This semester was a semester to remember to say the least. From being in class to going home because of a virus my last semester at GV has been a good one. Throughout this class I have learned about so many topics and problems in the world I have never thought of or bothered to research. Most of this class has resonated with me either from an impacted standpoint or a knowledge standpoint and has made me aware of many issues around the world. I have not changed my mind on any of these topics we have discussed but have learned and took more information about the topics at hand. Now knowing what I have learned throughout this class and entering into my career after this semester I will play a role of being a boss and serving people food. I have always told myself after culinary school I want to have people know what good food taste like and what real food is. By learning different things about the environment and sustainability in class, I will remember to keep those things I have learned with me when getting produce and meat for my restaurant or business. I will also keep in mind to be conscientious to the world and environment around me because you never know when you can help out and be that change to something bigger. Thank you for this memorably last semester at GV and I will continue to learn and carry on what I have learned throughout this semester in class with you.

The Exxon and BP oil spills where the two worst oil spills on record in the world. The effect it had on the environment and the industry as a whole still has ramifications today. Because of these spills, we saw the coast of the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico damaged and still affected today. These businesses should have the responsibility to help the environment and the businesses impacted by the oil spillage. These two million dollar businesses should have the responsibility to fix all the damages and should supplement the tourism industry that sits on the water because of the turmoil they caused. These two oil companies owe everything to the planet because that’s where they make there money from and they should protect the investment they have within our planet. I do not believe that everything is being done to minimize the probability because although there is all these EPA regulations these bigger companies can pay or hide things that smaller companies cannot. We can hold these businesses more accountable by setting more regulations on them and taking more actions towards them as well. By people coming together we can take a stand against big oil business, and make sure they are meeting regulations.

Hollywood if not the biggest influences in the world is one of the most influential industries. Hollywood has made movies about everything, but what some of the movies Hollywood puts out may put a sour note on a place and its impact on tourism. After watching the movie Argo you experience this sour note and have a perception about the place it was in. Hollywood can impact tourism on a place in just a scene of a movie and could potential hurt or deplete tourism all together. Even though in class we found tourism in Iran that looked stunning, I would still not want to go there because we grew up in such a time where war and terror struck that area and we say many Americans and people around us loose family members because of the war. Now yes I realize that it was specific parts of those countries but the persona we put on that country affects our thoughts on such country. Hollywood also does not help by making movies about the middle east that portray war and tragedy. Personally I am not to found of traveling myself and truthfully the only way your going to make me go to the middle east is if you are going to pay me or I am drafted to go fight. I have many more places I would love to go right here in the U.S. like Maine, Hawaii, and the Carolina because I love fresh seafood and the cultures of each of these places. I also want to visit Japan because I enjoy their culture, food and car culture as well.

In Anthony Bourdain’s episode that lead him talking about the reality of living in the war zone was very interesting. We see him transition from going there to explore street food to describing and showing us the realism of an active war zone. It was crazy that he even got out of there unscathed and not trapped within it. Its people and videos like this that need to happen more because the portray the reality of living in such conditions and shows us how good we have it here. At some points in our lives we take this country for granted and people don’t realize what rights we have here as free people. I am very thankful for the life I live here and would not trade it for anything. Anthony Bourdain sets the stage for everyone in the world where there country lets them live freely and that you should not be greedy but should embrace the freedom we have. Movies, documentaries, and shows may portray what it is like there but you will never know until you go explore such area that had been portrayed poorly.

After watching the movies about natural disasters and what happens after all the chaos was settled, was interesting to say the least. From learning about natural disaster recovery to the lack of preparedness every country that is in danger in the future should have a plan in place. I learned from the movies that we watched is that countries do not have a recovery plan in place. Even if they do so most of them are below standards and do not help the chaos of people that survived such tragedy. As well as a lack of a recovery plan the countries preparedness is also not the best as well. Now with technology there are ways to predict these natural disasters and somewhat but it is still not perfect. If I was a person in charge or even a company that had a facility where a natural disaster could happen I would take charge and give people a place to stay if my building was not destroyed. This could help many people because after a tragic event like a tsunami or earthquake the structure and visual of a city is sometimes to broke to know where you are at that moment. With turning you hotel or restaurant or etc to a place where you may house a few people could help them find other family members or people in general. Although there is no way to predict and see into the future of a major natural disaster every city, state, and household should have a plan for what they are going to do before and after a natural disaster happens if they have such information beforehand. This could help save many lives and be a model for more people to follow to reduce the number of fatalities in the occurrence of such event. Throughout time and technology advances I believe that one day we will be able to predict such events that we could possibly reduce fatalities by half or even three fourths.

Seafood watch, MSC, and NOAA are three companies combating the problem against sustainable fishing. From the research I have done about these companies they are all helping fight against over fishing, illegal fishing, and many other ways that certain fish are being unsustainable produced and caught. What makes these companies successful is that they are holding seminars and on social media spreading out their word about sustainable fishing. The main challenge they face about getting the word out there is the big companies and corporations are taking no actions towards sustainable fishing. It is mostly the smaller companies taking action because they are the ones who care about the environment and saving these animals habitats. Big corporations mostly use unsustainable ways and tactics to catch fish resulting in bycatch and habitat damage. This does not only affect one species of fish but affects a whole ecosystem under the water because ones you deplete some part of their food chain they must travel elsewhere to find food. Thus then competing with another school of fish for the food they have been eating, and depleting that source of food so then both schools must fight and possible move somewhere to find another place to eat and starting the cycle all over again. Sustainability must happen know and we need to start realizing what we are producing and buying when going out to eat and the store.

From the movies we watched LockedUp Abroad and Brokedown Palace, I believe they knew what they were getting into when they “signed up” for what they had to accomplish. The article I read relates more to crimes that we may not have in America that other countries may enforce more. I think before going on a trip to a different country you should always do your homework and learn the culture before going there. As Americans I believe we feel entitled when going to other countries because we have that well I am American so nothing can happen or I am to good for you mentality. So, before going to a country we should require a know before you go guide. This guide can be on the plane or while you are waiting to cross customs so you have a rough idea how to act in the Country. I do believe that other countries should do there part to inform tourist and outsiders of the laws of the land that may be different than their home country. So before going to another country please do your part in learning about the differences in cultures and respecting how they do things over there.

After reviewing the UNWTO sustainability goals I saw some that I have already worked on but could contribute more. Zero hunger takes a dive at how we share and consume our food around the world. Life below water looks at the oceans and what is going on underneath. These two problems correlate with one another because without the ocean we could produce no rain for our crops. We have learned as a society that without keeping our planet clean these two categories become the most affected. But what can we do to help these categories out? We can up our sustainability development and make sure that when natural events happen that hurt these categories that they can still support life.

In the films “Blackfish” and “The Cove” the harsh reality of SeaWorld and the Asian fish market are exposed. “Blackfish” shows how SeaWorld started and the way they took these killer whales and trapped them in cages to train them for our entertainment. In “The Cove” it depicts a small town in Japan and how their economy runs from attracting and killing dolphins. These dolphins are then sold in the fish markets there but in a unsustainable way. We as Americans watch these movies and see the reality of how horrible these situations are. But we can do something about them. By donating to help fight against these causes you can help these companies accomplish their goals by fighting against these large corporations and “defeat” them. By bringing awareness to these cause we causes we can show the people how bad these companies are. If I were a UN ambassador to these countries I would first start by implementing laws to threaten these countries about what is happening to these creatures and possibly have fines brought against them for their actions. I believe I could have an impact on the situations because once these issues get out into the public like these movies did it shows the reality of what is happening. These situations tend to gain a following behind them and are protested all around the world, online and at the establishments themselves. These movies show the reality of these problems first hand but what will we do to stop these organizations.

We have recently watched Further Than the Eye Can See, a movie about a man who climbed Mt. Everest and he is blind! Now you must think how dangerous this is but if you believe in it you can do it was the motive behind this movie. Although he risked many lives during this climbed he achieved one of his main goals in life by climbing this mountain. Achieving goals has to be one of the most satisfying things to accomplish in your span of life small or large but there are some achievements that may be too hard to reach.

What is the most impossible, unachievable, unreachable career you could pursue? For me it includes putting multiple careers in one and forming one business around it. My career that’s impossible, unachievable, and unreachable is to be a farmer that produces for my restaurant that is on my property. We would use limited resources from outside vendors because of our farm that produces most of our inventory including veggies, fruit, meats and herbs we need for the restaurant. I don’t believe there is anyone doing this at this time so I would be the first to run this on a big scale. I do want to run a smaller produce operation to provide to local restaurants which I believe is more obtainable.

Why do people travel? What do they seek? What do they find? Do people travel because they just want to get away or is it because they find adventure and excitement. Do they seek these adventure or do they find them? Traveling for me is a little bit of everything. It is something for me to get away from everyday life but it is also where I can find new adventures, tastes, sounds, and sights to see across the world. when I travel I want to be surrounded by the culture. As Rudyard Kipling put it “The first condition of understanding a foreign county is to smell it.” Now you can put this into your own meaning but I believe this is the first thing people experience from arriving into a different country. It excites them and wants them to get out and go explore. As Rosalia de Castro said, “I see my path but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where i’m going is what inspires me to travel and hopefully most people.” People most of the times have agendas when traveling because they know what they seek – comfort, relaxation, or bonding time with their family. But other times with no agenda you will not know what you will find. For example Into the Wild and Wild follow two people who want to get away and travel. They know what they are seeking but what do they find? One finds peace and virtue in Alaska but then dies because of a poison berry he eats and the other finds strength and hope while she travels the trail up the west coast.  

Untimely, you are the one who controls the variables when you travel. “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A Shedd. You must, when traveling, get out of your comfort zone. Like in the movie The Way a man loses his son to the Santiago de Compostela. He is a stubborn old man but decides to hike it for his son. The man seemed hesitant at first and was out of his comfort zone but when taking the trip he meets great people all seeking for something different and finally finding themselves and overcoming their problems. It is because of these reasons why people are motivated to travel.