Blog Post #1
For our class integrating Would
University Games and some research projects we will be doing while in Slovakia,
we have been doing a few readings. These include the majority of the book Fevered by Linda Marsa and the paper Fostering a Global Citizenry written by Tarrent
et al. These readings have played a hand in impacting how I have seen the
events unfold during my time here in Slovakia. Fevered takes a rather alarmist
stance on how climate change is impacting the health of the greater human populous.
Even if I don’t always agree with the author’s tactics, I can’t deny it has
made me acutely aware of the impacts I have seen in the world around me. Tarrent
et al. took an academic look into what it means to be a global citizen and also
the added value of studding abroad. What separated this paper from others was
the emphasis on how sustainability/environmentally geared abroad experiences
increased people’s engagement in global citizenship. It also went into detail
about how to be a true global citizen you must be environmentally conscious.
For our project, Britta and I are
attempting to get a general footprint of our travel the venue but calculating
our carbon footprint. If you want more info on this please respond to the post
and I will be more than happy to give you plenty of info. Throughout our travel
I have been painfully aware of every coal fired power plant and smoggy city
horizon. Regardless of my distraction I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty
if the mountains ripping up through a sea of cloud as we flew into Kosice,
Slovakia.
Upon landing we were got our bags
and we greeted by one of the many wonderful attachés and a sign advertising the
games.
When
we finally arrived at our final destination of Strbské Pleso I could not help
but be impressed by the beauty of the place and how kind the people putting on
the games are to us. The courses here are tough with crazy steep uphill’s and
downhill’s but I love the challenge of a venue like this. There is an almost
ominous feeling in the air as the area is enshrouded in fog almost constantly. Fortunately,
the fog occasionally burns off in the morning allowing for a momentary view of
the stunning landscape.
Even
as I am awe of this truly beautiful area, I cannot help but see a multitude of
environmental problems sparked by the readings. Even As I skied the trails on
course preview day, the idling film crew semi trucks and the fumes coming of
the piston bully catch my eye. I
wonder what impacts these seemingly small things have on the surrounding
environment and the athletes competing here. Are events such as these impacting the globe on a large
scale? Hopefully these questions
are answered in part by the project our team is doing while in Slovakia.
It
was amazingly fitting that the minister of research, science, education and
sport spoke at the opening ceremonies. He eloquently told of the great things
that occur when sport and the educational experience are intertwined. It could
not have been more fitting for team USA.
I do however wonder if all this has lead to a state of mind much that
has tainted the experience. Much like going down the rabbit hole, I have a hard
time seeing and experiencing things as I did before. It is a much grimmer
reality than it used to be, but maybe a more realistic one.
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