Coagula Curatorial

I went the Coagula Curatorial art gallery with Emily and her roommate. I had never been to Chinatown before, so I was excited to see what it was like. The architecture was amazing! The buildings looked really nice. The part of town we were in wasn't very busy, and I noticed a few people sitting on the benches outside, just taking in their surroundings. I took a photo of the alley right outside the art gallery, which you can see below.



I loved how there were lanterns hanging in the street. I want to come back and explore the other art galleries in the area.
The art gallery owner, Mat Gleason, was sitting down and talking to his friend when we walked. We found out later that there was some drama in the art gallery owner world; his friend was upset by something he had posted on Facebook (his friend owner her own art gallery just down the street). While speaking to him, we found out some more details about the exhibit. His wife was actually the curator! He walked us through a few of the pieces (Emily's roommate was doing a video project for one of her classes, and she was interviewing him.) He was very knowledgeable and was able to share a lot about the artists' works. I took photos of my favorites from the exhibit which you can see below:

Rough Map of the World by Patricia Liverman

                                                   
                                                       Ring of Fire by Patricia Liverman

As you can tell, I favored one artist. Gleason also explained to us that Liverman uses paint chips, and she sprinkles them on the canvas to see how they interact with the paint. He also invited us to smell the paintings and see if there's a scent of oil. He explained to us that it takes years for oil paint to dry, so that's why they smell so strongly of oil.
I learned a lot during this experience and am so happy I was able to speak to Mat Gleason while I was at his art gallery!

A World We Dare to Imagine Pt. 3

Hye Unit

When I was in Cambodia, I learned that the number one cause of death for children was burns. I was shocked. There must have been a mistake. Certainly it was from malnutrition or malaria? I can't even remember the last time one of my friends suffered from a burn more severe than from a curling iron. How could this be? Unfortunately, in poorer nations where the population lives in slums, there tend to be large fire pits where women cook inside their huts. As a result, if a mother isn't looking her child may crawl into the fire and burn himself. If untreated, the burn can get infected and kill him. Burns result in the loss of 18 million disability adjusted years, and over 250,000 deaths a year in Africa alone.

I propose an organization called the Hye ("shih") Unit, a mobile clinic which specifically treats burns. In Asante Twi, one of the most spoken languages of Ghana, hye means burn. The World Health Organization (WHO) distinguished Ghana as one of the African countries with the most burn incidents. My clinic will be first made available there. This organization will also have an educational purpose. We will teach community leaders how to prevent burns from happening in the home, to overcome the culture barrier between me and the villagers.

Hye Unit will travel mostly to rural areas, as middle- and low-income households are affected the most by burns as reported by WHO. On board, we will have two nurses, a doctor specialized in burns, and a translator. These people can be rotated out, and volunteers are encouraged. The nurses will be able to educate the community leaders and explain to them how to prevent burns so they can relay the information back to their people. Ideally, I would also like to expand to India where men abuse their wives by pouring acid and burning their skin. This would require an additional educational program in which men are trained to treat women with respect, and women are empowered leave abusive relationships.

A World We Dare to Imagine

To make the world a better place, I feel like we would need to start with education. If there is one pillar of society I feel as if everyone needs to have access to, it is that one. Think about it. Where would you be if your parents had not enrolled you in kindergarten? What if you didn't graduate from high school? There is a reason schooling is required by law. To be honest, I feel that it's a crime that certain socioeconomic classes receive poorer education than others. If more people were educated, they would know how to sustain themselves better. They would have access to jobs and be able to support their families better. And when I say education, I don't mean traditional education. I think that the education you and I are used to does not work everywhere. When I was in Dakar, I met with the founder of Tostan, Molly Melching, and she had education programs tailored to the people she was serving. For example, there was one in which they taught women how to take care of family affairs (pay taxes, take out loans, etc...). I also know that there are certain NGOs that work with inmates in Senegalese prisons, teaching them how to get jobs and support themselves once they get out of prison. I believe that this type of education, an individualized curriculum rather than a one-size-fits-all program, would make the world a better place.

After education, I believe that the world needs universal healthcare. Too many children in poorer countries die from diseases that are preventable and treatable in the U.S. Healthcare should be free, and available to all. This means that many hospitals would have to be opened up all over the world. When I was in Ica, Peru, I met families who had traveled for over 48 hours to get to the hospital I was volunteering at. This is not uncommon. Unfortunately, for people living in rural areas the nearest hospital is hours away. What are they supposed to do if someone hits their head, or suffers a heart attack? Their loved one would never make it to the closest hospital. I understand that hospitals are costly, so we must have at least some sort of mobile clinic in these impoverished areas. Life is precious, and we must do everything we can to save it. 

Random Post 2

Anatomy

This semester I'm taking Meds 320: Cadaveric Human Anatomy. In this class, we are taught gross anatomy at USC Keck Medical School by the med school's first year Anatomy professor. Each week, we have lab in the cadaver lab at Keck, and we get to open up and look inside human bodies that have already been dissected by the medical students. What is interesting about these bodies is that the donors chose specifically to donate them to Keck, and therefore had to live within 50 miles of the medical school. Other medical schools get their donor bodies from a California state "donor bank", so their donors cannot choose which medical school will use them. Because all of the donors lived in Southern California,  their lungs have some black coloring from tar inhaled while living here. I know it's not something nice to think about, but if we were to live here our whole lives, we would end up with the same discoloring because of the smog that covers Los Angeles.

This class has been extremely interesting, and I look forward to visiting the lab each week. In the lab, our professor receives teaching assistance from first and second year medical students. It is also fun to interact with them and learn what daily life in medical school is. Each week I'm amazed at how much they know, and how they're able to differentiate everything in the body. Sometimes when we look in the donors' bodies, it's very hard for me to see the difference between a nerve and a vein, unless I look at their starting and end points. For them, they can just look at it and know automatically what structure it is. Although a difficult class, Meds 320 has been one of my favorite classes at USC.

Our professor also gives us a lot of opportunities to be in the lab more if we want to be. This past Monday, I helped him dissect ears. Basically, I had to knock of the top of the temporal bone in a donor's skull with a chisel and hammer in order to see the donor's middle ear. It was much harder than it sounds! The temporal bone is the strongest bone in our body, so I had to hit the chisel several times before it even budged a little. In the end I dissected three ears successfully, and was able to keep the stapes (one of our three tiny middle ear bones) intact in each of them. It was such a fun learning experience and made me look forward to my first year of Anatomy in medical school when I'll be able to dissect much more than just an ear!

Born on Third Base

I thought Born on Third Base was very informative. I was shocked to hear Collins was the great-grandson of Oscar Mayer and gave away all his inheritance. I feel like there are very few people in the world who would donate such a hefty sum rather than keep it for themselves. I was also surprised by how young he was at when he did this, and wondered if he was maybe being a little naïve. It was interesting to read his thought process and learn what he did from that point forward.

Collins mentions a lot of numbers in his book, numbers that made me stop and go back to them to make sure I had read them right. I cannot believe that as United States citizens, we are within the top 5 to 10 percent globally. Because of the wealth in Europe, Australia, and some South American and Asian countries, I assumed we would be a little lower on the scale. I also was unaware that being above the U.S. median income of $55,000 means that we are a part of the top 2% globally. That is crazy! It made me reflect on how privileged we are, and how the amount of poverty in our country is a slim piece of pie compared to the amount of poverty around the world.

I also really liked Collins’ chapter about travelling in Maine with Bill Gates, Sr. campaigning for the estate tax. I do not know much about the different taxes we have to pay as Americans, so it was interesting to learn about people opposing this specific tax. Gates made an important point that people didn’t become wealthy on their own, they got there with the help of someone else. I feel like this is often forgotten, and the rich feel entitled to a wealth that they couldn’t have made on their own. I’m going to remember this as I begin my own career and have my own income, and am grateful for those around me who have helped me get here.

When I googled Collins, I was happy to see that he now directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Change in Washington, D.C. He’s extremely passionate about the work he does to address inequality, and I couldn’t imagine a better person for the job.

Random Post 1

Maple Syrup

I truly love maple syrup. Ever since I was a kid, I can remember loving the taste of maple syrup. It isn’t just any maple syrup though – it has to be real, pure maple syrup. I’d rather have no syrup than the Aunt Jemima brand. Whenever we go to breakfast places, my mom and I bring our own maple syrup because we know that most don’t carry real maple syrup. My friends make fun of me for this, but I feel like if I’m paying for it, I might as well enjoy it. I wonder if my love for maple syrup stems from the fact that I’m from New York which is relatively close to Vermont, the place where most maple syrup is produced.

When I was younger, I went to a maple syrup farm in northern New York. I remember tasting sap from the source before it is turned into the syrup I love and enjoy. The farmers explained to us that the darker the color of the syrup (i.e. the darker the grade), the more flavor it has. We even got to try a little sample of each grade! This was one of my best experiences, and it probably contributed to my love for maple syrup.

I also love how versatile maple syrup can be. Not only can you put in on breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles, but also on some meats like turkey and bacon, or it can be used as a supplement for sugar in baking. I personally love to put maple syrup in my plain Greek yogurt. I add in a few nuts and it’s the perfect snack!

Expert Article

Latest in Superfoods: The Coffee Bean
Did you know drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day is actually healthy?

Like most Americans, I start most days off with a good cup of Joe. I’m not fully awake until I’ve smelled that fresh Keurig coffee smell and taken a few sips. To be honest, I enjoy drinking coffee. I have heard coffee can be addictive, so maybe I’m confusing my enjoyment with addiction. Nonetheless, if you’re like me and you can’t get through the day without that cup of java, you might be happy to hear that coffee is one of the healthiest foods that exists. Studies show that drinking coffee is extremely beneficial towards your health, and that it may even extend your lifespan.

Because coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world, researchers have been studying it for several decades. Two years ago, the World Health Organization took coffee off of its list of potentially carcinogenic foods – an act that almost never happens – in response to increasing evidence supporting coffee as a healthy food (Shmerling).

Why is coffee so good for you anyway?

Coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of developing many different diseases and disorders. These include Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, liver disease, and stroke. Evidence suggests coffee plays a role against the beta-amyloid plaque that causes Alzheimer’s Disease, and in activating parts of the brain that are affected by Parkinson’s Disease (Harvard Health Letter). Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may contribute to anticancer activity (Harvard Health Letter). Regular coffee consumption is associated with preventing insulin and blood sugar levels that lead to diabetes (Harvard Health Letter). The prevention of liver disease seems to benefit the most from coffee consumption (Poole). Studies suggest cafestol and kahweol are linked to this. Coffee also has protective properties against liver cancer, stroke, and heart attack (Harvard Health Letter). Drinking coffee is also associated with lower mortality rates (Poole), and lower depression rates (Hensrud).

What makes coffee so healthy?

Caffeine

Caffeine is the main ingredient in coffee. It contributes to higher attention levels, increased alertness, and improved physical performance (Coffee & Health). This is the reason I drink coffee – to feel a jolt of energy after having a rough wake-up. An average cup of brew contains 100 mg of caffeine. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) states that non-pregnant adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day without risking their health. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can consume up to 200 mg of caffeine a day. The lethal dose of caffeine is 10 g, or 100 cups of coffee (Harvard Health Letter).

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that decrease harmful molecules which can damage cells. For example, lack of antioxidants can lead to diseases such as atherosclerosis, a condition in which our arteries harden because cells in the walls of the blood vessels are compromised (WebMD). The main antioxidant in coffee is called chlorogenic acid. Many researchers are studying chlorogenic acid and its benefits for glucose metabolism. They predict that it is beneficial in that it inhibits mechanisms important in the production of glucose (Meng et al.).

Cafestol and Kahweol

Cafestol (CAF-es-tol) and Kahweol (KAH-we-awl) are the main components of the oil found in coffee. They belong to a class of compounds known as diterpenes (a terpene is a type of steroid). Diterpenes are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic (relieving spasm of involuntary muscle) (Tirapelli et al.). Cafestol and Kahweol are in the oily droplets and grounds that float in unfiltered coffee. Preliminary research has shown that cafestol and kahweol may have anticancer effects which are lost when they are filtered out (Harvard Health Letter, 2012). But, these two substances have also been linked to high levels of low-density lipoproteins, “bad cholesterol” (Urgert and Katan). As a result, people at risk of heart disease are encouraged to drink filtered coffee, i.e. coffee low in diterpenes.

Magnesium and Potassium

Although minimal, coffee does contain some vitamins and minerals since it’s a plant-based drink. On average, a cup contains about 7 mg of magnesium, which is about 2% of a woman’s daily requirement and 1.7% of a man’s daily requirement. It may not be a whole lot, but drinking a few cups of coffee does provide at least some of our needed daily magnesium (Harvard Health Letter).

A cup of coffee also contains about 116 mg of potassium or 2.5% of our daily requirement. Just like magnesium, it isn’t one of the main ingredients of coffee, but your daily cup of Pike Roast from Starbucks does contribute to your vital mineral consumption (Harvard Health Letter).

The negative side effects of drinking coffee (that aren’t even that negative)

How Much Is Too Much?

All the health benefits discussed above are true when someone drinks no more than three to four cups of coffee a day. Drinking more than five cups a day starts to reverse these benefits (Park).

Putting Women At Risk

One study suggests that women consuming more coffee are at a higher risk of developing fractures. Pregnant women who drink higher levels of coffee have higher rates of miscarriage, premature births, and underweight babies (Park).

Potential Dangers of Coffee Consumption

At high temperatures, you are at risk of burning yourself and irritating your esophagus. If you drink coffee that is above 149˚F, then you are at risk of developing cancer, specifically esophageal cancer (Loomis et al.). Consuming a lot of unfiltered coffee, including espresso, can lead to higher cholesterol levels (Hensrud).

Coffee Additives

It is also important to remember that adding cream and sugar to your coffee can affect your health. These additional ingredients have their own associated risks that may negate the benefits of drinking coffee.

Some Annoying Things About Coffee

Consuming large amounts of coffee leads to frequent urination (since caffeine is a diuretic). This is probably the side effect of coffee that irritates me the most. Other bothersome effects include impaired sleep, a jittery feeling, and in some cases, anxiety. As these are all minor negative side effects, I find they are outweighed by the benefits of coffee consumption.

I personally love coffee. The fact that there are now health benefits associated to drinking three to four cups of coffee a day only adds to my love for it. Next time I go to Starbucks, I might even opt for a Venti Veranda blend.

Works Cited

• “Atherosclerosis.” WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/atherosclerosis-8374 (February 20 2015).
• “Compounds in coffee.” Coffee & Health from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee. https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/topic-overview/compounds-in-coffee-2/ (2018). 
• Hensrud, D. “Does coffee offer health benefits?” Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/coffee-and-health/faq-20058339 (2017).
• Loomis, D., Guyton, KZ., Grosse, Y., Lauby-Secretan, B., El Ghissassi F., Bouvard, V., Benbrahim-Tallaa, L., Guha, N., Mattock, H., & Straif, K. Carcinogenicity of drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages. The Lancet Oncology 17.7 (2016): 877—878. 
• Meng, S., Cao, J., Feng, Q., Peng, J., & Hu, Y. “Roles of Chlorogenic Acid on Regulating Glucose and Lipids Metabolism: A Review.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2013 (2013): 801457. 
• Park, A. “3 Reasons Why Coffee Is So Good for You.” Time. http://time.com/5033881/health-benefits-of-drinking-coffee/ (November 22 2017).
• Poole, R. “Health Benefits of Coffee: Three or Four Cups Per Day Does Far More Good Than Bad.” Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/coffee-health-benefits-three-cups-day-720658 (November 23 2017). 
• Shmerling, R. “The latest scoop on the health benefits of coffee.” Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-scoop-on-the-health-benefits-of-coffee-2017092512429 (September 25 2017). 
• Tirapelli, CR., Ambrosio, SR., da Costa FB., de Oliveira, AM. “Diterpenes: a therapeutic promise for cardiovascular diseases.” Recent Pat Cardiovasc Drug Discov 3.1 (2008): 1—8. 
• Urgert R. & Katan M.B. “The cholesterol-raising factor from coffee beans.” J R Med 89.11 (1996): 618—623.
• “What is it about coffee?” Harvard Health Letter. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-is-it-about-coffee (January 2012).

Growing a Farmer Pt. II

This second half of the book was easier to read than the first. I felt as if Kurt became a little more lighthearted, and he joked a little more often than before. My favorite chapter of the book was when he described the apple syrup. If you were to ask any of my friends what my favorite food is, they would hands down say maple syrup (I have actually gotten the reputation of “maple syrup snob” in the friend group). Kurt states that the one he makes is his “local version of maple syrup: brown, thick, sweet and of the land.” Since I am from New York and most maple syrup is made locally in Vermont (only a couple hours away from where I live), I have never tasted apple syrup. Truthfully, I want to go to Kurtwood Farms just to try it! In this same chapter is my favorite quote from the book, “like a 401(k), fruit trees grow with compounded interest”. I thought this was something funny that a lot of people could relate to. He made this same type of analogy in the last chapter when he uses Zeno’s paradoxes from Calculus to explain that he’ll never be able to fully and completely live off the land.  

Growing a Farmer: How I Learned to Live Off the Land taught me a lot the food we eat everyday, especially information that I wish I had known a long time ago. In the first half we get this image of gross-looking, mush-like meats being cooked into meals at restaurants. In the second half, we learn how animals are slaughtered, butchered, and then served literally from farm to table. Kurt tells us that he likes knowing where the food he makes comes from. He likes milking his own cows, making his own cheese, raising his own animals, etc… He wants to live off his land as grandly as possible. His goal was to be self-sufficient, and I believe he achieved it (even if he still has to go to the store to buy salt and pepper). And as a college student, I think his most useful tip to us it not create debt! (Guess I’ll start building my sustainable farm now…)

Job Description

Peer Health Exchange – Intern

When I was in high school, I was lucky enough to receive a comprehensive sexual health education. I went to school in a suburb of New York City. I can imagine that the sex-ed I got was very different from that of someone living in Montgomery, Alabama. Think back to yours. Were you aware that safe sex is an option, and you don’t have to abstain until marriage? Were you given a list of all the existing contraceptive methods and their effectiveness?

I worked with a non-profit organization called Peer Health Exchange that answers all the questions above, and many more. It provides a 13-week curriculum in which 9^th graders learn the facts and skills to make decisions regarding their health. It’s called Peer Health Exchange because we train college students to teach these 9^th graders about mental health, sexual health, and substance use. Peer Health Exchange has offices in 5 major cities (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago), and works with 21 different colleges. In L.A., Peer Health Exchange partners with California State University – Northridge, California State University – Dominguez Hills, Occidental College, and the University of Southern California.

I interned with Peer Health Exchange – Los Angeles one year ago. My main responsibility was to manage the Accessing Resources pilot program at USC which included:

·      Recruiting volunteers

·      Leading volunteer meetings

·      Writing the curriculum 

Recruiting Volunteers

The national organization’s leadership wanted to carry out a new curriculum nationwide and they chose one of USC’s partner high schools, Animo Inglewood, to be the guinea pig. I was in charge of recruiting volunteers who would teach the new set of workshops at that school. These volunteers would be responsible for teaching their old workshops as well as the new ones, so I had to find people who were very dedicated to Peer Health Exchange’s mission. Although challenging, I managed to recruit a few members who had the time and interest to take on this new responsibility.       

Leading Volunteer Meetings

Since these volunteers were a part of my project, I led one-hour weekly meetings with them before our whole cohort met together. My supervisor and Peer Health Exchange – Nationals sent me guidelines and objectives for each meeting, which I then tailored to my group’s needs.

A typical meeting went as follows:

1)    Start with a five-minute icebreaker

2)    Reflect over the last period we taught to gather any logistical information

3)    Go over the workshop we were teaching that week

4)    Distribute the workshop materials kit

5)    Practice one part of the workshop in front of everyone

6)    Sign up for our workshop periods online    

I really enjoyed running these weekly meetings. For one of our icebreakers, I asked each volunteer to draw their ideal day. I only gave them a couple of minutes, but they still managed to be creative! One girl drew an elaborate beach scene, while someone else just drew themselves in bed with a pizza and video games. I liked to find new ways of getting to know each other rather than the same, overused icebreakers like “share a fun fact about yourself!” or “speed-dating”. 

Writing the Curriculum

My favorite part of managing the Accessing Resources pilot was writing the curriculum. I had access to a box account which held all the workshops Peer Health Exchange – Nationals wrote. Unfortunately, these were specific to the Washington, D.C. area. As a result, I researched the necessary information about Los Angeles and the communities around Animo Inglewood so I could tailor the workshops by removing any activities students wouldn’t enjoy and include:

·      Health clinics that were within a five-mile radius of the high school

·      Resources offered by the high school.

I loved working with Peer Health Exchange. It is an organization that does important work in our community and strives to improve the lives of its students. Working behind the scenes exposed me to all the work and preparation that goes into our weekly volunteer meetings. I was able to leave a legacy with the Accessing Resources Pilot. My supervisor told me that they always refer back to my notes to make sure that the curriculum we teach is up to date. Certain ideas I implemented, such as including one-page high school fact sheets with the workshop curriculum, are still used in practice today. I hope to one day impact my community as Peer Health Exchange – Los Angeles does in its own.