Think Globally - Eat Locally

This is a paper I wrote for my Organization and Management of Food Systems class.  For those of you familiar with my status updates, this is the class that make me want to hurt myself.  I had to write an analysis of the movie Food Inc. I got a 100% on it so I figured I'd post that here.



                                                               Think Globally – Eat Locally

“A culture that just uses a pig as a pile of protoplasmic inanimate structure, to be manipulated by whatever creative design the human can foist on that critter, will probably view individuals within its community, and other cultures in the community of nations, with the same type of disdain and disrespect and controlling type mentalities.”
-Joel Salatin, Food Inc.
That quote solidifies and strengthens the ideology I believed even before viewing this film. I had always had a passion for food. I have spent a majority of my time in the workforce in food-service industry with only a few exceptions. When that was coupled with an overactive metabolic rate, it became clear this was to the recipe for inspiration for the rest of my life.

The Graduation Situation

I had mentioned before that I am in trouble of not graduating before I leave for Europe. In all honesty, it's almost a certainty that I won't. While I have yet to actually fail a class, I do have an Incomplete in one class and I am in jeopardy of having one in a second class.

The class I currently have an incomplete in is layout & Design. I can still pass it but I have lost all motivation to finish my final project, which is to design a restaurant that I have no interest in ever building. Don't get me wrong, I was enthusiastic about an Indian restaurant at the time, but I just can't seem to muster up the gumption to finish the costing schedule (where I have to price out every major piece of equipment I need to open).

As for the class I may be getting an incomplete in, I am putting a full effort into making the remainder of the semester count. I have missed a lot of class either because of the early class time or due to lack of inspiration.

Culinary School has been helpful, that's no lie. I learned a lot - my first year. My second year? Not so much. I feel as though I have paid for the same classes twice. The only difference is in the production. Last year we just served the food, now we actually make the food. I guess I could've learned something about making food if I hadn't, you know, practiced the theories I learned the first time through. It's like they don't expect us to cook outside of the classroom.

The other thing that bothers me about the program is that I know that there are students with higher grades than me though they lack the fundamental knowledge of the basic kitchen principles. Like the ratios for mire poix, a basic vinaigrette or a simple roux. They still have to ask how to make a bechamel or an espagnole. They don't know where the sirloin is at on a cow. I have the tests from the previous class. I passed them all. Why is it that I am being tested on these same principles? Different class, different material? Apparently not at WCC.

Don't get me wrong, there are some professors of mine who have helped inspire me even when I am in the duldrums. Their passion shined through and comes out in every dish we serve or in every lecture they give. They are the reason I keep coming to class.  They have told me not to waste my talent by abandoning my degree. It's tough to think I have invested some much time and money into learning about food, only to have it leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Pun intended.

Preparations

I understand that what I've volunteered to do over the next few months is going to be tough. I mean really tough - physically and mentally. Between farming, biking, working, planning and school, my time is going to be stretched pretty thin. I am in jeopardy of not graduating on time as I have missed a number of days in my early class.

I know that I have lacked the motivation to perform for the classes mentioned. I am disgruntled that I am paying for classes, that for the last six months, I have learned nothing new in. I have learned more out of my classes than I have in them. I'll save this rant for a later date.

Regardless if I have an Associate's, a Certification or nothing, I will still be Wwoofing.

That's the mentally troubling things. As if that wasn't stressful enough, I have recently quit smoking - cold turkey. I realized after biking that last few days that I could barely finish 6 miles without feeling like puking. I can say now after 3 days of not smoking, that I am quitting as I am technically not chemically addicted to them. The rest is up to my willpower. Green Lantern guide me! I found that when I want a cigarette I simply have a glass of water. It's working surprisingly well for me and I am hydrating better than ever.

I've been scoping out camcorders and have my eye on one . If anyone has any advice or suggestions for good cameras, let me know!