Unit 6,
Lesson 2, Ex. 3b
A. Melissa Hu: I love music so giving up my iPod
was definitely a challenge. I listen
to it during car rides, when I’m eating at restaurants, and sometimes when I’m
supposed to be sleeping.
The first few days were the worst. I was trying
to study at the library when this guy started talking nonstop to one of his
friends. I wanted to reach for my iPod so I wouldn’t have to listen to him, but
I couldn’t. So I tried to do my work but finally moved to another table.
This challenge was especially difficult when I
was at home. My parents were installing a floor, so they were constantly using
the nail gun. The noise was terrible.
After a couple of days, it got easier. I paid
more attention to the things around me and was more productive. I noticed a cat
in my backyard bushes. I read books like Sybil and Dubliners.
Without my iPod, I started remembering songs
that I had forgotten about. I had always skipped
one of my former favorite songs, Green Day’s “Jesus of Suburbia,” after years
of wearing it out.
I realized I spend too much time using my iPod
and feel like I need to always have it with me. I am going to try to use my
iPod less by not bringing my earphones with me everywhere I go. Hopefully I’ll
be more attentive.
B. Alma Sanchez: I decided to do this challenge
because I watch a lot of TV. In the summer, the first thing I did after waking
up was turn on the TV in the living room. Sometimes it didn’t matter what show
it was, as long as I could pass time and not be bored. I thought this challenge
would help me get more done, but giving up TV for a week was harder than I
thought.
On Monday as soon as I woke up I thought about
the shows I’d be missing like I Love Lucy and a Spanish soap opera. I killed
time by going on the Internet. In the afternoon, my mom and I went to the
supermarket, where there was a TV screen in every corner of the store! “How can
they do that to me, don’t they know I’m not supposed to watch TV!?” I turned
away immediately but I still felt bad.
On Tuesday, I went to my aunt’s house next door
and before I knew it I was staring at the video game my cousin was playing.
Then I went to the bedroom where my other cousin was switching channels and I left immediately. I went home and read
1984, my summer reading. The book was full of suspense and I couldn’t put it
down. I didn’t think about TV at all.
On Wednesday I even saw a TV on the bus that
showed news clips, games and ads. I took a book to read on Friday to avoid
watching.
On the other days, I could control not watching
TV by staying in my bedroom. Instead of watching TV, I cleaned my desk, looked
through college brochures and finalized my college list. I felt more productive
but I wanted to watch TV with my family because I could hear them laughing.
When the challenge ended, I wanted to keep
going because I did more that week than any other week in the summer. But I
knew I would eventually cave and
want to watch TV. I realized that TV distracted
me and that not watching it helped. Now I only watch my favorite shows and skip boring ones.
С. Elliot Kwon: I always knew that I depended way too much on my phone. But I didn’t know how much, so I decided to do this challenge to find out.
Every morning since I got a smartphone, I’ve
used The Weather Channel to figure out what to wear. On the first morning I had
to dress without guidance, but thankfully I was able to predict that the day
would be cold and foggy by looking out my window. When was the last time I did
that … eighth grade?
I also lost track of time. I haven’t worn a watch
for more than a year, because my phone showed the time. So I was late picking
up friends who took the bus for two hours to come from Santa Monica to Palos
Verdes. I also was late for my tutoring job. And even worse, I couldn’t call
people to tell them that I was running late.
Getting places was harder, too. I got lost
because I couldn’t use the GPS on my phone. My driving, though, got a lot safer
because I no longer had my phone in one hand checking directions while driving
with the other.
But the number one problem was not having my
contact list. I forgot to write down my friends’ and family members’ phone
numbers before I started the challenge. It was sad to realize that I couldn’t
remember my brother’s and my mom’s cell phone numbers.
In the midst of all the problems, however, I
found peace not worrying about missing a text message or an e-mail.
This
challenge was a great learning experience. It surprised me how I’d overlooked
even the simplest things like remembering phone numbers. We all should take
some time to think about how we can depend less on our cell phones.
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