Inspired by the text I’ve read about the Earth hour, I decided to do a project on my own. At first, I wanted to spend one whole day without using any kind of machine, but soon found out that that going to be very hard. The first problem was to decide what a machine was. Do all the machines use electricity or some kind of energy to work? I checked the dictionary, just to find out that there was a whole page of the ‘machine’ definitions. I started reading:

This is where I stopped reading. Where were a lot more definitions there, but I think these were the most important for me at that moment. I read them 3 or 4 times and tried to understand everything. Realising that simple machines were in fact simple mechanisms worried me – unless I slept in the open air, I wouldn’t be able to get our of my bedroom in the morning, because the door handle is a simple machine and I wouldn’t be able to climb out of the window either because I’d have to use another simple machine to open it!

I didn’t want to give up so easily, so I decided to change my plan: I’m going to spend a day without electricity! Compared to the original plan that would be a piece of cake.

The day before the experiment I let all my friends know about it and not to call me or wait for me on the net. Some of them looked at me strangely – What’s wrong with you? I also let my parents know about it. They said I would have to do my best go through with my plan, but I thought they were exaggerating.

The evening before my experiment I figured it out that my mobile phone couldn’t be used as an alarm clock in the morning. I borrowed my mum’s old alarm clock. I packed my school bag and prepared clothes in the evening because I knew I there was not going to be any switching the lights on. I never do that on a normal evening. In the morning, I usually have a cup of hot milk. But not this morning! I drank some juice - but not from the fridge. Then I went to school by bike.

After the lessons my friends went for an ice-cream just to tease me. When I got home I was already irritated. Than I realized I wouldn’t be able to watch TV or play computer games either. I had to get ready for the ballet lesson half an hour earlier than normally because I had to ride my bike downtown.

When I got home and had a shower – in cold water. I wasn’t able to use my hairdryer. That was terrible. It takes hours to dry my long hair without the hairdryer. I almost started crying but then I pulled myself together, thinking there were only a few hours till the end of this horrible day.

It was dark outside and I was getting hungry. My parents told me if I wanted to stick to my plan I could only eat vegetables and fruit from our garden. I was surprised that they’d decided to support me and didn’t cook a real dinner. While we were eating, my mum lit some candles. I was tired and fed up with everything and almost turned on my tablet but then I saw my parents watching me. Without a word, mum gave me my favourite chocolate bar which I are thankfully and went to bed, hoping to wake up in the morning, on a normal day with my phone, computer and electricity on the touch of my hand.

I was surprised how complicated life can be without electricity and other resources. Borrowing my mum’s alarm clock and cycling to school was fun. It was also ok that I prepared my clothes and school bag in the evening before. Everything else was a disaster. After school I had a lot of problems with arranging my life. I wanted to quit a couple of times. At the end of the day, I was tired and irritated. I could hardly wait for this day to finish. But I have learnt to appreciate all my gadgets and the comfort possible because of electricity. And I’m proud of myself because in the end – I made it!

The next day my friends asked me if I’d do it again. I said: Yes, but maybe not for a whole day – during the Earth hour for sure! My next project is called Switch off the machines you do not need! Will you join me?

They weren’t sure about it, but I’m sure I’ll make them do something good for the planet we live on.

Spending the day without electricity isn’t the end of my story. It started by looking up the definition in a dictionary. I was surprised how many information was there about a single word ‘machine’. I learnt that ‘machine’ is a noun, but it can also be a verb. I realised that it can be used in different meanings and different contexts. I found out that the word ‘machine’ can refer to people, too:

An intricate natural system or organism, such as the human body.
A person who acts in a rigid, mechanical, or unconscious manner.
An organized group of people whose members are or appear to be under the control of one or
more leaders: a political machine.

I read the synonyms of the word 'machine', some of which I would never think of:

motor, engine, device, apparatus, appliance, automobile, engine, gadget, instruments, motor, tool, vehicle

… but I didn't find an antonym

There was also a long list of words related to the word machine:

apparatus, appliance, device, gear, gizmo, machinery, means, mechanism, outfit, utensils

And even a longer list of machines I never even knew they existed. It was quite fun reading it, believe me. Of course, this doesn't mean that from now on I'll spend the boring rainy afternoons reading dictionaries, but I sure will use them more often.