EGEE 299/EMSC 299
Foreign Studies

Journal Entry #4

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Because TGP experiences are focused on renewable energy and sustainability, you undoubtedly had numerous opportunities to witness and experience related technologies and sustainability practices. Additionally, you may have learned about how local/regional/international policies affect the implementation of those technologies (for better or worse). At this point, you should also have acquired a good understanding of the people and the culture. Your journal entry for this portion of the trip should move beyond general observation to a deeper exploration of the topics. It should include a discussion of new insights you gained and different perspectives you encountered. You are expected to critically question how your previous thoughts ideas were challenged.

Address the numbered prompts below.

Brief General Reflection

  1. What did you experience that was notable since you collected notes for the last journal entry? What was familiar, what was different?

  2. Describe how your approach to new experiences has changed/evolved throughout the trip, if at all.

Personal Growth Area: Civic Responsibility

Note: The five Growth Areas are summarized on the Personal Growth Areas page in the Overview and Introductions module. Please review the section on civic responsibility and then answer the following questions.

  1. While traveling, have you thought about the level of civic responsibility you've encountered or learned about? How does it compare to what you're used to at “home" or on campus? Share your thoughts.
  2. How does the type of civic responsibility you witnessed in your host country compare to the type of civic responsibility you read about in Braiding Sweetgrass?
  3. Discuss if what you've encountered and learned while traveling has caused you to reevaluate how you think about yourself, your knowledge, your future, etc. in the context of civic responsibility. Explain.

Academic Learning

  1. Are the sustainability practices you witnessed the best they could be? How could they be improved? If not, what are the limitations to improvement?

  2. Discuss at least one example of sustainability innovation that you witnessed in your host country. Can this type of technology or practice be applied elsewhere? Why or why not?