m&m power/privilege activity

Today we did an activity to simulate the earned and unearned priveleges/powers of an assumed person in our fieldwork community. While doing the activity, my assumed person's perspective was that of a caucasian female so that I could see where we may differ while still having similarities. She enjoyed the privileges of being American and having free thoughts and beliefs-she was not held to one religion or system. However, she did not enjoy the privileges of the white man nor believe in that system of inequality.
I had fewer m&m's than most of my neighbors and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I couldn't decide whether it meant that my person was more limited or more free in their privileges and ideas. The activity surprised me because in various volunteer groups there were so many different perspectives, privileges, factors, and ideas that impacted them-when at first glance volunteers just seem to be volunteers. In re-creating the power/privilege activity, I would use vegan chocolate so that I could eat it too:) Otherwise, I think the activity was very effective as it was. And in order to add more chocolate to the napkin, I don't think much could change. Maybe get a smaller napkin.

Everyday Poem

Last Friday we went outside on campus and did some fieldwork, observing and taking notes with all five senses. Today in class, Mrs. West-Puckett had us use our notes from Friday to create a quick and simple "everyday" poem based on what we observed. Nothing specific or over-thought; I wrote this in about 5 minutes. Oh, and I don't have a title-don't know if it needs one.


quick paces
rushed faces
ignore the steady growth
of sunray wrapping trees
Natures hourglass
blown in the seasonal wind
while the dead ground leaves
dance to resurrection

I'm still a little confused about our service learning project thats going on here, but I'm starting to get some things together. I'm hopefully going to be working with the Vegetarians in Pitt County organization, but I haven't heard back from anyone. I'm the only one working with this group in my class, so if there is anyone else who's going to be with this organization, PLEASE let me know; if you've talked with anyone, if you know of meetings, etc. Any of that would be helpful. You'd think it would be easy to get in touch with the group, being that our proffessor is also an avid participant with the organization, but...no such luck thus far.

Often times people say things without really thinking them through. We speak out of line, out of character, out of impulse, and out of fear. This is not to say that all words we have with one another are negatively charged, but there is such power in silence. It's cliche, but if our mouths are closed, all other senses are very much open. Take time to listen, observe, analyze, and create before choosing to say something about nothing or nothing about something. We are not who we say we are in words, but who we say we are in actions. Besides, if we're talking all the time, we'll run out of things to say. No comment...thats word.