The young mind needs shaping through critical thinking. Whether the means is through a required statistics class or a book review group project in a required English class, the origin is not of importance. Critical thinking through review of a novel, including ethnographic perspective, challenges a student to work independently and in group discussion. It also develops the mind to take in all aspects and perspectives of the author's work and to make critical connections. These strengthening virtues of a book review project make it an essential part of the English curriculum and liberal education. English 110 should continue to make the literature circle project a required element of its coursework.
My literature circle project was based on “The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific,” an ethnographic novel by J. Maarten Troost, and it's funny and sometimes insightful text challenged me independently and in group discussion to connect all aspects of it. The book is about Maarten Troost and his girlfriend Sylvia moving to the small Pacific island nation of Tarawa to pursue Sylvia's job opportunity and Troost's lack of permanent job and unemployment. The transition from life on Kiribati, one of Tarawa's southern islands, was harsh for both who came from the easy life of the U.S. as rampant disease, sweltering heat, a lack of an active government and military, polluted shoreline, and other sub cultural behaviors took some getting used to. This culture shock made them feel foreign as they were considered outsiders by the I-Kiribati people as “I-Matangs.” Eventually they feel a sense of belonging on Kiribati and the ending could be easily assumed. Troost's text shares a cultural outlook and an essential viewpoint is cast onto the reader for consideration.
Troost and Sylvia were destined to remain in the South Pacific after island life changed their views on what is important to them. The ending was very assumptive and did not come as a shock to me. Because of their long stay on Kiribati, they adapted and couldn't find themselves going back to civilization as they knew before. Shopping malls scared them in fact. They found themselves contrite with using what little resources they had for survival in the South Pacific. After moving to the U.S. and finding it too difficult, they moved to Fiji and had their child. This seemed the only satisfactory ending to Troost's ethnographic story as he and Sylvia had found their home there and fell in love with its culture and way of life. In a sense, the only thing that came as a surprise was their son Lukas because he never wrote about her pregnancy till the very end. This left questions of whether their life on Fiji was happier than on Kiribati or whether or not there was a transition from island to island. Troost uses this wonder to let the reader know that the importance of his book was to display how “diving” into another culture changed his life forever enough to create his and Sylvia's happiness by deciding to reside in the South Pacific. The ethnographic story showed his adaption to the culture in which he studied.
“Sex lives” is a good choice for others to read as it is the ultimate ethnography. Troost not only submits himself into another culture, a life cut off from life as he once knew, but is forever changed by his experiences and research despite the harsh living conditions that should have left him unchanged. His initial reaction of Kiribati's culture showed how it seemed he would never change his views. “Small children played with ingenious toys made of sticks and string. Most children have chronic diarrhea and there are indications that cholera has returned. Tarawa is the loveliest place I had ever seen. The water, the beaches, the palm trees, the colors, the sky, and the hovering silver-blue clouds bisected by the horizon. Tarawa isn't a disaster waiting to happen. It is a disaster.” This small segment of his initial reaction shows his negativity towards the island. However, his views are shaped with time and various experiences and towards the end of the book he began to show his learned appreciation for life on Kiribati during the majority of text. And whenever a negative aspect of the island came about he covered it up with something positive such as how he has adapted to it. “Yet, as we rode up and down the atoll on borrowed bicycles (one with a chain that preferred to be elsewhere, the other without brakes, which mattered not on a flat island), watching the men fishing and the women tending gardens and the children playing or shyly staring at us from the heights offered by the coconut trees that they climbed with such ease, it sometimes seemed as if the rhythms of life were focused solely on Butaritari...” shows Troost's acceptance of island life after his significant change from his experiences. This transition from his initial views of Kiribati to his final views shows the in-depth text supporting his experiences, an essential of a successful ethnographic book. Adventurous types and those interested in other cultures are highly encouraged to read this book for the literature circle project because of Troost's changed views from culture shock to adaption.
The project's turnout was very well as I met the deadlines according to the group time line of individual jobs. Because I finished the jobs on time, I was able to actively participate in any group discussion that came about the chapters assigned, whenever discussion was needed. Within the group, the majority of the time went towards finishing the 4 journals; otherwise we would talk of interesting aspects or great changes in the text based on Troost's experiences. The group was fairly balanced by means of who listened who talked and who facilitated. I partook in all of these from time to time to get things accomplished. However, the discussions could have been even more in-depth to give our group more insight into Troost's views. As a learning experience, the group project taught me that depending on others to do their work on time is superficial and never a guarantee. Learning what is in the text is not based on group work or discussion, but independently through reading critically and doing each section's job. Overall, I have changed to become a more analytical reader to catch the smaller details and to look back upon a section if I felt that I had missed something to complete the jobs. This caused me to constantly be asking myself: why did Troost do this? who is he involved with socially in his daily life and for what purpose? These questions allowed me to make connections from the purpose of an ethnography to the ethnography's context while reading the sections. When discussing what I discovered to the group, I learned it is best to state your opinion despite what the others believe. Each person interpret text differently just as each person works much differently within a group project. This goes back to learning to only depend on myself to learn the lessons Troost was promoting throughout the text.
The literature circle project is essential to English 110's coursework because it promotes essential analytic skills for college coursework and professional life. Students need practice to develop critical skills just as Troost needed time to accept the living conditions on Kiribati. It took time and experience for Troost to be changed from the point of being culturally ignorant to deciding to reside in Fiji with Sylvia and Lukas. Being cut off from civilization taught him the independence that changed him.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Mini-essay #6 - Definition
JOINED TOGETHER FOR THE CAUSE
One in five women diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma die. This devastating statistic represents only one type of cancer affecting millions of people. Families of cancer patients, patients, survivors, and friends of these groups feel the effects of cancer every day. No cancer patient undergoes the difficult process of treatment alone as doctors, nurses, oncologists, and others support them in any way possible. Miracles happen and patients survive, however not all make it through as cancer is a life-taking hellish disease. My mom was one of the more fortunate ones affected by cancer. Now this may seem a paradox, but her life was spared and that was the best gifts that God has ever given to me. In efforts to spare an increasing number of lives from cancer, the American Cancer Society has hosted The Relay for Life for decades around the world. I am a member of this group because I am grateful she survived and to raise money to end the times of cancer affecting more millions world-wide.
My involvement with the Relay for Life all began when I was about 10 years old and in girl scouts. From the start, I was always involved in many things, including academic groups and extracurricular activities. For the relay, we worked together to received donations for the cause, set up and decorated a campsite around the track, and took turns walking throughout the entire night until morning. This enduring of the group is a symbol of those who have survived or have lost the fight to cancer. My first experience and involvement in the Relay for Life as a young girl caused me to include others in the future fight against cancer. Year after year I would return and persist with the others around me aiding in the funding for research and the cessation of cancer-related deaths.
This involvement started from a similar group interest and goal, but during 2003, my endurance during the relay came from motives that were personal for the first time. My mom was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma during late winter after she went in to the doctor's after a slip on some ice. Slips are something that people try to avoid during this time; however the slip became a miraculous event. If it weren't for it, she may have never gone in to the doctor, and she may not have been alive today. I walked that summer for that miracle and for the hope that God would bless our family with the sparing of her life. She walked too as the beginning lap ensued, she wore the colored shirt signifying she has or has had cancer, and endured the night along with the rest of the team and other sub-groups at the relay. My mom's determination and strong-will not only allowed her to get through the night of relay events, but also the disease. She has been over 5 years cancer-free and the oncologists declare that to be re-diagnosed would be extremely rare after the fifth year without cancer. For this miracle I walk for the relay, I am who I am today, and I endure the night in hope that cancer will no longer affect anyone.
The members involved in the Relay for Life share this common goal when rallying together to prevent cancer in some way because they have been affected by it. Either they have survived or are battling cancer, or had a friend or family member survive or die from cancer. Being involved in this group allows me to share this feeling of sadness from being affected, happiness for my mom's life, and the hope for future discoveries in the medical field. The revenue made from rallying and donations from several communities at one relay location could aid in the cure. The cure is why we rally.
One in five women diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma die. This devastating statistic represents only one type of cancer affecting millions of people. Families of cancer patients, patients, survivors, and friends of these groups feel the effects of cancer every day. No cancer patient undergoes the difficult process of treatment alone as doctors, nurses, oncologists, and others support them in any way possible. Miracles happen and patients survive, however not all make it through as cancer is a life-taking hellish disease. My mom was one of the more fortunate ones affected by cancer. Now this may seem a paradox, but her life was spared and that was the best gifts that God has ever given to me. In efforts to spare an increasing number of lives from cancer, the American Cancer Society has hosted The Relay for Life for decades around the world. I am a member of this group because I am grateful she survived and to raise money to end the times of cancer affecting more millions world-wide.
My involvement with the Relay for Life all began when I was about 10 years old and in girl scouts. From the start, I was always involved in many things, including academic groups and extracurricular activities. For the relay, we worked together to received donations for the cause, set up and decorated a campsite around the track, and took turns walking throughout the entire night until morning. This enduring of the group is a symbol of those who have survived or have lost the fight to cancer. My first experience and involvement in the Relay for Life as a young girl caused me to include others in the future fight against cancer. Year after year I would return and persist with the others around me aiding in the funding for research and the cessation of cancer-related deaths.
This involvement started from a similar group interest and goal, but during 2003, my endurance during the relay came from motives that were personal for the first time. My mom was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma during late winter after she went in to the doctor's after a slip on some ice. Slips are something that people try to avoid during this time; however the slip became a miraculous event. If it weren't for it, she may have never gone in to the doctor, and she may not have been alive today. I walked that summer for that miracle and for the hope that God would bless our family with the sparing of her life. She walked too as the beginning lap ensued, she wore the colored shirt signifying she has or has had cancer, and endured the night along with the rest of the team and other sub-groups at the relay. My mom's determination and strong-will not only allowed her to get through the night of relay events, but also the disease. She has been over 5 years cancer-free and the oncologists declare that to be re-diagnosed would be extremely rare after the fifth year without cancer. For this miracle I walk for the relay, I am who I am today, and I endure the night in hope that cancer will no longer affect anyone.
The members involved in the Relay for Life share this common goal when rallying together to prevent cancer in some way because they have been affected by it. Either they have survived or are battling cancer, or had a friend or family member survive or die from cancer. Being involved in this group allows me to share this feeling of sadness from being affected, happiness for my mom's life, and the hope for future discoveries in the medical field. The revenue made from rallying and donations from several communities at one relay location could aid in the cure. The cure is why we rally.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Soundtrack to my life
1. "Kokomo" - The Beach Boyshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG9XfJxMY8A
6. "Iris" - Goo Goo Dolls
6. "Iris" - Goo Goo Dolls
10. "For Good" - Wicked
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ
These 10 songs have a certain level of significance to me because they symbolize a certain memory or important time growing up. I first encountered these songs either through a friend or on the radio. The only exception to this would be the song "For Good" because I heard it in Chicago, Illinois last spring with my music department at the play "Wicked" at the Chicago theatre. Also the first 5 songs in my list came in the earlier part of my life, whereas the last half came about when I was in early adulthood or high school years. Life got tough and so did relationships in level of complexity. Change was a major part of high school and also happy life-long memories. I was changed by a few people during high school and these people will always be remembered if I never see them again.
As for choosing the songs on the soundtrack, it was challenging to narrow down which songs are the most significant to me because music is such a big part of my life. I live it, breath it, and feel it. The mix reflects who I am fairly clearly. My review from a fellow classmate declared that "The songs are too varied to get a clear view on other subcultures she belongs to. More than likely she had someone disappoint or let her down because several songs are about breakups or let downs. Friendship is very important to her." From this, my sense of self is seen in my song choice. I went through tough times finding myself, accepting change, and learning from heartbreak. Friendship became very important to me and I became a sensitive person. The song "For Good" was during my senior year for the Chicago trip. We sat at the theatre and I thought of all of the people who I've been part of a community at school with (and teachers) who have made me who I am today. There are those who do not matter, as I have learned, but for those who made a difference in my life I am truly greatful for them. And I will miss them. I sat at the theatre crying next to my best guy friend who happened to be a foreign exchange student from Bangladesh. I feared the change to come, where we wouldn't be able to hang out or talk as easily because he would be leaving to go back to his home country. The questions raced through my head during this song. Who will I become? Will I miss my friends? Will I be strong during yet more change? I will miss all of this I thought. As for the subcultures, I don't find myself belonging to any of them but music culture, because that is what means the most in my life.
Others would see that I am a sensitive, caring friend who has undergone change and good times and appreciates family and the love of her life. People can see this as my character is transparent in this mix, however as the classmate said before, that others would have trouble finding which subcultures I belong to.
My mix also belongs to a larger scope, connecting others in meaningful lyrics and popular songs. It connects the youth and people from my generation through the genres of music and the love of music. This love is demonstrated here at UWEC, for the countless music organizations, ensembles, bands, orchestras, choirs, and people appreciative of music.
The person saw my love for music quite easily, however when judging another's choice of music, it was a little more difficult to judge. For the most part I judged correctly, his outfit and hangout activities for Friday night were correctly judged, however I saw him more of a sensitive guy who played the guitar and had an appreciation for alternative rock genre. I saw him get his paper back and his puzzled look like "I don't play guitar, she has me all wrong." However I did make the comment that I find alternative a good genre to follow as I listen to it as well. I listen to all types of music genres, and that is why it is hard to judge a person's character by their soundtrack. We each have different life experiences and groups of friends and levels of influence by the media. We are all different!
These 10 songs have a certain level of significance to me because they symbolize a certain memory or important time growing up. I first encountered these songs either through a friend or on the radio. The only exception to this would be the song "For Good" because I heard it in Chicago, Illinois last spring with my music department at the play "Wicked" at the Chicago theatre. Also the first 5 songs in my list came in the earlier part of my life, whereas the last half came about when I was in early adulthood or high school years. Life got tough and so did relationships in level of complexity. Change was a major part of high school and also happy life-long memories. I was changed by a few people during high school and these people will always be remembered if I never see them again.
As for choosing the songs on the soundtrack, it was challenging to narrow down which songs are the most significant to me because music is such a big part of my life. I live it, breath it, and feel it. The mix reflects who I am fairly clearly. My review from a fellow classmate declared that "The songs are too varied to get a clear view on other subcultures she belongs to. More than likely she had someone disappoint or let her down because several songs are about breakups or let downs. Friendship is very important to her." From this, my sense of self is seen in my song choice. I went through tough times finding myself, accepting change, and learning from heartbreak. Friendship became very important to me and I became a sensitive person. The song "For Good" was during my senior year for the Chicago trip. We sat at the theatre and I thought of all of the people who I've been part of a community at school with (and teachers) who have made me who I am today. There are those who do not matter, as I have learned, but for those who made a difference in my life I am truly greatful for them. And I will miss them. I sat at the theatre crying next to my best guy friend who happened to be a foreign exchange student from Bangladesh. I feared the change to come, where we wouldn't be able to hang out or talk as easily because he would be leaving to go back to his home country. The questions raced through my head during this song. Who will I become? Will I miss my friends? Will I be strong during yet more change? I will miss all of this I thought. As for the subcultures, I don't find myself belonging to any of them but music culture, because that is what means the most in my life.
Others would see that I am a sensitive, caring friend who has undergone change and good times and appreciates family and the love of her life. People can see this as my character is transparent in this mix, however as the classmate said before, that others would have trouble finding which subcultures I belong to.
My mix also belongs to a larger scope, connecting others in meaningful lyrics and popular songs. It connects the youth and people from my generation through the genres of music and the love of music. This love is demonstrated here at UWEC, for the countless music organizations, ensembles, bands, orchestras, choirs, and people appreciative of music.
The person saw my love for music quite easily, however when judging another's choice of music, it was a little more difficult to judge. For the most part I judged correctly, his outfit and hangout activities for Friday night were correctly judged, however I saw him more of a sensitive guy who played the guitar and had an appreciation for alternative rock genre. I saw him get his paper back and his puzzled look like "I don't play guitar, she has me all wrong." However I did make the comment that I find alternative a good genre to follow as I listen to it as well. I listen to all types of music genres, and that is why it is hard to judge a person's character by their soundtrack. We each have different life experiences and groups of friends and levels of influence by the media. We are all different!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Mini-essay # 5 - Comparison and Contrast
THE STORK DROPPED THIS OFF
Babies are blessings from God. A miracle is given to a couple from a single act, and from it a life begins, a personality is to be unfolded, and a soul is to be loved in return. However, not all couples ask for this miracle in their lives due to timing or relationship complications or mistakes. Some babies come into the world as an unexpected gift. Abortion, adoption, and raising the child are options. My brother Chris had this unexpected gift show up in his life on December, 1st, 2008, and he and the mother chose to raise him. After Jackson's birth, a big change happened in the family. Some people in my family didn't accept the realism of Jackson's unexpectedness very well, however my immediate family accepted his presence as a miracle and a life. He is an adorable addition to the family that will be loved, despite the complications and changes that have been imposed on Chris and the immediate family.
Before Jackson's existence, my immediate family had only 4 members: my mom Debbie, my dad Bryan, my brother Chris, and myself. Each of us has a unique character; having different views, different personalities, different goals, and different interests. Although the family is diverse, personalities come together sometimes to clash and sometimes to blend, which strengthens the group. We make it through hard times and challenges in life. My parents are content with their jobs and live on the farm without Chris and I, my brother has a job in Menominee, Wisconsin, and I go to college at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Not only are we in different locations, but we are in different stages of our lives as well. Our motives and responsibilities mainly involved caring for ourselves before the birth of my nephew. All planning in the family was the immediate future or the present. Our lives changed from caring about the present stresses of work or school to caring for a child as a group effort every weekend.
This change imposed a great sacrifice upon each of us, some more than others. I am rarely home on the weekends due to work, but Chris comes home every weekend to take care of Jackson. He alone has sacrificed the most out of all of us. Money, time, social events, and weekends spent with his girlfriend in Menominee are several of his great sacrifices. My mom has also sacrificed a great deal for her grandson. She picks up Jackson from his mother's house every Friday after work and takes turns watching him throughout the weekend for Chris. She is past the mothering stage and should be able to have the luxury of spoiling her grandson upon each of his visits. Instead, she has taken on the secondary parent to help Chris when the mother is not present. Each of us have sacrificed something. For most of us it is time or hours of sleep per weekend, and I have given up my bedroom temporarily. All of Jackson's clothing, toys, furniture, necessary items, and Chris have taken occupancy in what was once my housing for the occasional weekend at home. This is not necessarily a complaint, however the point made is that the family has experienced change. Some of the changes have been good, some have been bad, and these changes do not matter to the family. What was a mistake turned out to be a miracle. The little boy has made each member of the family more responsible, loving, silly, and cooperative to change diapers, to take turns and watch him, to feed him, to give him baths, and to make him smile. Overall the biggest difference in my family has not been the feeling of being overwhelmed with responsibility, but the feeling of opening our hearts to accept the miracle that God has chosen us to love and care for.
The most recent and greatest change in my life has been the arrival of Jackson, as the family was united to help Chris take on single fatherhood and to bring all of us together from the separation of location and differences in our lives. The little miracle that has changed the family forever may have been unexpected, but now that he is here, there is no choice but to move forward. God works in mysterious ways, and perhaps Jackson is alive to bring us all together, to love one another, and to have faith that with God all things are possible. Anything can be overcome through faith and love.
Babies are blessings from God. A miracle is given to a couple from a single act, and from it a life begins, a personality is to be unfolded, and a soul is to be loved in return. However, not all couples ask for this miracle in their lives due to timing or relationship complications or mistakes. Some babies come into the world as an unexpected gift. Abortion, adoption, and raising the child are options. My brother Chris had this unexpected gift show up in his life on December, 1st, 2008, and he and the mother chose to raise him. After Jackson's birth, a big change happened in the family. Some people in my family didn't accept the realism of Jackson's unexpectedness very well, however my immediate family accepted his presence as a miracle and a life. He is an adorable addition to the family that will be loved, despite the complications and changes that have been imposed on Chris and the immediate family.
Before Jackson's existence, my immediate family had only 4 members: my mom Debbie, my dad Bryan, my brother Chris, and myself. Each of us has a unique character; having different views, different personalities, different goals, and different interests. Although the family is diverse, personalities come together sometimes to clash and sometimes to blend, which strengthens the group. We make it through hard times and challenges in life. My parents are content with their jobs and live on the farm without Chris and I, my brother has a job in Menominee, Wisconsin, and I go to college at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Not only are we in different locations, but we are in different stages of our lives as well. Our motives and responsibilities mainly involved caring for ourselves before the birth of my nephew. All planning in the family was the immediate future or the present. Our lives changed from caring about the present stresses of work or school to caring for a child as a group effort every weekend.
This change imposed a great sacrifice upon each of us, some more than others. I am rarely home on the weekends due to work, but Chris comes home every weekend to take care of Jackson. He alone has sacrificed the most out of all of us. Money, time, social events, and weekends spent with his girlfriend in Menominee are several of his great sacrifices. My mom has also sacrificed a great deal for her grandson. She picks up Jackson from his mother's house every Friday after work and takes turns watching him throughout the weekend for Chris. She is past the mothering stage and should be able to have the luxury of spoiling her grandson upon each of his visits. Instead, she has taken on the secondary parent to help Chris when the mother is not present. Each of us have sacrificed something. For most of us it is time or hours of sleep per weekend, and I have given up my bedroom temporarily. All of Jackson's clothing, toys, furniture, necessary items, and Chris have taken occupancy in what was once my housing for the occasional weekend at home. This is not necessarily a complaint, however the point made is that the family has experienced change. Some of the changes have been good, some have been bad, and these changes do not matter to the family. What was a mistake turned out to be a miracle. The little boy has made each member of the family more responsible, loving, silly, and cooperative to change diapers, to take turns and watch him, to feed him, to give him baths, and to make him smile. Overall the biggest difference in my family has not been the feeling of being overwhelmed with responsibility, but the feeling of opening our hearts to accept the miracle that God has chosen us to love and care for.
The most recent and greatest change in my life has been the arrival of Jackson, as the family was united to help Chris take on single fatherhood and to bring all of us together from the separation of location and differences in our lives. The little miracle that has changed the family forever may have been unexpected, but now that he is here, there is no choice but to move forward. God works in mysterious ways, and perhaps Jackson is alive to bring us all together, to love one another, and to have faith that with God all things are possible. Anything can be overcome through faith and love.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Mini-essay #4 - Process Analysis
How to Milk a Cow
My home is out in the country between each of the few little towns in western Wisconsin. The location of my home is not even in a town, but it exists in an unincorporated destination of Falun, Wisconsin. Known for its dairy farming, tractor pulls, derbies, and the community in which I grew up in, this little locale holds the place where I will always consider my home. Of course my family has a history of farming like the many other local families. I live on a 4th generation dairy farm and have had so much practice with it, that milking a cow has become second nature. Several steps must be done for the sanitary milk to be sent in to the Co-op for manufacturing and distributing. Milking a cow consists of 4 steps: preparing, washing, administering the machine, removing the machine, and storing the milk.
The first step to milking a cow is collecting the materials needed. Before a milking, gather: the cow (obviously), a bucket of hot water with sanitizer solution, a pack of heavy-duty paper towels, a sanitized milk machine, and a sanitized milk tank. Each of these items is essential to achieve the product. Without sanitizer solution, for example, the washing step will not clean the cow’s udder thoroughly, and the milk produced may contain more bacteria than if the udder was sanitary. Now with materials on hand, we are ready to clean the area.
When washing the udders of the cow, the objective is getting the cleanest area possible before putting the machine on. First, submerge a heavy-duty paper towel into the hot sanitized water. Approach the cow slowly with paper towel in hand. Do not get so low that the cow's knees are parallel to your shoulder. Bend down slightly when reaching the udders and use the towel to clean off every surface of the 4 udders. Make sure that you have removed any manure, hair, and milk residue from the udder. Once the area is sanitized, the machine is ready to be connected with the cow.
Connecting the milking machine, though it appears easy, may be a difficult feat for a first-timer. First you must connect the 2 hoses to the pipeline. One supplies air pressure when milking and the other transports milk to the sanitized milk tank. Next you must turn the machine upright with the hoses running beneath the cow. The 4 separate parts that connect in a center globe are then attached to the udders. The air pressure holds the 4 parts on the udders and the air pulsates through the hoses, milking the cow. Removing the apparatus is soon to follow in an order of minutes.
Within a few minutes, a very small amount of milk is seen in the center globe, indicating it is time to remove the machine. First you must hang on to the metal loop attached to the center globe while turning the stopper on the hose. This stops air and milk supply. Then you must remove the 2 hoses from the pipeline. The last step is already finished, however it is the most essential part of the process.
Milk storage was obtained during the milking, but the storage finalizes the process for the farmer to store, distribute, and receive profit on the milk. The storage comes from the machines itself. During the process of milking, the milk from the cow runs through the hosing, into the pipeline, and finally ending in the milk tank. Throughout the week, a truck driver from the local Co-op comes to the farm to take the milk for distribution and further use.
Milking a cow is second nature to a dairy farmer, so that the steps of preparation, sanitizing, attaching and detaching the machines, and milk storage, are subconscious. But for those who never knew that cows had 4 udders can still learn how, if desired, to milk a cow. Farming is not based on milking cows alone, but feeding, cleaning, breeding, and taking care of the animals are other aspects. Far out in the country throughout little towns of Wisconsin and the world, farmers are all doing certain steps to do their jobs, whether it is raising beef cattle, ranching horses, or milking cows like my dad. This hard working atmosphere reminds me of life on the farm and of my family. They are well missed.
My home is out in the country between each of the few little towns in western Wisconsin. The location of my home is not even in a town, but it exists in an unincorporated destination of Falun, Wisconsin. Known for its dairy farming, tractor pulls, derbies, and the community in which I grew up in, this little locale holds the place where I will always consider my home. Of course my family has a history of farming like the many other local families. I live on a 4th generation dairy farm and have had so much practice with it, that milking a cow has become second nature. Several steps must be done for the sanitary milk to be sent in to the Co-op for manufacturing and distributing. Milking a cow consists of 4 steps: preparing, washing, administering the machine, removing the machine, and storing the milk.
The first step to milking a cow is collecting the materials needed. Before a milking, gather: the cow (obviously), a bucket of hot water with sanitizer solution, a pack of heavy-duty paper towels, a sanitized milk machine, and a sanitized milk tank. Each of these items is essential to achieve the product. Without sanitizer solution, for example, the washing step will not clean the cow’s udder thoroughly, and the milk produced may contain more bacteria than if the udder was sanitary. Now with materials on hand, we are ready to clean the area.
When washing the udders of the cow, the objective is getting the cleanest area possible before putting the machine on. First, submerge a heavy-duty paper towel into the hot sanitized water. Approach the cow slowly with paper towel in hand. Do not get so low that the cow's knees are parallel to your shoulder. Bend down slightly when reaching the udders and use the towel to clean off every surface of the 4 udders. Make sure that you have removed any manure, hair, and milk residue from the udder. Once the area is sanitized, the machine is ready to be connected with the cow.
Connecting the milking machine, though it appears easy, may be a difficult feat for a first-timer. First you must connect the 2 hoses to the pipeline. One supplies air pressure when milking and the other transports milk to the sanitized milk tank. Next you must turn the machine upright with the hoses running beneath the cow. The 4 separate parts that connect in a center globe are then attached to the udders. The air pressure holds the 4 parts on the udders and the air pulsates through the hoses, milking the cow. Removing the apparatus is soon to follow in an order of minutes.
Within a few minutes, a very small amount of milk is seen in the center globe, indicating it is time to remove the machine. First you must hang on to the metal loop attached to the center globe while turning the stopper on the hose. This stops air and milk supply. Then you must remove the 2 hoses from the pipeline. The last step is already finished, however it is the most essential part of the process.
Milk storage was obtained during the milking, but the storage finalizes the process for the farmer to store, distribute, and receive profit on the milk. The storage comes from the machines itself. During the process of milking, the milk from the cow runs through the hosing, into the pipeline, and finally ending in the milk tank. Throughout the week, a truck driver from the local Co-op comes to the farm to take the milk for distribution and further use.
Milking a cow is second nature to a dairy farmer, so that the steps of preparation, sanitizing, attaching and detaching the machines, and milk storage, are subconscious. But for those who never knew that cows had 4 udders can still learn how, if desired, to milk a cow. Farming is not based on milking cows alone, but feeding, cleaning, breeding, and taking care of the animals are other aspects. Far out in the country throughout little towns of Wisconsin and the world, farmers are all doing certain steps to do their jobs, whether it is raising beef cattle, ranching horses, or milking cows like my dad. This hard working atmosphere reminds me of life on the farm and of my family. They are well missed.
Monday, March 2, 2009
"The Experiment"
When deciding what to wear for this clothing experiment in enlgish, I set boundaries of what I couldn't possibly be seen wearing in public, then pushed that boundary only slightly. Bikinis are acceptable on public beaches, and casual wear is accepted most definitely in public, so I paired them up in a slightly ridiculous outfit. I also had put on a pair of leggings with the bikini bottoms over the top, however when thinking that I couldn't possibly get myself to walk down the hill in all silliness, I put a pear of sweats over the top. That would have pushed my limits. It was easier to approach people I knew based on their acceptance of me and their acceptance of the reason why I was wearing this. When approaching strangers, my sweater would be zipped slightly to hide partially the strange outfit. Approaching strangers was difficult because of harsh judgement. Although it was difficult, i sat amongst 260 students in lecture hall where I went unnoticed, which benefited me greatly. I wasn't treated differently by my professors because I never was one-on-one with any of them, however eating breakfast with my friends invoked a few comments on the basis of "um... explain why you're wearing a bikini?" But my peers were not harsh and they didn't shun me! I explained that it was for a social experiment in my english class. The outfit was only commented upon by my peers during breakfast time as I remained anonymous in my last class of the day. Overall this experiment showed me that "clothes do make the person" however friends will not judge you in the same way that strangers do. Friends are more accepting and see you for who you are. I know that this experiment has contradicted my side of the mini-essay, however I still stand by my opinion as I don't judge people upon their appearances alone.
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