on the site, getting them out of the squalor of their shanty.

The final component of PCF is a livelihood project that teaches them how to make items out of trash.  Bags are made out of juice cartons (my sisters each got one for Christmas) and beaded jewelry is made out of magazine pages.  I was able to get some stunning jewelry to take home with me.  It is truly incredible what they are doing, as it teaches them new skills beyond scavenging.

The school is located on the land of a previous dump site that is affectionately titled “Smoky Mountain”.  As you can see in the picture above, there is constant smoke rising from the mountain.  What you may not have guessed though is that the smoke is actually methane gas, caused by all the garbage deteriorating below.  My eyes were burning and tearing up after just 10 minutes near it.  Imagine living there day and night?

I nearly gagged when I saw this.  Contained in these bags are chicken bones with small amounts of meat still on them.  They were pulled out of garbage bins, re-cooked, sauced and sold for 50 cents a bag.  I wonder how many pieces of my leftover Jollibee chicken scraps have ended up in these bags?

So I’m sure you’re wondering why so many people end up at the dump.  The cycle works something like this.  The dream for most Filipinos is to move from the provinces to the big city of Manila and then eventually get a Visa and move to the United States.  What happens though is that they leave the province and come to Manila, attempt to find a job without success and then eventually end up at the dump to make their living by scavenging.

So why don’t they just go back to the provinces where life was better?  Well, the Asian concept of “saving face” comes into play here and unless they’ve made something of themself, they do not feel that they can return (in shame) to their home.  And so the population of the dump continues to grow….

As you can see in my pictures, the Tondo children really captured my heart.  I will never forget the moment captured in this picture above as two children scurried up the garbage pile with their trash bag, fighting over who got to hold the bag.  My heart still remains heavy 24 hours later and I feel compelled to do one final post on Tondo tomorrow.  I hope you will continue reading about these courageous people and think about what you may do to fight poverty in your own community.

Pay As You Throw Programs Gaining Popularity

Okay, so I’m sorry to feature an out-dated chart, but it was the best one I could find.  I was truly inspired when I learned that over 7,100 US communities have implemented Pay-As-You-Throw Programs.  It is estimated that since their implementation, an average of 6 million tons of waste have been saved from landfills each year.  Most communities have shown a 25-35% reduction in solid waste.  The bonus of all this is that nearly 4 million tons of Greenhouse Gases have been saved!  Very inspiring, don’t you think?  Does your community Pay-As-You-Throw?

Sources: Body + Soul Magazine, http://www.epa.gov/payt/

A Camera Club Outing Gone Awry…

On Sunday our Camera Club was having their third outing.  On the first outing in Fort Santiago, I ended up wandering off on my own too long and missed the meeting part.  Outing two didn’t work in my schedule.  So here I was, all pumped for outing 3 at the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City.  Now remember that it’s rainy season here and the weather is quite unpredictable…. Knowing that, I checked in with a group member at 8:30 AM to make sure we were still on at 10 AM.  Everything seemed to be a go and I was off.

I ended up in a cab with a driver named Henry, easily the nicest cabbie I’ve ever ridden with.  We talked for the entire hour ride as he showed me new parts of the city.  The Ecopark happened to be in a very remote section of town (fancy that) and after the cab left me I looked high and low and couldn’t find my group.  It was at that point that I decided to pull out my cell phone.  Surprise!  It was on vibrate and I had missed 4 texts, all of which were from group members trying to frantically communicate that the event was cancelled.  Oops- my nasty habit of leaving my phone silent finally bit me in the butt.

So I looked around to assess the situation.  I was in a woodsy area with roosters and stray dogs running around.  There were no taxis to be seen.  And it had just started to drizzle.  Since this trip was going south fast, I decided to do what any good traveler does and make the best of it.  I pulled out my trusty old camera and umbrella and made my way into the park.  I’m sure I looked a bit crazy taking pictures in the rain, but I ended up getting some surprisingly decent shots (all glisten-y with the rain) and it did eventually stop after a half hour.

Now I just had to figure out a way to get home.  All of a sudden I remembered that I had asked Henry for his cell number so that I could use him again in the future (a common practice here).  WAHOO!  Henry would save me!!  And so I dial his number and get a woman (whom I presume was his wife) that only speaks Tagalog.  The conversation was not pretty.  I’m not even sure you could consider it a conversation.  I hung up discouraged.  But no less than 10 minutes later Henry is calling me on my phone, is still in the area 1.5 hours later and can pick me up in 15 minutes.  How lucky am I???!  Thank you Mrs. Henry!  And so me hero came in his yellow chariot and carried me safely back to Makati to the safety of my high rise.  Don’t you just love a happy ending???

Enjoy these shots!  More on SMUGMUG.

Back From Borneo!

Hi All- Forgive me the LONG absence!  After 5 days of being away, I was swamped with emails and to-do’s upon arriving home.  Oh yeah and it took me 6 hours to edit down the 400 photos from the trip…. perhaps digital photos aren’t the greatest thing in the world.  I’m apparently not a very speedy editor!  Oh, but wait until you see the shots I got, especially of the Orangutans at the Sanctuary!  Here’s a few of my favorites.  Expect a complete recap of the trip tomorrow!

The full gallery from Borneo is ready to be viewed at: SMUGMUG.

The Evolution of the Tupperware Party

Ladies- I think most of us can recall a time in our lives when we were invited to attend an in-home party.  It may have been tupperware, baskets, candles or stamps; the options are endless.  Nowadays, women across the country are meeting up for a different reason – to host a Green-Cleaning Party!

Women’s Voices for the Earth came up with the idea after identifying that over 200 commonly-used cleaners contain harmful chemicals.  They wanted to get people back to the basics: vinegar, olive oil and baking soda – the combination of which are just as effective!  There is a virtual kit online that lists everything you need to host your own party.  After that all you need is a few gal-pals, some glass jars and an evening set aside to mix up your new household helpers!  Sounds far better than a Tupperware party to me…

Does anyone use the phone book anymore?

This year, I noticed that when our phone books arrived in the lobby of my condo, they sat there for weeks without the pile going down.  That caused me to think – who really uses the phone book anymore?  I don’t know about you, but I turn to the internet for that nowadays.  I even noticed a little bit of guilt showing up when I walked by it every day and didn’t take one.  I couldn’t help but think what a waste it was.

My good friend KB was kind enough to pass on this great link where you can opt out of receiving phone books at your address in the future.  Perhaps this simple step would alleviate some of your guilt as well and save one more tree!

Click HERE to stop phone book delivery to your address!

My Debut on MPR!

Click here to listen to the audio on MPR and read the article: hour_car_solar

Well, it’s not very big, but it’s there… not that I’m complaining!  It sure was fun… I’m in minutes 3-5 of the audio.  Check it out!

No More Junk Mail!

The following is a public service announcement brought to you by Sarah Miller: Are you sick and tired of receiving heaps of junk mail?  I know I am, but I had no idea how to make it stop.  Well, being the good little researcher that I am, I tracked down some information to share with you!  All you need to do is check out this Stop Junk Mail website to find out how.  Once you get a letter out to each of the major junk mail clearinghouses, then you’re all set to go!

Green Etiquette: Alternatives to Evite!

I’ll keep it short and sweet today.  I’m getting sick of evite.  I know it works, but that’s all anyone uses.  If you feel like spicing up your party life, check out these online invite sites that add a little kick to the whole process:

1.  PINGG: Seriously, I LOVE this site.  Cool, modern designs with a focus on photography and artists.  Such a fun way to put a signature touch on your event!  And still absolutely free!

2.  My Punch Bowl: Not only does this site have cool, free online invites that you can upload your own pictures into, but it also has resources to assist you with the actual planning of the party.  How could you go wrong?

The 10 Easiest Ways to Green your Office!

1. Kick the Bottled Water Habit.

Every year, 1.5 mil barrels of oil go to making plastic water bottles used in the United States, and less than a quarter of those bottles are recycled, so choose a reusable bottle instead.

2. Compute This.

Set computers to enter sleep mode after 5 min of idle time, and you’ll be saving energy during lunchtime and other outings. And shut them down at night – contrary to eco-myth, it’s better for the earth and your computer to shut them off before you head home.

3. Zap Your Phantom Energy Loads.

Plug your office electronics into a power strip so that you can easily turn them all off when you’re not using them – you’ll keep your devices from sapping “phantom” electricity loads when they’re off but plugged in. On average, 40% of the energy used in homes powers turned-off appliances.

4. Purify with Plants.

It doesn’t take a forest to clean the air in your office, only about one plant for every 10 square yards. Plants like philodendrons and peace lilies absorb airborne pollutants, keeping the air you breathe clean and clear.

5. Forgo Bad chems.

Standard keyboard cleaners contain toxins you definitely don’t want to inhale. Just one 10-oz can of chem duster has the same greenhouse gascreating effect as burning 100 gallons of gas. Take CTRL: Just turn your keyboard upside down, give it a little shake, and slide a piece of 2-sided adhesive tape between the keys.

6. Dodge the Drafts.

Printer drafts, that is. Unless you’re printing something superimportant, save ink and paper by tracking your changes in electronic documents.  If you absolutely need to print something, print it double-sided. Who could conscientiously object to that?

7. Pay the Piper Online.

You probably already do it at home for convenience, but lessen your paper clutter at the office too by banking and paying bills online. Phone companies alone use 23,280 tons of paper per year just to bill U.S. residential customers for single lines of service.

8. Get Inked.

Ink cartridges can take up to 450 years to decompose. Recycle your old ones, and next time you buy, go with refilled cartridges, which work just like conventional ones and cost up to 75% less than new ones.

9. Safeguard Your Lunch.

Baggies are piling up in landfills quicker than you can say “ziplock,” and toxins in plastics are no picnic. Reduce waste by taking your lunch in reusable, safe containers. Some plastics, like PVC (#3), polystyrene (#6), andpolycarbonate (#7) contain hormone disruptors or other nasty chemicals. Stay healthy with plastics #1, 2, 4 or 5.

10. Climb Your Way to Green.

A surefire way to avoid awkward elevator silences and save energy? Take the stairs instead. No surprises here: Climbing stairs burns up to 10 times more calories than standing in an elevator. And, depending on type, capacity, and usage, an elevator’s yearly energy usage can equal the energy used to power seven homes annually.

Click on the logo above to go to ideal bite’s website, providing you with bite-sized ideas for light green living.  Simple tips are delivered to you daily via their email blasts!

Something fabulous in our backyard!

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Farmer’s Market, but have you REALLY taken the time to check it out?  Nick and I have made a tradition of heading down to Lowertown in St. Paul a few times a month.  It’s absolutely one of my all-time favorite things to do on a sunny Saturday morning!  I must admit, I’m partial to St. Paul’s market for one key reason: Minneapolis allows middle-men to sell, which means that Supervalu or other wholesalers can unload extra produce.  You’ll occasionally see a DOLE box or Chiquita sticker on your bananas, which somehow just doesn’t feel right to me!  That being said, if you go into the Minneapolis market knowing that what you buy may not be local and you’re okay with that, then what you DO get is a wider variety of fruits and veggies at a convenient location (like Nicollet Mall on Thursdays, for example).

There are many reasons why I love St. Paul’s market more though.  Here are a few:

1.  Free parking!
2.  Live music!
3.  Great home-made Hummus!
4.  Fresh meat, cheese and eggs in addition to produce.
5.  Donuts and coffee!
6.  No middle men -everything is locally produced.
7.  Convenient Hours for the main market in Lowertown: 6 AM to 1 PM Saturdays, 8 AM to 1 PM Sundays.
8.  17 satellite markets throughout other areas of St. Paul during the week.
9.  Open April through November!
10.  There are talks about an indoor market for the winter months…

They only sell what’s in season, so selection is more limited than Minneapolis, but you get to talk directly to the grower and ask about their farming practices among other things.  I hadn’t paid much attention in the past to where my food comes from, but this really makes it real for me.  If that isn’t enough to convince you to go, then I don’t know if anything will get you there!  Have fun taking in this MN tradition- it’s perfect for families of all ages too!

Monday’s Perspective: The Story of Stuff

Try this on for size…. you may agree with it or you may not.  I thought it was an incredibly well-done production, no matter what you thought of the content.

Fabulous Eco-sacs!

 I am enamoured with my latest eco find.  This trendy little bag rolls up into a compact unit that can be stored in your purse or car.  What blows my mind is that it’s waterproof, fashion-forward, and able to carry the weight of two supermarket plastic bags (a whopping 44 pounds)!  Thank goodness for the reinforced seams!  And the best part about it is that the bag weighs a mere 1.4 oz and retails for less than $10.  I got mine at Hot Mama, but you can also get it directly from the supplier, Envirosax.  You can thank me later.  I feel so hip pulling it out and soon you will too!

Goodbye Car!

So I got rid of my car!  I know you’re probably thinking that I’m crazy right now, but I swear, carless living has been one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time.  Here are some of the ups and downs that I’ve seen so far.

Benefits:

• Bus Buddies: I have many new friends now, some of whom have brought me coffee in the morning (try getting that on a solo commute!).  I’ve also come to know my friendly bus drivers.
• Monetary Savings: I would estimate the following for monthly car-related payments ($300 for a car payment or repairs, $200 in gas (conservative estimate), and $100 in insurance).  That’s a lot people!  In contrast, I pay roughly $100 for a monthly bus pass and spend $35 a month for 5 hours in the hour car.  Check out these sites for rates:  Metro Transit.  Hour Car.  The hourcar website has a calculator that helps you calculate your savings.  I find that I have about 1 or 2 times a month when it’s a challenge to get somewhere.
• Improved sensory functions: My senses have been on overload since taking the bus.  I notice new smells, hear the birds chirping, and see my favorite dog every day on the way to the bus.  It feels very “in the moment”.  I love it!
• Challenge: Getting rid of my car has been a fun challenge.  I have gotten very creative about how I get places.  It may be a combination of biking/busing, walking or using the hourcar.  I’m getting very savvy with my bus routes now and can correctly identify most of the major lines.  Don’t be jealous- you can do it too!
• Knowing my local neighborhood: This was the primary reason I got rid of my car.  I had this desire to support my local neighborhood, but I found that I was always on auto-pilot to SuperTarget.  Today alone I purchased food from the local co-op and bought a new scarf and sweater from a local boutique on Grand.  It feels twice as good to buy from a local businessperson.
• Reading Time: I love my bus time.  I haven’t read this much in a long time.  I also listen to my ipod lots and basically just enjoy my stress-free rides.

Challenges:

• Male aggression: I’ve been hit on countless times on the bus (I’m not bragging).  My favorite lines thus far have been: “Bad weather today, but seeing you has just brightened my day.” and “You’re so lovely and I will never forget that smile.  I can tell we have a connection.  I’ll see you again soon on the 21.”  Ahhh.  Well, at least I’m getting the conversation I so craved. 
• Quick stops/starts: The buses start and stop so quickly that I’ve gotten numerous bruises from when they took off and I wasn’t seated yet.  I like to think of them as my war wounds…
• Missed connections: The worst is when you have a connection to make and you see your next bus leaving just as you pull up.  I’ve run many a time now.  I catch it about 30% of the time.  Good exercise!
• Hauling groceries: This weekend I did a big grocery run using the bus.  I had this cool cart I got from Target, but it was too heavy to lift when full.  Sooo…. you guessed it- I used the automated lift.  I know, it was embarassing.  AND Yes, I know it’s supposed to be for wheel chairs, etc.  But I had just gotten too many groceries in one trip…. I’m learning!

So that’s it.  Post me any questions you have about it.  Check out my fabulous picture with my beloved hourcar.  I have it for 5 hours a month.  I walk 4 blocks to pick it up and buzz into the car with a key fob.  The car key is inside it.  There are currently about 12 car locations in minneapolis/st. paul.  It costs roughly $7 an hour with insurance and gas included.  Isn’t that a deal!