Here We Come A-Consuming

I realized today that at the end of EFS if we haven't spent all of the money on the account, we won't be getting any of the remaining money back. For some reason, I still have about $100 more than all of my friends. We all started out with the same amount of money, yet somehow I still have over $250, while they all have about $150. I think, perhaps, it's a result of my dislike for eating much of a breakfast. I've only eaten breakfast in the Lander cafe a few times since I've been here, so the money that my friends have spent in the morning still remains in my account.

In order to make up for this surplus of money, I've begun an attempt to spend it all on items in the convenience store next to the cafe in Lander. I have a dilemma, however. When I enter the store, all I see is corn. After reading the first section of The Omnivore's Dilemma, all I can see when I look at processed food is a version of corn in one way or another. There are fruits and organic choices, but selection is limited. Plus, I'm trying to avoid gaining the infamous Freshman Fifteen, so finding healthy, organic food is a definite challenge.

I find the whole situation a bit ridiculous. I don't consider myself a huge consumer and usually try to do everything in moderation. Right now, I feel forced to consume. It's uncomfortable and feels wasteful. Pollan touches on this topic of over-consuming in his book, and I feel as if I'm being forced to become part of the problem in American society. We shouldn't be punished for practicing responsible consumption.