Submitted by: Mengyu Liu
I think it’s great how many people in the United States are educated about how they can protect the environment. Sorted trash in the colored bins are enforced at school and students learn about turning off the sink to save water. In China, we aren’t really taught about how we, as regular students/citizens, can help the planet in which we live in.
In China, I was given an opportunity to go to Spain for a trip. I met my kind host family; they had a son, who was around six years old. During my stay, I tried to be very polite. One day, the little boy came up to me and said, “you know that when you’re not in a room, you should remember to turn off the lights. Don’t use what you don’t need. We’re trying to save Earth.” I felt so ashamed for not knowing to help the environment. I thought I was being rude but I really didn’t know. It took a six year old boy to educate me on how I can help the Earth.
In the United States, everyday actions to help the planet are common. But for a foreigner like me, it’s completely different. I think it’s great how we can help the environment from our own homes, rather than waiting for the president to do something about it.
No matter how small our actions are, they add up. If everyone used a little less electricity a day, we’ll be helping our planet. If we all use a little less water, a little less gas, then it’ll all be worth it in the long run.
