Samantha Dorfman

The Scrap Exchange

Earlier in the day we visited the Scrap Exchange in Durham which is a non-profit creative reuse arts center that started in 1991! They collect all sorts of donated items similar to a thrift store, but also any kind of textiles or other items that can be used as art supplies. There were bins and bins filled with a wide variety of items that can be used alone or can be combined with other items and upcycled into something new! While we were there we found out that North Carolina generates almost 12 million tons of trash per year, so it was very cool to see a place that it working to cut down this number and offering a place for people to create artwork and other creations! Unfortunately we weren’t able to make anything while we were there, but we enjoyed looking around and learning about the organization.

The Finished Product and Further Thinking

After everything was done we had three unique snacks/treats to try! They were all really good and it was very cool to see the final product after beginning with just a pumpkin. I would be curious to see what other fruits or vegetables could be used in this way!

Preparing and baking!

To start off we worked with the pumpkins to prepare them for all the different dishes. As opposed to when people carve their pumpkins and then just throw them out, we used almost all parts of the pumpkin! We took out the seeds, dried and seasoned them, and then roasted them. Then, we took the outsides of pumpkin and also roasted them until soft. I had never made anything using the whole rind of a pumpkin, so it was really cool to see! We then used it to make a Guatemalan pumpkin filling and pumpkin bread!

Part 2 – The Escape Room

In the afternoon we headed over to Tower Escapes to work on problem-solving and experiences group dynamics under a time constraint. In our room, we had 60 minutes to solve a series of clues and puzzles to escape. The most obvious personality/leadership trait I saw was among those who were extroverted vs. introverted. However, because most of us all have different personality types were all able to contribute in different ways, making it easier for us to successfully move through the room. I think this is important to remember in any group setting/project – identifying each members strengths and weaknesses can make a group more efficient. In the end, we did escape and had a fun time doing so!

Part 1 – Personality Test

During the first part of the day, we spent time taking a few different kinds of personality assessments. The main one was the 16Personalities test based on the Meyers Briggs test. Some of the questions were hard to answer, but I feel that my results were very accurate. Once we all finished we discussed the different types and better understood each other’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as how we act in group settings. I was able to gain a better understanding of myself as an individual and in group settings.