What It Means to Be A Duck

Caitlin H.

December 27, 2009 - 5:32 PM

Back in Eugene again! After a wonderful holiday season at home it feels refreshing to have ‘flown south' for another term. Being in Ridgefield for Christmas was the chance I needed to catch up with friends and family, but now that I'm in Eugene I feel energized and ready for the coming term. I suppose it feels like returning to a different kind of ‘home.' I hope your holiday season was as lovely!

 

As I took the exit off the freeway and caught my first glimpse of Eugene I noticed two things: 1) Eugene is very much a college-town, teeming with life while school is in session, and feeling a little more empty when the UofO is on vacation. 2) The atmosphere of Eugene is unique and identifiable. It means something to be from Eugene. It means something to be a Duck.

 

For Christmas this year my Grandparents gave me an autographed copy of the book What it Means to Be a Duck by Rob Moseley. I haven't had the time to read it cover to cover, but I read a few passages over the break. It set in motion my own thoughts about what makes this place special.

 

I came up with at least 5 unique characteristics:

 

The People: Simply put: Eugene is full of some of the nicest people I've ever met. I feel safe here. I feel connected here. I feel like when I'm sitting next to someone on the bus I could have a meaningful conversation or just give a friendly "hello" and that wouldn't' be considered weird. There are lots of different people, with many different ideas amongst them. And the one thing keeping us all together - the people of Eugene seem open minded enough and tolerant enough to co-exist with diversity.

 

The Places: Eugene has it all - hometown, Mom and Pop style stores, farmers markets, major chains and department stores. It has parks and large public spaces. Eugene has places to experience. And what's more, Eugene boasts the public transit and biking lanes allowing many citizens opportunity and access to those places.

 

The Perfect Size: Big enough that the city has life and a diverse array of things to try, but small enough that it hasn't lost its hometown feel. You can't help but wonder when you go out to a movie or go out to dinner who you might bump into.

 

The Location: Nestled between the Cascades and the Oregon coastline and rivers flowing through the city, it just doesn't get any better than this.

 

Sense of Place: What separates Eugene from any other place to me is the feeling I have about the area, in addition to the actual physical landscape. I feel connected here. And you can't help but start to feel it once you have spent some time in the area. When I see the Oregon "O" anywhere, in another city or another state, even another country, it is something to smile about and give a friendly wave or a "Go Ducks." People generally respond in kind. When I meet someone from the area or who has been to the area I feel connected to them too. And when I leave, I feel very much like I still have a family back in Eugene. The feeling of what it means to be a Duck isn't something you know and understand for four years while you go to school, it becomes a lifelong experience. It changes you. I can only encourage you to experience it for yourself.

 

 

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Eugene needs a Burgerville! (Or more restaurants like it)

Caitlin H.

December 21, 2009 - 10:23 AM

My senior year of high school I focused my ‘senior project,' a yearlong research and volunteer service graduation requirement, on childhood obesity. That was nearly five years ago, but my interest has hardly subsided with time. Since high school my curiosity about food, the American diet, social organization and how it impacts our choices has exploded. But back in 2005 I was mostly curious about the No Child Left Behind Act and the fast food industry. That was the year Fast Food Nation and Supersize Me seemed to take the nation by surprise. I was amongst those whose eyes were slowly opening to a whole new vision of what the American diet meant.

 

My awareness for the food I eat has certainly changed. It has increased even more in the last six months. I still enjoy hamburgers; I still eat meat and other animal products. But my attitudes toward food have changed. I've enjoyed discovering local, organic bread and produce. I've delighted in knowing I've supported local restaurants and farmers. I have valued the importance of cooking a meal to share with others and the opportunity to connect over dinner. In short, I'm not the person you'll find out most nights grabbing dinner from a fast food chain.

 

With one glaring exception: I love Burgerville.

 

Every trip I make home usually starts with a stop in Albany for a meal at Burgerville. Albany is the southernmost location of the chain and the first one I pass on my way home, or my last chance for a good burger before I return to Eugene. Now as I said, I'm not a fast food crazed person, or even a dining-out fanatic, but I always make time for a stop at Burgerville whenever I'm close enough to enjoy it.

 

The food is good. Service is good. I enjoy the experience. But perhaps what really inspires me is the company's mission and business practice. In an industry full of cheap meals and where the bottom line is often the bottom dollar, Burgerville is selling something else. And I like it. I love it.

 

Burgerville is a ‘fast food' chain, but committed to buying local products, supporting local farmers, committed to creating a sustainable business. It is a dining experience that is difficult to find a comparison to. When I dined there most recently, I noticed they were slowly transforming their dine-in restaurant to a more family-oriented atmosphere. I was perhaps most struck that products were labeled compostable. Instead of trash bins there were compost receptacles. Just because I still like to have a toy with my meal, I ordered a kid's cheeseburger meal. Instead of a plastic toy destined to end up in a landfill some day, (like I'd receive at most fast food chains), I received an engaging activity book that required I use my intelligence as well as my creativity. It also included a coupon for a free child's admission to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (the theme of the activity book was about the NW coastline). What a deal! A kid's meal was now offering an experience to get out there and explore more of the environment we live in.

 

Even if Eugene isn't the right location for a Burgerville, we need more business like it. I feel like the spirit of Eugene is quite similar to a business like Burgerville. All of our communities need more dining experiences like this - local, sustainable, family oriented.

 

I implore you to do some research for yourself. America needs places that call for a radical change in lifestyle, without pushing us so far over the edge we resist the change. I'm a believer that change comes in small steps. Business like Burgerville could be the first. Changing our fast-food driven lifestyles could be the shift towards a more promising tomorrow. Large companies deeply rooted in the public eye that engage us to think about sustainable practices, and what a term like that might even mean, is so vital.

 

 

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Portland Adventures

Caitlin H.

December 19, 2009 - 11:16 AM

Eugene is my platform for exploration. There are plenty of things to do in Eugene, and sometimes I find myself with so many commitments it is difficult to get away. But when I do get the opportunity, Eugene is my springboard for so many adventures.

 

With school on hold and more time out of the classroom, I was able to make a trip to Portland yesterday. Portland is an approximately two-hour drive north of Eugene and as Oregon's largest city, full of possibilities. I've enjoyed the Oregon Zoo, a variety of concerts, gatherings, and museums, and the occasional sporting event there. But yesterday, I was excited to try something I had never done before - attend a Portland Winter Hawks game.

 

About a year ago I undertook a business project focusing on the Portland Lumberjax, Portland's professional lacrosse team, who have since folded and are no longer playing at the Rose Garden Arena. It was through that marketing project I learned the relationships between lacrosse, hockey and their players. As I sat in the arena watching the Winter Hawks game I was anxious to see what marketing strategies were being used and what more could be done. People were at the game, but it wasn't what I'd call crowded. For a while I debated why the Winter Hawks have survived and why the Lumberjax didn't... and then I remembered I was on vacation, not taking any business classes, and just enjoyed the game.

 

What a thrill! The Winter Hawks lost but it was still quite interesting to try something new. I had seen hockey games for the Spokane Chiefs while visiting a friend before, but it felt special to be watching ‘my' Oregon team for the first time. I left the Rose Garden in the spirit of the winter season and anxious to find some snow or frozen lake.

 

When I return to Eugene next term I desperately hope to make a trip out to the mountains to try my hand at some winter recreation activities. Recently in the mail I received a winter recreation guide from the city of Eugene. I'm hoping to spend some time looking at it and also considering trips through the UO Outdoor Program. I hope you find yourself up to plenty of adventures this winter season!

 

 

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The Future

Caitlin H.

December 18, 2009 - 2:49 PM

The future. What an intimidating pair of words. "Future." Say it enough times and it starts to sound funny.

 

Future. I'm home for the holidays and I'm certain there is one question everyone will be asking, "What are your plans for the future?" Away at college I feel like there is a cocoon of safety where I'm allowed the freedom to ponder such difficult questions at my leisure. The rest of my life is certainly something to think about, but when I need to stop panicking and just keep exploring, I can. Not at home. Not on holiday. The attack has already started.

 

Grandparents, parents, parents of friends, friends, friends of siblings, siblings, siblings of parents...all of them. They all want to know: "What am I going to after graduation?" The next thing I know they'll be asking me what I want for lunch October 7, 2012 and I still don't have a clue! Am I supposed to know if I will still like ham on wheat bread with a bit of lettuce? Maybe I'll want to try something else. Maybe I'll feel the same way about my job choices.

 

 

Perhaps the hardest part about the holidays are coming home and facing everyone asking you this intense question, and there is no escape. You can't just ignore that line of questioning in an email or casually neglect to write back about that part of a letter. These people are looking you in the eye with a clear expression that says, "I want to know you're going to make something of yourself and your education." And you have no choice but to stare at them back and say..."Well, I think I might like to..." even though all you have known your whole life was an educational system where you signed up for classes, went to school, occasionally had a holiday until it was time to go back to school again. We're supposed to want to leave that and get a ‘real' job?

 

I have been working on my post graduation plans, but I still have many unanswered questions. I've applied to three Master's programs. I'm considering a few others. I've even taken the GRE - twice. I've considered plenty of options. I've considered alternatives. What if I don't get into a Master's program? Where would I like to live? Where would I try to find job? Do I move back home? Could I find a job there?

 

The Future. That's scary stuff.

 

My prepared response for this winter holiday:

 

I'm really hoping to be accepted into one of three Master's programs, and I'll have to make some decisions after I know my admissions status.

 

That is inevitably followed by questions about the programs I'm applying to. I have some information prepared for that too.

 

The University of Oregon Master's in Community and Regional Planning

 

Michigan State University Masters in Urban and Regional Planning

 

UCLA Masters in Urban Planning

 

And that's generally enough to satisfy concerned parties, and enough to satisfy myself. The real secret is I'm slowly receiving emails from other universities inviting me to apply for graduate programs, and a program Columbia University has caught my interest. I'm exploring other options as well. If graduate school doesn't pan out, I am hoping to find a job in one of Oregon's larger cities. If that doesn't work out, maybe an internship or other employment, even internationally, would be desirable.

 

The future. Do any of us really have it all figured out until after it happens? Do we talk about it idly hoping someone will say something that will sound good enough for us as well? A University of Oregon education opened up doors of possibility. Lots of doors. And maybe in a few months I'll know if I've been accepted to any graduate programs and which is the best fit for me. Or I'll have found another job opportunity to pursue. Until then I'll continue to face that question:

 

"What are your plans for the future?"

 

 

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Fall Term Conclusions

Caitlin H.

December 13, 2009 - 3:57 PM

Ends. And beginnings. Life is full of them.

 

Fall term has reached its conclusion and I'm left feeling rather relieved. I enjoyed fall term immensely, but by the end of it I was starting to feel stretched rather thin. I spent some quality time bonding with Lib (the Knight Library) and SSIL (the Social Science Instructional Lab) this week. We are mutually ready for a break from each other. I'm excited to be heading home, taking a trip with some friends, and taking the time to relax. I plan to take the GRE a second time, and I plan on trying to get a head start on next term's reading, but by and large, I'm looking forward to a few carefree weeks to spend with friends and family.

 

5 HIGHLIGHTS FROM FALL TERM

 

1. Pushing myself to branch out academically, and personally. I haven't really been a student who has struggled to diversify my education or my experiences, but this term I made a point of taking classes that weren't subjects I was naturally inclined to take. I didn't just try activities that were different and fun, I tried some things that were different and sounded difficult. I'm proud to have survived through that experience, and grown along the way. It makes me feel empowered to tackle other difficult tasks in the future.

 

2. Activities and events around campus. To put it bluntly, campus is hoppin'. From gospel choir concerts, to swing dancing, to athletic events, to guest lectures and more there has certainly never been a dull moment these past 11 weeks. I'm already trying to pencil things into my planner for next term! The burdens of time management can be an annoying hassle, but the overload of things to see and do are one of the reasons I love being at the UO.

 

3. The beginnings of my marathon training. I've completed some races! It has felt good to be out there running along the river and even competing against others. I need to kick my training into a new gear next term, but I have made friends who are going to run with me. One of them even ran the Portland marathon this year. I'm inspired and I realize this is still a rather large goal, but I feel like I'm going to make it.

 

4. Applying to grad schools. What a nightmare the process has been at times. Even now at this very second I feel the looming stress of graduate school applications and tests. My GRE scores weren't as high as I wanted to be the first time, and now I'm not even sure my scores ended up at the right departments within the prospective schools. Somehow the headache of it all makes me want to overcome all these obstacles and get into grad school even more. And the real blessing has been the process has forced me to consider my future goals and give shape to what inspires me and what I'd like to do for a career.

 

5. New jobs. I've loved to work and I have enjoyed that it has allowed me to meet new people in addition to focus on some professional skills. Through the course of the term I was able to help coordinate a campus-wide event and have met students from all around the world. Employment has been a great asset to the types of experiences I have had while in college.

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