A flight spanning continents emits in just one day
What one UK resident releases in a year’s way.
Though this impact lies beyond my direct command,
It shaped my choices, made me pause and understand.
The changes I can make on my exchange journey
Will be invaluable to the environment… if I start early.
But once in Bristol, joy will rise from subtle scenes-
A bicycle’s bell echoing through historic greens.
Public transport, buses, and trains shall guide my stay-
A modest path, yet mindful of the price we pay.
I’ll navigate by foot or rail, not carbon-heavy cars,
Because that’s already what I’m used to, living under different stars.
The Olio app will guide my efforts to be sustainable
By helping sharing food… helping fill another table,
My meals will be made at home, with scraps not tossed but stored,
No plastics from fast food, no mindless waste ignored.
Showers will be brief, the tap turned off with care,
I’ll drink from metal bottles, plastic’s far too rare.
In second-hand I see not lack, but thoughtful gain,
Where clothing tells a story and resources remain.
I’ll donate and reuse, avoid the trends that fade,
For every vintage find, a wiser choice is made.
Speaking of apps – there’s even more to come,
Trainline removes the flights and Picturethis ensures a green thumb.
Even our childhoods play a part in ensuring sustainability,
The Hungry Caterpillar Food Co‑operative is the best club at university.
These actions link to goals the UN has defined,
SDG Thirteen, where climate truths align.
And Goal Eleven: cities built to thrive and grow,
With cleaner streets and systems all designed to flow.
Responsible Consumption, Goal Twelve, holds firm its place
In every thrifted item, I see purpose, not just waste.
Though study is my reason, the journey’s far more than that
It’s how I live, the decisions, the choices made beyond the doormat.
Sustainability is not perfection overnight,
But progress built through action, and without fight
So as I cross the globe to learn and grow anew,
I’ll carry values grounded, tested, and true.
For every choice, however small, I choose with care,
To lessen my footprint while I’m learning there.
