Well well well. The trip is ever so close!
We had our fifth conference call, as usual, on the last Wednesday of June. This call served mainly as a preperation for the trip itself. Packing, our project, etc.
So it is here important to mention the project. This is not to be confused with the service project, which is where we will do the sound testing on the grand canyon itself. This project is educational ; The goal of it being to present some aspect of the canyon to our group.
My topic is the dams. Specifically, their advantages/disadvantages, and how they were built. I'm thinking of doing a story for this ; and this topic really ties in with the work that I do for my radio show. I probably won't bring notes with me either, since I can recite from my mind pretty well information I know.
Packing wise, perhaps the biggest problem is how much of what to bring. While 7 days of the trip takes place on the rim, the 9 others are on the river. This is why most underwear and socks/pants will be used for the rim portion, while I probably only need 2 or 3 t-shirts for the river and perhaps 3 underwear (long/warm). This is because we will be jumping in the river quite a lot, especially when taking a bath or pee (yes).
I want to mention one more thing which I left out to talk of in the retreat, and this ties more in to the trip itself: How will I live? I am sure a lot of people are thinking of this. You can't exactly shower, poop, pee, and where the heck would you even throw your junk materials?
In the canyon/rim portion, bathroom isn't that big of a problem, as long as privacy can be found. It is on the river where things become more challenging.
Each night there will be a tent set up, where the pooper will be stored. The pooper is a box with a toilet seat over it and a substance to lessen smells. Toilet paper is provided. There is also another box for liquids/urine. When someone goes to the bathroom, you first use the urine bucket and can use the pooper.
Each day, the bucket is emptied in the river. The pooper will be attached to a raft (I wonder how you'd feel being on the raft with the pooper!) and at a certain point it will be picked up by a boat which will take it away.
Ok. Whew, we got the uncomfortable things out of the way.
Showers can be done in the river of ocurse, though probably not a full full shower. Hence the biodegradable soap.
As I have said, most clothing will probably be used on the rim ; but everything will get even at that point since we will cool off with the water. On the river, during showers and such, the clothes I'm wearing will also be cleaned and this is why only a few underwear and t-shirts are needed.
Alright... I should go do my research on the dams. Please keep tuned to this blog!
-Tomi
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A new Newspaper Article!
Well. although this does not cocern my grand canyon trip exactly, I thought it would be interesting to post this newspaper article up on this blog.. Enjoy!
----------
By STEPHANIE REX
Eagle Staff Writer
June 18th, 2009
SLIPPERY ROCK — Feeling his way up and taking one step at a time, Tamas Geczy reached new heights June 18, achieving a climb that not many would typically expect him to accomplish.
Geczy, a vision impaired student from Cleveland, took part in Slippery Rock University’s VIP Sports Camp for the blind, which gives children from ages 6 to 18 a chance to reach their goals and experience challenging activities.
“This really helps me in self development,” Geczy said. “It helps me to become more independent and it really helps with that because the camp gets you to experience and try new things.”
As Geczy stepped up to the wall, an SRU student guided him step by step, helping him to start the long way up at the rock wall at the Aebersold Recreation Center. Patiently reaching for the next footholds, he gained speed, leaving the instructor at the ground.
“You got this,” the instructor said.
At about 25 feet above ground, Geczy reached the bell at the top and gave it a ring, as his friends cheered below.
Wendy Fagan, an SRU instructor in adapted physical activity, organized the camp, which has been held at SRU each summer for the last six years. She said the majority of the 51 students who attend don’t get the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of sports at their public schools.
“This gives them increased confidence in themselves and great joy,” Fagan said. “They get to meet other kids who are visually impaired, and many times, they may be the only child in their whole school who is visually impaired.”
The camp ran June 16 to 19 with sports activities across campus, including track, golf, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, taekwondo and a dance party at camp’s end.
Fagan said the week at camp also proves to the children that they can accomplish anything.
“One of the boy’s said, ‘The only thing that you can do that we can’t do is see,’ and I just loved that,” Fagan said. “This reinforces that they can do anything they want to do.”
SRU students instruct all of the activities at the camp while the week is sponsored by Lions International and CVS/pharmacy. The students come from a three-hour radius from communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Timothy Clark of New Florence has attended the camp for five years. After climbing about 15 feet in the air, Clark came down, took a break and said, “I’m going to do it again,” with a smile.
“I think things like this are even harder for us,” Clark said. “We only rely on feel and other camps don’t give you the opportunity. I’m just blessed that I can get up in the morning and come and do this stuff at the camp.”
Clark, who wants to have a career in radio, said he has been thrilled to participate each year.
“When I get home, I am filled with stories of what I have done,” Clark said.
Clark said his favorite part of the camp is making new friends. As Geczy scaled the rock wall, he said, “My friend is actually rock climbing right now.”
“Some of these new friends can relate to what I am going through,” he said.
----------
By STEPHANIE REX
Eagle Staff Writer
June 18th, 2009
SLIPPERY ROCK — Feeling his way up and taking one step at a time, Tamas Geczy reached new heights June 18, achieving a climb that not many would typically expect him to accomplish.
Geczy, a vision impaired student from Cleveland, took part in Slippery Rock University’s VIP Sports Camp for the blind, which gives children from ages 6 to 18 a chance to reach their goals and experience challenging activities.
“This really helps me in self development,” Geczy said. “It helps me to become more independent and it really helps with that because the camp gets you to experience and try new things.”
As Geczy stepped up to the wall, an SRU student guided him step by step, helping him to start the long way up at the rock wall at the Aebersold Recreation Center. Patiently reaching for the next footholds, he gained speed, leaving the instructor at the ground.
“You got this,” the instructor said.
At about 25 feet above ground, Geczy reached the bell at the top and gave it a ring, as his friends cheered below.
Wendy Fagan, an SRU instructor in adapted physical activity, organized the camp, which has been held at SRU each summer for the last six years. She said the majority of the 51 students who attend don’t get the opportunity to participate in such a wide variety of sports at their public schools.
“This gives them increased confidence in themselves and great joy,” Fagan said. “They get to meet other kids who are visually impaired, and many times, they may be the only child in their whole school who is visually impaired.”
The camp ran June 16 to 19 with sports activities across campus, including track, golf, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, taekwondo and a dance party at camp’s end.
Fagan said the week at camp also proves to the children that they can accomplish anything.
“One of the boy’s said, ‘The only thing that you can do that we can’t do is see,’ and I just loved that,” Fagan said. “This reinforces that they can do anything they want to do.”
SRU students instruct all of the activities at the camp while the week is sponsored by Lions International and CVS/pharmacy. The students come from a three-hour radius from communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Timothy Clark of New Florence has attended the camp for five years. After climbing about 15 feet in the air, Clark came down, took a break and said, “I’m going to do it again,” with a smile.
“I think things like this are even harder for us,” Clark said. “We only rely on feel and other camps don’t give you the opportunity. I’m just blessed that I can get up in the morning and come and do this stuff at the camp.”
Clark, who wants to have a career in radio, said he has been thrilled to participate each year.
“When I get home, I am filled with stories of what I have done,” Clark said.
Clark said his favorite part of the camp is making new friends. As Geczy scaled the rock wall, he said, “My friend is actually rock climbing right now.”
“Some of these new friends can relate to what I am going through,” he said.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Project Role Model Update!
Dear reader(s)!
I have reported on Project Role Model in previous updates -- so I will
not elongate this message by talking about its foundations and
description again. In my last "Update", I left to international bowl,
to have Project Role Model compete against 47 states and 8 countries.
International bowl has ended over a week ago - and it's results are
now final: Project Role Model has taken a little "break" as I do
related work to it over this summer.
International bowl was a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that with
MRS. Frazier, I have created a slideshow of events during the
competition - and uploaded it, under the projectrolemodel channel. to
Youtube.
In deed, the enormous trophy here besides me represents my second
prise win in the senior Individual CMPS (community problem solving)
portion of internationals.
Second prise. So what does this mean? For those who are curious in
following Project Role Model, I have compiled a list of FAQ
(Frequently asked questions). To quickly locate questions, look for
the next paragraph in this e-mail message or blog post. Some are
direct responses to a few people who have asked me things ; Others are
the figment of my own logic and intelligence.
Q: Very nice, Second prise! Are you still going to continue Project
Role Model, or will it end here?
a: It most certainly will not end at this point in time, for several
reasons. First, there are new 7th graders coming next year -- and
their arrival constitutes another year of presenting to them about
blindness and disabilities in general. Next is of course the Grand
Canyon trip, which was an essential part of the project and an event
yet taking place. Be rest assured that Project Role Model will
continue well into the future, even at my workplace and careers.
Q: What about Next year though? Will you do Community Problem
Solving/Scenario Writing/Future Problem Solvers?
A: Excellent question. Because plans to move to the blind school are
no longer in effect (thank god), I will do more FPS next year for
sure. Staying at Orange automatically secures that I have the best
coach I have seen (and the one with whom I share many inside jokes and
memories with due to our collaborations). Next year I will continue
CMPS, as well as do another scenario. Perhaps the onsight skits and
scenarios will also be something I will indulge in.
Q: That's great! Any ideas on what your next years CMPS project will
be? Will you continue to develop Project Role Model or start something
new?
A: While this is very very hard to answer yet, there are a few plans in mind.
I am a person of change and spontaniousness. As I have stated, Project
Role Model will not be scrapped or abandoned, for a lifetime at least.
However there are other matters which I might investigate next year.
Take the sound pollution problem for instance: Because of my valuable
Grand Canyon trip, I will be working and investigating sound pollution
directly. This could give me a start on another CMPS project perhaps,
if not on sound pollution directly, but on raising awareness for sound
pollution and the fact of its existance. When people think Pollution,
they only see air, water, land... Not sound. That's an idea.
Q: Your World's Perspectives show was part of Project Role Model. Are
you scrapping that?
A: ABSOLUTELY not! WPS (World's Perspectives show) has now had over 30
shows aired and produced, 5 of those interviews. Although our listener
base wasn't as large this year, I still wish to continue producing
more and more shows, even if they are prerecorded nightly. Most likely
chances are indeed pre-recording the shows each night, but this works
nicely too. Expect WPS to continue well into the future, and as our
world changes, to update you with fresh perspectives on what is going
on. (
http://djtom.hitmeradio.com
)
Q: Whats up with Operation Role Model? On the FPS website they call it
Operation, in your presentations you called it operation... What's up
with that?!!!!!
A: Very funny, very. This has been a long-standing matter for laughter
between me and my coach - the change in name. Originally, Project Role
Model was called Operation Role Model. But as time passed, many people
(especially the middle school) began to refer to it as project, to the
point where we ourselves really thought it was named Project instead
of Operation... So in a sense, you could call it Project Operation
Role Model. haha.
Q: Where can we watch the youtube videos? I wanna see them, chum!
A: There are currently 2 videos on Youtube. One is the slideshow, and
the other is the competition video.. I have plans to also put up the
Blind Truth video there - but I will ask our Orange TV production team
first. You can find the youtube page directly by visiting
http://www.youtube.com/projectrolemodel
And watching them there. :)
If you have any more questions that were not satisfied here, feel free
to reply to this e-mail message, comment on the blog, call me if you
have the privelage to do so,... In any way you desire to ask
questions. I will attempt my best at answering.
With all due respect and wishing you a happy/amazing summer season:
Tomi
I have reported on Project Role Model in previous updates -- so I will
not elongate this message by talking about its foundations and
description again. In my last "Update", I left to international bowl,
to have Project Role Model compete against 47 states and 8 countries.
International bowl has ended over a week ago - and it's results are
now final: Project Role Model has taken a little "break" as I do
related work to it over this summer.
International bowl was a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that with
MRS. Frazier, I have created a slideshow of events during the
competition - and uploaded it, under the projectrolemodel channel. to
Youtube.
In deed, the enormous trophy here besides me represents my second
prise win in the senior Individual CMPS (community problem solving)
portion of internationals.
Second prise. So what does this mean? For those who are curious in
following Project Role Model, I have compiled a list of FAQ
(Frequently asked questions). To quickly locate questions, look for
the next paragraph in this e-mail message or blog post. Some are
direct responses to a few people who have asked me things ; Others are
the figment of my own logic and intelligence.
Q: Very nice, Second prise! Are you still going to continue Project
Role Model, or will it end here?
a: It most certainly will not end at this point in time, for several
reasons. First, there are new 7th graders coming next year -- and
their arrival constitutes another year of presenting to them about
blindness and disabilities in general. Next is of course the Grand
Canyon trip, which was an essential part of the project and an event
yet taking place. Be rest assured that Project Role Model will
continue well into the future, even at my workplace and careers.
Q: What about Next year though? Will you do Community Problem
Solving/Scenario Writing/Future Problem Solvers?
A: Excellent question. Because plans to move to the blind school are
no longer in effect (thank god), I will do more FPS next year for
sure. Staying at Orange automatically secures that I have the best
coach I have seen (and the one with whom I share many inside jokes and
memories with due to our collaborations). Next year I will continue
CMPS, as well as do another scenario. Perhaps the onsight skits and
scenarios will also be something I will indulge in.
Q: That's great! Any ideas on what your next years CMPS project will
be? Will you continue to develop Project Role Model or start something
new?
A: While this is very very hard to answer yet, there are a few plans in mind.
I am a person of change and spontaniousness. As I have stated, Project
Role Model will not be scrapped or abandoned, for a lifetime at least.
However there are other matters which I might investigate next year.
Take the sound pollution problem for instance: Because of my valuable
Grand Canyon trip, I will be working and investigating sound pollution
directly. This could give me a start on another CMPS project perhaps,
if not on sound pollution directly, but on raising awareness for sound
pollution and the fact of its existance. When people think Pollution,
they only see air, water, land... Not sound. That's an idea.
Q: Your World's Perspectives show was part of Project Role Model. Are
you scrapping that?
A: ABSOLUTELY not! WPS (World's Perspectives show) has now had over 30
shows aired and produced, 5 of those interviews. Although our listener
base wasn't as large this year, I still wish to continue producing
more and more shows, even if they are prerecorded nightly. Most likely
chances are indeed pre-recording the shows each night, but this works
nicely too. Expect WPS to continue well into the future, and as our
world changes, to update you with fresh perspectives on what is going
on. (
http://djtom.hitmeradio.com
)
Q: Whats up with Operation Role Model? On the FPS website they call it
Operation, in your presentations you called it operation... What's up
with that?!!!!!
A: Very funny, very. This has been a long-standing matter for laughter
between me and my coach - the change in name. Originally, Project Role
Model was called Operation Role Model. But as time passed, many people
(especially the middle school) began to refer to it as project, to the
point where we ourselves really thought it was named Project instead
of Operation... So in a sense, you could call it Project Operation
Role Model. haha.
Q: Where can we watch the youtube videos? I wanna see them, chum!
A: There are currently 2 videos on Youtube. One is the slideshow, and
the other is the competition video.. I have plans to also put up the
Blind Truth video there - but I will ask our Orange TV production team
first. You can find the youtube page directly by visiting
http://www.youtube.com/projectrolemodel
And watching them there. :)
If you have any more questions that were not satisfied here, feel free
to reply to this e-mail message, comment on the blog, call me if you
have the privelage to do so,... In any way you desire to ask
questions. I will attempt my best at answering.
With all due respect and wishing you a happy/amazing summer season:
Tomi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)