Michelle+K.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place?

Hi Michelle! Great to meet you. I enjoyed reading your post. I especially connected with what you said about your sense of self. I see that you feel your "self" changes or acclimates depending on who you are around. I feel that this happens with some of my students as well. Their school self and home self may be very different. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!- Katy (group facilitator) || I believe my identity shifts depending on the type of people I am with at the moment. When I first meet people or I have rarely talked to them previously, I am very quiet, yet polite, hoping I will make a good first impression. When I am with family, I come out of my quiet shell and open up to them more. When I am with my close friends, I am a different person compared to the Michelle that my acquaintances know; I become loud, immature, and carefree. I may seem like three different people, but that is what makes me who I am.
 * || [|keosbor2] Monday, 2:09 pm
 * What __really__ makes up your identity?

My sense of place consists of my family and friends, which is what I call, home. They guide me when I am confused and support me in the decisions I make. I feel understood, appreciated, and most importantly, comfortable. Home is where I can relax and be care-free.
 * What __really__ makes up your sense of place?

The people I work with in a group may not always be the type of people I am most comfortable with. They may not seem like my home-place. Therefore, when working with others in a group, I may need to step out of my comfort zone in order to work more efficiently. Sometimes, I need to sacrifice my feelings to benefit my group.
 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project?

I have a tendency to over-think things. This may be helpful in some situations because over-thinking helps to be a step ahead of the opposition. It’s better to think too much than to think too little. Another quality I can bring to the table is compromise. In arguments, I can usually think of ways to make both parties satisfied—maybe not happy, but at least content with the outcome.
 * What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group?


 * Michelle, I too have a tendency to over-think things. I agree that it can be helpful in seeing multiple perspectives! (Katy) **

A major local problem is litter. Candy wrappers, bottles, cans, and more are carelessly thrown on the ground. They may end up in the gutters and flow into the ocean. People in Hawaii love the ocean, swimming, and surfing. They wouldn’t like it if the ocean were clogged with debris or if the color of the sea looked brown and murky. If people keep littering, this may be the outcome. In order to solve this, we should make a campaign and let people know through school, TV, or internet that our environment is in danger. Creating a visual image of what the environment would look like if people keep littering would cause people to stop and think about actually throwing away their rubbish instead of letting it fall to the ground. People would then want to keep their oceans and sky blue and their grass green if a campaign with facts and visual images of the unfortunate expected future was created to let them know the dangers of littering.
 * What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it?

A person must have a goal, plans, perseverance, and leadership if he/she wants to make a difference. They must have their goal in the back of their mind at all times so they remember what they are working toward. Plans are needed to create progress and keep their progress steady. Solving a problem requires hard work; therefore, one must not give up. And finally, a leader is needed to keep their progress in check, and ensure that they’re working toward the goal that the leader envisions.
 * Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them?

Phase II: Sense of Place **Hi Michelle! Thank you for posting the beautiful pictures of your home country. I wonder what it must be like to see those beautiful mountains and waterfalls every day! You mentioned that a major problem in your home is litter. Do you feel that it is threatening areas of nature like the Ko'olau Mountains and the Diamond Head Crater? It seems that nature is a common theme for your sense of place, and whether you are hiking, or just passing those gorgeous mountains, you appreciate what you see. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures! This makes me want to travel to Hawaii :) Katy**

Upload image (s) here: This is a photo of waterfalls on the Ko'olau Mountains. I get to see these luscious mountains every day. On rainy days, waterfalls spew. It's a beautiful sight that reminds me of home.

This is a photo of Diamond Head Crater located in Honolulu. It is an inactive volcano. It's also a great tourist attraction because there is a hiking trail up the mountain. I've gone on it before, and it was very enjoyable and great for out-of-shape bodies like myself. I don't get to see this mountain often, but I love when I do. I love it's unique shape. It's a view that you can't get anywhere else besides beautiful Hawaii.

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:

**Hi Michelle,** **Thank you for your post. What a stark contrast this picture is from the pictures above! Litter seems to be a huge problem in your home, which is sad because it seems that the beautiful landscapes give your home a special sense of place. A couple of questions for phase 3 that seem to be missing (technology...) are:** __What can you do to be address the issue? What is the global impact of your local issue?__ **Please add your responses to these questions. I would especially love to read your thoughts on what you can do because it seems like litter and pollution is a common problem in our group. Thank you again for your post! I enjoyed reading it and the resource you provided. - Katy**

A local issue on Oahu is litter. People are still careless about where they put their trash. Instead of finding a trash bin, they ignorantly let their trash fall to the ground and fly away in the wind. Plastic bags, glass, nets, and many other types of debris clog our beaches and shorelines. It is a threat to our marine life, thus making it a threat to us. The photo above is of Kahuku Shoreline, Oahu's dirtiest beach.

"Green sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them. Because they don’t break down, the ingested bags can block the turtle’s digestive system, eventually killing it." "You may have heard about a garbage heap the size of Texas floating in the central Pacific. The stories are true. It exists. It’s known by some as the Eastern Garbage Patch and by others as the Great Pacific Garbage Dump. It’s billed as the world’s largest trash dump, bigger than any on land."

To read more about litter in Oahu, check out this article: []