Dear Diary,
Reflecting on my impact
Day 3 in Thailand, and wow, what a place! The heat hits you like a wall the second you step outside, but I am not complaining. There is green everywhere, the friendliest people, and the food that’s somehow spicy, sweet is just my type.
I can’t believe I travelled this far, but being here has made me reflect a lot on travel and sustainability. Luckily, before I left, I made sure to offset my flight’s carbon emissions through a certified program. It’s not a magic fix, but I know by now that every little e bit helps and change starts with me.
You know what else I did, dear diary? Knowing me you probably guessed. I brought my little sustainability kit, you know my trusty water bottle, reusable cutlery, tote bags, and all the solid toiletries (I love my shampoo bar, it makes my hair so smooth ). Tap water isn’t drinkable here, but the placement provides refill stations, which has saved me from buying endless plastic bottles, I am so grateful for this.
I think what’s hit me the most is how much people here value nature and how vulnerable it is. Plastic waste is a visible problem in some areas, and just by speaking to locals I understood how much they care about preserving their environment and their homes. It’s a learning curve, to be honest, making me conscious about how I travel, how I consume, and how I can be part of something more respectful and responsible.
I’ve also been trying to stick to public transport and walking whenever possible, the streets are chaotic but kind of thrilling, hahah you know I love a challenge. Street food is absolutely delicious and I m excited to support local food stalls and market, it also feels like a great way to reduce my footprint and invest in the community.
I hope you are proud of me, dear diary because the work I’m doing here connects really well with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 13 (Climate Action). I’m learning about local healthcare and infection biology in tropical conditions allowing me to also see how climate and environmental issues affect public health. It has made the link between sustainability and science feel real, you know how much I was looking for something like that.
This trip isn’t just about gaining lab experience I genially believe it’s a reminder that every choice I make, even far from home, leaves a footprint. I want that footprint to be as light as possible.
Anyway, I need to go back to work, dear diary. I might grab a sticky mango rice on the way, haha .
More soon,
Me
