Thursday, June 27, 2013

Day 3: CGSS

~Wednesday June 26, 2013~
As this day ends and I'm writing in this blog I feel a little homesick. It's quiet and I'm listening to music from my iPod. I yearn for the people I love and the people I'm familiar with and to be in my own bed. It's only been a few days and I have many more days to go. I guess this is what it feels like when you decide to venture on your own for the first time. Nonetheless, I'm still having fun.
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Anyway, today we went to visit Center of Global Sustainable Studies (CGSS) at USM and we were given a lecture about their programs and the word sustainability which they simply put "Tomorrow is better than today." Professor Kanayathu C. Koshy defines sustainability as development that meets the needs of the present while safeguarding Earth's life supporting system on which the welfare of current and future generation depends on. To learn more click here.

It was a very interesting lecture. I learned a lot about Malaysia's public health challenges and what USM has been doing to solve problems that deals with waste and consumption. They have implemented many initiatives such as no plastic bag, no styrofoam, and other programs to help educate their community about using the environment in a resourceful way. I applaud them for their efforts!
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After our short lecture we were given the afternoon to do whatever we wanted. My friends and I decided to write postcards home, do laundry, and we also ate out along the streets right outside our dorms. I forgot to take a picture of my food, but I ate roti telur which is eggs cooked in flat bread and eaten with curry dipping sauce which cost RM$2.00 that is less than US$1.00! 

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