Wageningen Week 4: Sam

Write about the thought process you are undergoing to move toward addressing the questions, where you are now in your thinking, how you think you will proceed in addressing the question, and/or what your current plan is to move forward?

My plan to move forward with developing a learning module based on the differences within animal welfare amongst different countries includes researching statistical data that might suggest and prove the theories of optimal growth that I have created. I also hope to inquire further to masters and PhD students once I am finished with this course, asking if any of their research might suggest support for my theories. Another factor I am now looking to include is the comparison of animal welfare amongst zoos, therefore I will hopefully target most areas of interest within my audience. So far, I have noticed several very favorable conditions for animals such as some of the polar bears in comparison to several zoos I have been to in the U.S. I have also visited a huge aquatic mammal facility where the sea lions and seals had a ton of space, in comparison to most aquariums I have been to in the U.S. Ultimately, I hope to conclude whether it is easier to keep animals in bigger habitats and whether there is less interference of disease and stress upon the captive animals in these conditions.

Identify 3 problems that you have had since leaving home. For each, describe in detail how you went about solving those problems or coming to a personal accommodation about the problem. Also, how has solving each problem impacted you since that time?

My first big problem was my internet connection. I began with my UIUC email as the only functional component. I tested my computer in Allison’s room and she tested hers in mine. My computer worked fine in her room, yet her computer did not work with my newly purchased cord either. Therefore, I decided the problem was likely the phone jack in the wall. I referenced the information sheet for problems concerning the internet and it said to go to the Wageningen Student Organization. On the maps we have, it had it listed way out past the bus station, we spent about an hour trying to find it in this area, only to discover after asking several people, that we were in the entirely wrong area. The map was wrong. We got directions toward where this building actually is hidden way away, only to be told by the people there that this was definitely the wrong place for the problem. They sent us on our way to the buildings that control internet service for the campus, which were again, a ways away and very hard to find as it was tucked away behind a huge series of buildings. To say the least, the campus is very spread out as we were told. We finally find the right building, I explain my internet problem at the help desk and basically all I got was a blank stare. He finally replies, well I’ve never really heard of this problem. I asked whether it might be possible that a block was placed on the room and he looks it up and says no. He took down me information, emailed me a few days later and we were able to resolve the problem after about a week, as I provided different codes for him from my computer. I never really became clear at what the exact problem was but I am happy and relieved it is fixed. Through this problem, I learned my way around town and campus to a much deeper extent than I could’ve imagined. I doubt I would’ve ever known it extended out so far or that half of those places existed. I also now know where to go and who to contact if any other computer problems arise.

My next big problem was my bank. I called each branch, for both my debit card and credit card before leaving, having notes put on my accounts that I would be completing transactions in Europe throughout the entire summer, providing exact dates. Therefore, it came to my surprise that my mom informed me that the bank called on a Sunday evening (after I had tried booking several flights throughout Europe) and said they had suspended my card due to suspected fraudulent charges. They said they would not remove the hold until they spoke with me within the next 24 hours, or else they would reject all of the charges and cancel my card. I first had to make it clear to my mom that finding a pay phone here in Wageningen is nearly impossible. Once she understood I had no way of calling, she spent about 2 hours on the phone with both branches of the bank, finally convincing them to accept her consent. I left all of my financial information at home and messaged with her online as she made the phone calls, providing any bit of information she might need. My cards were finally cleared. Although, something I did discover was that my Chase debit card works perfectly fine in ATM’s, yet I cannot book flights with it. The Chase end said for some reason there are often problems with the banks on the Europe end and they cannot do anything about it. Therefore, I was faced with 6 euros extra in fees, per charge, because I was forced to use my credit card over my debit card. Just a warning.

The last, more recent problem I have faced, concerns the Animal Behavior course that we are taking. On the second day into the course, we discovered that we need to be registered in order to have an account, to log in and use the computer. We are not technically registered due to all the extra fees, therefore that left us unable to log in. Our supervisor logged us in after awhile on the first day, to one computer to share. We later discussed the problem with Paul Koene, the director of the course and he said he would try and take care of it. He discovered that there were not any temporary accounts left to be given out. To try and make an effort from my end, I emailed Kurt and Stacey to see if they possibly remembered having a problem and how it might have been solved. I heard back from Kurt 2 days later, yet he had no idea and thinks it might have all been set up by the time they arrived. Paul said that he did not want us using Rosa’s account (as she had let us all week) and that he did not understand how we could follow the course without being able to log on. We tried stopping by to see if Rene had any ideas on how we might be able to solve this problem, yet he was not in that morning. Allison emailed Rene over our lunch break. Later on in the afternoon, Paul approached us and said he thinks that Bonne, the ‘teacher’ of the course solved the problem. However, it is now Monday and we are still without accounts, using a supervisors for the time being. We are just hoping that we do not get kicked out of the course after having done so much research already. This has taught me to try and problem solve through many different methods, since the first may not always work. It has been a matter of thinking of many different people to contact, that might have an idea on how to make it work.