Miniautoenthnography: Who am I in all of this?

I took time to look at my journey as a new vegetarian. I revisited my research and blogs that I follow to see where I fit into the community.

First, I looked at the types of research I was using. Most were blogs written by people who have been vegetarians for years. There weren't many tips to stay on course or struggles they face. The majority of the blogs were about how healthy they felt and examples of how the lifestyle is beneficial. When I first read these blogs, I felt encouraged by their optimism and wisdom. Now I find myself searching for more people like me who are just beginners.

Although I'm not a "veteran" of the community, there were some commonalities. All of the blogs were focused on healthy lifestyles. This was one of the reasons why I chose to try to change my diet. I find myself agreeing with the bloggers when they talk about energy and overall change in hair, skin, nails, etc. Because the majority of the blogs I follow are written by women, it's easier to relate to them. In a strange way, I look up to them. They are very open with their readers, and I try to do the same with my blog. Because the vegetarian lifestyle is so different from the norm, one has to be open about what they are going through.

Halfway There

I thought by now that I would be hating life...

But I'm actually fine with the change in my diet. I feel healthy. It's also made me so aware of what and when I eat. I was the type of person to eat when I got bored, and chose unhealthy things to fill my boredom.

I haven't had any real problems with not eating meat, but that could all change on Valentine's Day. My boyfriend is taking me to some fancy-schmancy restaurant where we'll be served ten courses.

TEN COURSES.

I'll make sure to update on that experience....

Hungry Elephant in the Room

Let's get real for a second: every girl has a difficult..."time" about once every month.

The majority of females would agree with me when I say it's hell. The worst parts would just be the mood swings, bloating, pain, and the food cravings. Normally I stick to the basic menstruation diet: chocolate, Taco Bell, chocolate, and McDonalds. Since I've had to change my diet, it's been a little stressful. Well, stressful is an understatement. I called my boyfriend with tears in my eyes because I wanted fried chicken. That sounds silly, but c'mon ladies- we've all been there.

So I've been on a (grumpy) quest to find alternatives to my cravings. I can still stuff my face with chocolate, and for that I'm very grateful. Not only have I been gradually changing my diet, I've also been trying to eat healthier. To maintain my hunger for sweets, I find myself eating a lot more fruit. I've also started to switch from soda to water. My skin and hair seem to be in better shape and I have more energy.

Even though all I want is a burrito and Doritos Locos taco, I really want to stick to my experiment.

Wish me luck!

So Far, So Good

After the first few days of my experiment, I came to a realization:

I don't really eat meat.

I thought I would be standing in front of the glass doors of the sandwich wraps in LaFollette, drooling over the chicken bacon wrap...but it still hasn't happened.

Even when my boyfriend came to visit and suggested Jimmy John's for dinner, I just ate a bag of chips. It's more difficult when I go home, because my mother is probably the best cook this side of the Mississippi (then again, I'm biased). She's known to stuff bacon or chicken into anything. I'll be sure to give an update when I go home this weekend.

Overall, I haven't had any trouble. I've been eating a lot of pasta and Cheese-Its, so I really can't complain.

This all might change on Valentine's Day when my boyfriend is taking me to a ten course dinner.

(insert dramatic dun dun duuunnn)

TO BE CONTINUED

Me Gusta

The only experience I have with blogs is when I scroll through Tumblr at two in the morning. I've never really sat down and searched for a blog that I could read everyday. Although I'm not completely blog savvy, I do have a blog/website that I follow:

The Beauty Department is run by Lauren Conrad (yes, I was a Laguna Beach & The Hills fan) and her team of stylists. They post hair and nail tutorials that I've used for dances, dates, and even styled hair for my friend's wedding. I'm not too much of a girly-girl, but everything on the site is simple and really cute.

I've also done a little searching for some helpful vegetarian blogs. Most of the blogs I found were just recipes, so I may try to cook myself at least one meal a week. This will be an adventure considering I'm not much of a chef, I live in LaFollette, and all of my money goes towards online shopping. I looked through some posts on Veg Daily Blog, and I learned some really interesting facts and tips. Did you know that gardening is as beneficial as exercising?

Well now you do.

Bacon >>>

Let's get one thing straight:

I love bacon.

Not just bacon, but the majority of meats that come from any farm animal.

Being half Puerto Rican, I've grown up loving to eat. It's a culture thing.

I've never really understood the whole "vegetarian" thing, but after some research I've become really interested. Of course there are some setbacks, but the positives seem really rewarding. Being a vegetarian is not only healthy, but great for the planet.

For my thirty day experiment, I am going "green" with my meals for the next thirty days. I also plan on joining an online community of vegetarians to help motivate me and gain some more knowledge.

Wish me luck, because I'll definitely need it.

Learning from the Past

Most high school juniors have senioritis by Christmas break. All I was concerned about was getting out of high school as fast as possible. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen at Columbus Signature Academy- New Tech High School.
The day we learned about the World War II documentary, most of felt overwhelmed. We were given a month to make a full-fledged documentary about local WWII veterans and showcase it at the local movie theatre. We had no money, no film crew, and no idea what we were getting into. We had no idea the impact we would have on not only the community, but our perspectives.
Before we knew it, we were ready to interview the veterans. Buses from the nursing homes came to the school. The majority were old men, but there were a few couples holding hands and walking down the hall. It was awkward small talk in the beginning. Everyone had the same feeling about talking to the elderly- we were going to be bored. By the time the interviewer starting asking questions, we were all wrong.
The stories we heard shocked us. These elderly men and women told of the heartache of saying goodbye to loved ones. They went into detail about what they saw and heard during battle. Most told stories about watching their friends die in their arms. We were fortunate to have a POW with us, and his story had everyone in tears.
By the end of the interviews, everyone in our class had a completely different outlook on the project. If we didn't create the best documentary possible, then these stories would be lost. We owed these men and women all of attention and hard work.
When the final moments were edited and put onto the DVDs, the excitement for the first showing was electric. We invited everyone in the community, including the veterans, to the theatre. The night of the first showing was sold out. There were no sounds during the show, and the veterans received a standing ovation. The pride in their eyes was indescribable. 
After the show, people stood in the lobby and thanked all of the veterans for their service. They also thanked us for showcasing their heroism. Many gave hugs and thanked us for giving their grandparents a chance to finally speak about what they went through. The weekend showings were all sold out, and everyone in the community was moved by the stories they heard.
The mayor came to our school and thanked us for our contribution. She was proud of our motivation and dedication. During the project, many of us questioned why these stories had never been heard. Why weren't these veterans highlighted in our community? Shouldn't there be a way for other high school students to learn about their nation's past? The mayor knew about our frustration, and gave us her word on creating a way for students to talk to local veterans and become involved in discussions.
Throughout that year we always had a soft spot for that project. Most of the us volunteered at nursing homes and visited the veterans. The next year, students at a different local high school created a documentary about veterans of the Korean War. It seemed that the community had become more aware of the lessons that could be learned.
Now that I'm out of Columbus, I wonder if the community has the same passion for the men and women in the nursing homes. Looking at how my perspective changed, I know that many students would benefit from hearing their stories.

Here's a story the local newspaper wrote, including some photos of the class