Posts Tagged ‘environment’

The final push

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , ,
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I’m inching my way closer and closer to a potential job offer!  After passing first-round interviews, I had a second interview and am now a finalist for the position I want so much.  I said before it’s not exactly my dream job, but what I meant is it isn’t my complete life goal, but for a first job, it pretty much would be the ultimate job for me to attain.  It not only allows me to stay close to my alma mater (one of my four stipulations), it would be a great way for me to jump-start a career in environmentalism.

I just sent out my official reference list, complete with a little blurb for each person to describe the (skill) areas they know me best in.  Prior to that, I e-mailed my references to confirm their willingness to speak on behalf of my qualifications, work ethic, and performance (and perhaps my personality as well).  I also did much of the work for them, coming up with some examples of what I did while working for them and reminding them of my strengths.  I hope all goes well and that the hiring manager checks all the references to get the best all-around picture!  I’ve also prompted my boss who’s meeting with two of the people on the interviewing team sometime this week.  She agreed to help put in a good word for me, so I gave her a refresher course on what I’ve done.

Now I’ve pretty much taken every step I can to increase my attractiveness as a candidate.  It seems there is not too much else I can do beyond waiting for this week to (hopefully) fly by!  In the mean time, I will enjoy the last couple of days I have with Philosopher before he heads back to England.

Blog Action Day 2009

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , ,
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logo for blog action dayWell, today is Blog Action Day and thousands of blogs are writing about climate change!  When I get a chance, I’ll go check out what they’ve all written, but for myself, it’s all about what I can do as an individual.  Certainly it’s not much on the grand scheme, but individual actions add up and I’m hoping that down the line I can start an eco-consulting firm to address this very issue and get people to change their behavior in positive ways.  With enough people making enough effort, we can make a powerful impact.  That’s my dream for the future.

As for now, I decided to explore the ways I’ve greened my life and what I can do to continue along that path.  I’ve made a lot of small changes to my life over the years to get to this point and I plan on continuing steadily for the rest of my life.  So some ways that I’ve already greened my life are…

Oooh, I wouldn't mind some cute ones like these!  photo credit: blog.elfster.com
Oooh, I wouldn’t mind some cute ones like these! photo credit: blog.elfster.com

~ using reusable tote bags and saving all plastic bags I do get for other purposes

~ composting (I’d like to start a worm compost one day)

~ recycling (too bad so many things aren’t recyclable!)

~ unplugging everything when not in use

~ changing out light bulbs (some of the smaller ones are still traditional bulbs… are they going to make smaller energy-efficient bulbs?)

~ eating little red meat (I don’t eat much meat in general, especially beef)

~ printing only when absolutely necessary (which is hardly ever)

~ using a green service provider to power my website

photo credit: Dan44 on flickr
photo credit: Dan44 on flickr

In the next couple of months, I plan on implementing some new ways of improving my own sustainability.  Some options may have to wait until I’ve settled a little more and know where I’ll be living for the next couple of years (namely, planting my own fruits and vegetables to eat).  Each change is a step towards progress and by the time I’m 30, I hope I can proudly claim a sustainable lifestyle.

~ plant fruits/vegetables to eat

~ buy more locally

~ change shower heads

filter water – no more bottles! – and continue using reusable bottles

Just me and my trusty board.
Just me and my trusty board.

~ get a hybrid car (and try to drive less)

~ walk/bike/skate more (it’s good for your health, after all!)

~ phase out commercialized cleaning solutions for more old school ones (like using baking soda and vinegar, or those squash-looking loofahs)

~ buy an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly laptop

I’m sure there’s a lot more I can do, but this is a start!  I’ll keep working on my list over the years as solutions are developed and I discover more ways that I can change my ways to leave a smaller carbon footprint in this world.  I’ve begun to educate and influence those around me as well, and I intend on doing that in a greater scale further into my career!  Someday I’d like to see everyone in my city living this way and a good portion of the country as well.  I don’t know if I’ll live to see the world change like that, but that would certainly be amazing.

Clouded

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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photo credit: markterrybooks.com

photo credit: markterrybooks.com

At moments, my mind is clouded by a foggy haze.  Thoughts no longer come in lucidly and I can just imagine the transmissions in my brain slowing down.  It’s hard to focus when an invisible weight sets foot on your cranium and won’t dissolve, no matter how you try.  In fact, it’s almost like corn starch in water or a Chinese finger trap, where the harder you try, the more resistant it gets.  So I’ve given up fighting against the current and decided that it’s time to let my weary mind rest for the night.  I have no clue what has brought on this mental murkiness, but along with it I feel a sense of increased agitation and restlessness.

Snippets of thoughts run through my head – things to remember, things to do, things to… wait, what was I thinking again? A train of thought is lost just as easily as another takes its place and my mind jumps around lethargically in a way completely unlike the normal stream of thoughts that has me working at a quick pace.  I remember websites I meant to visit and read, but I’ve no patience to go through the words.  My left eye feels more strained than my right and that irks me.  I remember moments that I was harsh or irresponsible towards Panda and I get a pang of guilt.

Too many choices lay in my path and I can’t seem to rationalize my decisions.  Everything is a good path, so how do I choose just one?  I want to go to all these events, but I don’t have the time and shouldn’t use the resources to.  I’ve been craving ice cream all night long and never got around to getting some.  I’ve wasted way too much  time agonizing over when I’ll gain access to Google Wave, then researching Google Voice and MetroPCS instead.  Why?  Because I’m curious and wanted to learn about them.  But I feel at a standstill, unable to get what I want though I know what it is that I’d love so much.  A lot of that has to do with my job search.

I wouldn’t say I’ve found a dream job, but I’ve found one that fits my main specifications and sounds wonderful:

1. with UCLA

2. environment-related

3. decent pay with benefits

4. small work environment

But I haven’t heard back and it’s frustrating because I hate the whole job hunting process and I’d like to just get a job and settle a bit.  Much as I enjoy what I’m doing now, there’s huge pressure from my parents to find a job.  I don’t think they want anything else from me now, even if I win an award or get to do something prestigious.

I'd like some tranquility and a sense of accomplishment right about now.  photo credit: healthyoga.com

I'd like some tranquility and a sense of accomplishment right about now. photo credit: healthyoga.com

My body feels out of sync and I’m getting more conscious of my unevenness.  I haven’t had a proper workout for ages because I’ve been telling myself that I’ll start up a routine once I get a job.  See, even I’m placing these restrictions on myself.  I just want to land that job, get an apartment, get that new car, and begin a routine.  Strange.  I’m not one for routines and doing the same thing over and over again.  But at the same time, I’d like a little more pattern in my life.  Living week to week is not sustainable.  So many things hinge on settling (and having money): starting to attend yoga classes, joining a massage clinic, picking up more hobbies, getting more creative with cooking, hitting up more restaurants, going to football/basketball games, getting alumni membership in Alpha Kappa Psi, reading books again…  I’m putting off everything requiring money or a steady time commitment.  After all, I don’t want to start something just to have to change when I do start working full-time.

Gridlocked

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Brake.  Gas.  Brake.  Gas.  Brake.  Brake.  Brake.

What it looks like.  photo credit: enterstageright.com

What it looks like. photo credit: enterstageright.com

The morning commute sucks, even at 9:30.  You would have expected it to be a little clearer, but I guess enough people go to work later that it doesn’t even matter anymore.  Panda has mentioned a few times that he wants to live near work so he only has a 5-minute commute (much like mine to Opportunity Green when I’m at his place).  I completely understand.  The problem will be working close enough to each other that we can find a place that isn’t too far from either.  For I certainly don’t want to have to wake up in the morning only to drive an hour and a half to start working.  It’s exhausting and the complete wrong way to start the day.  I’m amazed that so many people do it.

I hate to get up in the morning as it is.  When you put a morning commute as miserable as they get in LA, that’s just about the worst way anyone could start their day.  I can’t imagine something more stressful and draining, both physically and mentally.  And for those who experience road rage and get extremely anxious when they are running late, it’s emotionally taxing as well.  If only everyone could just work from home and cut the commute, be close enough to just walk on over, or had public transportation that easily transported people.  Maybe cities should be planned in such as way as to ease this sort of congestion.  I’m not sure that would be enough though, what the complexity of the problem.  Perhaps businesses and residences should intermingle more evenly to spread out the flow of traffic in all directions instead of one main one.  It just doesn’t make sense to have hordes of people heading into a central business district each morning and rushing out each evening.  Is there really any real benefit to having business hubs?

What it feels like.  photo credit: Curtis Gregory Perry on flickr

What it feels like. photo credit: Curtis Gregory Perry on flickr

It might be that the problem would not be solved with a different distribution of businesses, but rather needs to be tackled via transportation solutions.  I know I sure wish I had someone to drive with so I could take advantage of the carpool lane and probably shave a good 20-30 minutes off of my 90-minute drive.  Even better would be a mass transportation system that runs at that time.  The only way I can get from my valley down to more central LA via public transportation is a commuter bus that only runs in the early morning.  This city is in desperate need of a mass transit makeover.  Buses, trains, subways, monorails, whatever.  A city so spread out shouldn’t leave its people with so few options to get around.

Let’s end the concept of rush hour.  It’ll make the atmosphere cleaner and the people happier.

Reusable toting

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , ,
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photo credit: ecopromosonline.com

photo credit: ecopromosonline.com

Everywhere you go now, you can find those “eco-bags” available around every corner, in every shop.  It’s one of those fads that everyone seems to buy into, but it makes me wonder if it’s worth all the hype.  Sure, it’s great to have sturdy bags like that that you can use and reuse time and time again.  But the problem is, a solution like that doesn’t quite work without the full commitment of the people as well.  They’ve got to change their behavior to match the goals of producing those reusable tote bags: conservation.  If everyone used just one or two of those bags with every grocery run (or even any sort of shopping), a lot can be saved.  But the problem is, people are getting these things, then forgetting to bring them along to use each time they go out.  Every now and then they may decide to just get another one and use them all the next time.  But of course, without a change in habits, you’ll never get around to it.

I was reminded of this when I read about a lady who has reached the brink and decided she has enough of these bags now.  It’s more harmful to overproduce these bags than the cheap plastic ones we’ve grown accustomed to.  After all, they require more material and certainly more energy to create.  If people still use too many of them, the problem we have doesn’t go away – it merely mutates.  So, recently, I have made sure that whenever Panda and I go shopping for food, we bring our collection of reusable bags or suffer the consequences of having to carry everything we bought with no bags (or maybe just one to be used for collecting trash in).  We also walk to the store, which is a 15- to 20-minute trip by foot.  After spending the time and energy to get there only to find we forgot to bring bags, it’s a personal punishment to not use bags as a way of drilling that habit into our routine.  Lately I’ve begun to hang the bags on the door so it’s harder to disregard them as we head out the door and it’s been working!  I’ve become more conscious of the steps to take before going out to buy some food.

photo credit: ilovecostco.com

photo credit: ilovecostco.com

Costco’s a great place that does away with the whole bag concept and uses boxes, if anything, to pack up your cart.  Though it never hit me until Panda mentioned it, perhaps I like that place for that very fact (and of course the fact that they offer bulk items).  It works really well because the type of bags they’d have to get to hold the items they sell really isn’t worth all the waste it would create (though I’m sure they’d make great doubles as large trash bags).  I think all stores should either do away with bags or start charging a premium that will really make people rethink (what would that take? A quarter a bag? A dollar a bag?).  Any bags used should also be biodegradable, so people can take them home, use them for trash, then not worry about them clogging up the landfills permanently.  The SunChips people have this great new compostable bag coming out that is completely biodegradable within weeks!  Wouldn’t it be awesome if supermarkets used that kind of material?

Next step is to start bringing my own mugs and bottles to be filled when I get fast food.

Large families

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , ,
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photo credit: babybowsonline.com

photo credit: babybowsonline.com

You know, in thinking of family size, most people think of the social or psychological impacts, but rarely do they consider the environmental impact.  When you do, a whole new world opens up, with red flags popping up everywhere.  By default, more people means more consumption, more waste, and more pollution.  A big family has a huge carbon footprint, not only because they eat a lot, but even just the amount of air they breathe and carbon dioxide they exhale!

This is an interesting perspective brought on by Alan Weisman as he commented on the Duggar family and the wisdom (or lack of) in having so many children.  As he points out, we’ve only got one planet and a limited atmosphere.  Our resources are not getting bigger, but the population is and families of this size are just exacerbating the problem.

A number of factors have caused much of the population to delay or even give up childbirth, but I’m quite sure most people don’t do it because it can be bad for the environment.  I think this should be considered though, and would be good reasoning for limiting the number of children you choose to have.  After all, the more children you bring into the world, the more you are indirectly contributing to all the climate problems.  Especially if your family is big on meat consumption and gas-guzzling activities.  Funny how environmental health is harmed with greater Darwinian “fitness.”

photo credit: bioinfo.mpg.de

photo credit: bioinfo.mpg.de

I wonder if our genes will ever mutate to a point that will make us want to propagate, but not too much, since we could potentially run our own life source into the ground.  After all, they just want to survive generation after generation, but with no other way to continue on, what will they do?  It seems more likely that species that can continue living even if humans cannot will just go on and those genes will become the new super genes that have managed to survive all catastrophes.

I guess it’s unfortunate that evolution has pretty much come to a stop for us, what with all kinds of unnatural ways to keep people alive and help them reproduce when they otherwise would have been “weeded out” by the system.  Not that it’s bad that we can keep more people alive against previous odds, but it could mean doom for us as a species, or even a planet, if we don’t change our ways and continue to be so wasteful.  As every gene selfishly does whatever to get us to reproduce, it is blissfully unaware of how it could be destroying the very vessels that they use to survive down the line.

I guess it begs the question: should having big families be considered irresponsible to the environment?  Technically it is… though I suppose creationists would argue that every child is a gift of God, etc.  I’m sure you’ve all heard that line before.  Is this a case of creationism and evolution teaming up to produce a dangerous outcome?  Both doctrines basically say that the more children you have, the better.  Environmentalists may be wary of the legitimacy of that claim though.  I think, as with all things, it’s good to take it in moderation.  It may not be a perfect bell curve, but it sure resembles more of that than a straight line going up to infinity.  Certainly there’s a range that is “optimal” (if there’s even such a thing) and 18 is way over.  At the same time, if everyone had NO children, we’d die out in a single generation.  How thin is the line we walk?

Greening: to each his own

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , ,
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opp greenI’ve finally gotten a chance to join the green movement by helping out at Opportunity Green!  It’s something that’s been on my mind lately as I tried to figure out what way I wanted to make a difference in this climate crisis of ours.  There’s been a lot of talk about the bad shape our environment is in, from the oceans to the air to the land, yet amazingly, the reaction still seems minuscule compared to the problem.  I’ve read and listened to countless speeches on how the polar ice caps melting and coral reefs dying off can have dire consequences for us all.  I’ve always wanted to do something about it, but there are so many options out there that I don’t really know where to start and I’m tempted to try everything, but I think we all know that’s unrealistic.  So, I’ve decided on the divide and conquer strategy by starting somewhere – anywhere.

A company with a motto of use less.

A company with a motto of use less.

I think the easiest way to reduce my carbon footprint is to use less.  Use less energy, use less water, and buy less in general.  I’ve never really cared to eat much meat, so I’ve definitely minimized my footprint by not encouraging the unsustainable ways that Americans produce and consume meat products, particularly beef.  Another type of conservation is to turn off all lights that aren’t necessary and turn off and unplug appliances not in use.  I’ve been making it a point to unplug my laptop as soon as I notice the battery is fully charged, then re-plugging it only when it hits the 6% mark and starts to shut down on me.  I try to use less water for showering and reuse as much from dishwashing as I can (usually to water the plants).  Oh, and I never use the dishwasher to wash dishes.  I try not to run the AC at all, and minimally if needed.

organicA harder thing for me to do right now is buy all-natural, organic, local, or fair trade products.  With no income, I’ve got to go for cheapest over other benefits.  However, my mom and I have been living an essentially waste-free life for a few months now.  We compost all the perishable items that we don’t completely consume.  We recycle the plastics, cardboard, aluminum, and glass that we may come across.  The other items are the little bit of trash left over that we do have, which doesn’t amount to that much at the end of the day.  In fact, my mom has even canceled our trash-collecting service.  I’m working on buying less bottles and opted for a powder to mix my own drinks.  I reuse plastic bags like crazy and have stopped leaving a grocery stores with a handful of bags in tow.  Instead I try to remember my reusable bags, otherwise I “punish” myself by carrying the items separately.  I’ve even dragged Panda into that lifestyle and don’t let him be wasteful when we shop for food.

photo credit: spacetoday.org

photo credit: spacetoday.org

I feel guilty every time I have to drive my car, so I’ll feel better when I get a hybrid (which won’t happen until I land a job).  It won’t be the best solution, but it’ll be a great improvement, and certainly better than how things are now.  I wish electric cars were a more viable option, but they’re not quite practical for me right now.  I’m working to make small improvements here and there.  I may not be able to suddenly outfit my house with solar panels, drive a pollutant-free car, or buy organic or local, but I can use natural ventilation as much as possible, drive a hybrid, and eat less useless food.  I can also use reuse more so I end up using less.  I really need to start bringing my own mug/bottle with me when I get drinks outside.  With enough time, behavior like this can become second nature and I no longer have to think about it and remind myself to do it.

We all must do something about the climate, but it can be on your own terms.  So go ahead, choose one way to change your lifestyle for the better of the environment and start acting now!

My Bruin obsession

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , ,
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I have spent the two weeks since I’ve been back looking for jobs purely at UCLA.  I’m not interested in much else, unless a really great local eco-consulting opportunity comes up.  I figure (as I always do) that if I don’t do it now, I won’t get a chance later.  Once I get into an environmental career, since I’m not a researcher or professor, I won’t really get to work for my alma mater.  So, now is the time, while the most important thing is just to get lots of good work experience for business school.  It would help if it was on campus and environmental, which is why my top choice is any job with the Institute of the Environment.  However, if it has nothing to do with the industry I want to get into later, it’s still useful as a learning experience and will help me have something to draw from when I pursue my MBA.

DSC07653So, I’ve convinced myself that once I work for a few years and go off to graduate school, I will not be able to work for UCLA anymore.  After all, the positions they offer wouldn’t really justify it and I should be focusing on truly building my career by then.  That’s when I’d really need to know what local businesses are in the environmental arena (or maybe I’ll be ready for start my own thing by then).  With that in mind, I am doggedly pursuing UCLA careers so I can fulfill one of my heart’s desires.  I haven’t really been picky, considering all jobs that look about entry-level and don’t require a very technical skill that I know nothing about.  From Housing to major departments to the Office of the Dean, I’m trying them all, though my hopes really are on that one with the Institute.

I’m also getting involved in some Young Alumni events, like the mixer I just went to, and next week there’s another similar event, as well as a Bruin sendoff in September, welcoming new Bruins who will be starting in the fall.  I even donated a few dollars to the 5K Challenge, which is aiming to get 5000 young alum to donate at least $5 each.  When that happens, a generous ’70 alumnus named Darryl Johnson will donate $10,000!  Cool, huh?  It’s a good way for him to get the young alum involved and feel good about themselves – after all, my $5 is helping to get UCLA $10,000 more.  I’m an absolute sucker for all things Blue and Gold and I really, truly, believe I would bleed it if I could.  😛  But seriously, slap the UCLA logo on any decent-looking item and I’ll probably want it.  One day I plan on having a room in the house Bruin-tized (oooh maybe I can even get a miniature of the Inverted Fountain!) and my school gear proudly displayed.

Just gotta go pick up my diploma now.

Just gotta go pick up my diploma now.

I’ve always been one for school spirit, buying lots of memorabilia for not only my college, but my high schools and even middle schools.  I don’t think they sold stuff with my elementary schools’ names or logos, or else I probably would have gotten those too.  I certainly was into the whole yearbook thing until I got to college.  Since then, I’ve shown my commitment by working for four UCLA departments during my college career, living in on-campus housing for three years, and supporting the bazaars and sales on campus by buying quite a bit!  In high school I got a class ring each for both of my high schools, but come college I felt that it was nicer to get a graduation package with a nice diploma frame, keepsake tassel, and t-shirt instead.  I also joined the Alumni Association with a Lifetime Membership, for which I was given two license plate frames, two padfolios, a mug, and some other random small gifts.

I’m proud of the history of the school and the rich traditions we have, despite being so young.  There’s really so many rewarding experiences that you can’t find elsewhere and I’m glad I chose to be a Bruin.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  🙂  [insert 8-clap :-P]

Green me!

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , ,
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photo credit: blackstarproject.org

photo credit: blackstarproject.org

I am in the market for a car.  Why?  You know, I’m not quite sure.  But hey, it’s the last thing my mom will do for me before she sends me off to fend for myself.  Of course, I can still bum my living situation off her for the allotted three months before she starts to charge me a minimal rent.  Besides, might as well take advantage of the government’s stimulus plan and save a thousand or so, right?  All of this came up rather randomly and suddenly the first full day I was back.  My mom and I spent the day finding out about getting me a new phone and we decided to drop by the dealers’ strip at night to have a quick browse at what there was.  Sadly, I’m not the most original, so I pretty much just wanted to look at the brands we’ve owned: Toyota and Lexus.

photo credit: vietnamcar.com

photo credit: vietnamcar.com

Originally my budget was $30,000, but that was dropped down to $20,000 when my mom saw some of the price tags for the cars on the lots.  After a bit more searching, she settled to something more like $23,000, which should get me a decent set of brand new wheels.  I think I can probably stretch that a little if I need, though hopefully I won’t.  I checked out Toyota, Hyundai, and Nissan and try as I might, I still find the Camry the nicest-looking.  And yes, I do not want to buy a car unless I think it looks nice.  Most have short, stubby trunks that I find utterly unattractive and others just have the wrong shape in general.  I liked the features of the Altima but I just didn’t like how it looks from the front.  After some pondering, my mom decided that what I need is a mid-size sedan.  I don’t really know what the difference between that and a full size is, but hey, sounds about right!

photo credit: thedailygreen.com

photo credit: thedailygreen.com

I went home and did some research and suddenly it dawned upon me: why am I not looking at hybrids?!  So of course, the first thing I did was only consider the hybrids on the market.  Lucky me, there aren’t too many out there that are mid-size sedans, so it makes choosing easier.  I really just want the Camry, but the Prius has such cool features and the Altima is slightly cheaper and has sliiightly better MPG.  Sadly, I find the Prius ugly and I don’t know if I could bear to own the thing.  I guess a test drive can help me decide.  As for the Altima, though it’s the safest car on the road, I don’t know if the price and MPG differences are big enough to change my mind.  In the end, I’ve come full circle and still got my eye on a Camry Hybrid.

However, I want to go to the dealer’s and ask about all the things that the Prius has and what the Camry can have too.  Usually I’m all about functionality over aesthetics, but for some reason with cars, that’s not so much the case.  I’ll also need to take them both out for a spin.  I’ve heard that the Prius has a “Prius blind spot” and if that bothers me, there’s no way I’m getting it.  The solar panel cooling system and parking assistance sounds so awesome though!  I hope they have that type of technology for the Camry as well.  I wish the Camry’s MPG was better though – only 33 MPG to the Prius’s 50!  How does the Prius get away with being so much cheaper when it has better technology?!  I just don’t understand cars.  All I know is that I’ll probably stay brand loyal for the rest of my life, thanks to the choices that my dad made in my youth.

[You know what I just realized?  Camry = C + mary!  Yeah, this is what happens when I mistype something… amazing discoveries occur.  :-P]

Job market

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , ,
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My dad just forwarded an e-mail talking about the boom in jobs in the green sector.  That’s great but, umm, where are they?!  I would love a job in some sort of environmental firm, especially if it’s a consultancy.  But alas, the focus seems to mostly be on energy and more technical stuff, so maybe I really should look into starting up my own little thing.  Unfortunately, I would really need a partner who has the scientific background or some sort of environmental degree.  I’ve joked with Panda that I will start up a business with his brother, but hey, I’m totally up for that if it’s possible.  However, I haven’t even met the guy, so that’s really just a fantasy.  More realistically, I’ll be looking for a temp job to start giving me an income, then continuing my search for something a little more permanent as I try to build up a career.

One of my three darling kitties.

One of my three darling kitties.

Today I looked into cat sitting jobs and considered applying to a pet services company.  It’s not exactly my ticket to a high-profile job, but it certainly is my passion.  I have a strong affinity for animals in general and felines in particular.  What’s better than spending my days with them?  I’d get a chance to move around the area, visit a bunch of cats, and occasionally stay over at people’s houses to watch the fellows.  Doesn’t sound like a bad deal, but of course then comes the question: where’s the future in that?  Even if I did run my own little business for that, I see it more as a side gig or something for retirement.  It’s certainly not the type of job I’d like to make a career out of, but more of one I’d like to maintain long-term as a hobby.  Short-term however, it’d be a great job to have as I try to find something with a bit more growth.

What I really want to get into is eco-consultancy, but where do I find such opportunities?  I’ve searched online for quite awhile and came up with Sustainability Works in Santa Monica, which is a non-profit that helps local companies change their ways to become more eco-friendly.  However, their focus is quite narrow and I’d like a company that services the greater Los Angeles area, so I’d get a chance to deal with people from a variety of cities in the area.  It’s surprisingly hard to find a job that apparently is popping up left and right.  Just gotta love how articles only talk about a trend without any sound evidence, with solid examples of companies hiring or something.

Tour themes were always a fun thing to plan.

Tour themes were always a fun thing to plan.

I’m tempted to fall back on some old jobs just to earn some money (hopefully they’ve still got space for me!) in the time being.  Sad how lack of money is such a motivator.  🙁  For the moment, I’m really interested in a job at UCLA.  I remember seeing a friend leading some donors or other important people around campus for a tour and it seems that’s the closest I’ll get to being a tour guide for UCLA after graduation.  Everything else is student-led, so I’m out of luck in my dreams of being a fabulous tour guide (unless I attend graduate school?).  Well, we’ll see, I’ve been browsing the listings and there are some interesting ones!

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