Thomas-4/2/09-Skype Meeting

On Thursday, Rene, Malcolm, Nile, Milo, Jonah, and I set up a Skype video chat with Hodgkiss; a boarding school in Connecticut.  We were supposed to be talking with a school in Australia as well, but the time difference plus them going on a school break made things a lot harder.  After finally getting the video chat to connect, we had some trouble with static and hearing each other, but the problem was solved within minutes. We were contacting each other because we were all focusing on the topic of water.  At their school, they have been taking votes and making petitions as well as comparing and contrasting tap (fresh) water and bottled water.  Also, when it comes to school merchandise, they give all students a reusable travel bottle at the beginning of the year, and sell them throughout the year.  In addition to focusing on water, they have also been helping other causes.  For example, they sell bags that people can use for shopping and carrying their stuff.  A better alternative to plastic and paper bags.  And, being a boarding school, they told students to take quicker showers, not to waste water, turn off lights as often as possible, and use composts.  Excluding those last few things, we have been trying to get LREI do the same.  We try to save energy, save water, and use reusable objects.  However, we are still trying to get people to use reusable bottles because we use so many cups in our school per day and thats not good.  Going back to the video chat, our group worked very well together.  At first, it was somewhat of a mess and we were all interrupting and talking at once, but once we got ourselves organized, we asked good questions, let each other speak, and covered all the topics we had well.  We can’t wait to get in contact with the Australian school once they’re off break.