Trash Talking Time....Just Kidding :)

The NYU Division Where We're Taking This Class From!

Oh...my favorite time to write...and say horrible things about Steve! Just kidding. ;) Steve’s course is awesome. I’ve had Steve as a professor for the last two semesters and I have to say that his classes never fail to interest me. Both this course and the previous course I had taken with Steve have challenged my way of thinking in regards to travel, and opened my mind to both new possibilities in terms of career opportunities involving travel, as well as given me new insight in how to be a better traveler and globe citizen. Steve’s experience and global insight from his travels, as well as his vast knowledge of great travel writing pieces and sense of humor make him one of my favorite professors (and I’m hoping to have him present at my senior colloquium). Steve himself is an amazing and caring professor. He’s quite possibly the most caring professor I’ve yet to have at NYU, who genuinely has the student’s best interest at heart, and truly does care about seeing his students succeed (and even pushes some of us to do it, as well!). This class, The Art of Travel, has provided me with the opportunity to start doing something I always want to do, but never have time do: blogging! (And now I have to, because its for a grade!).

I have a bit of a hate/love relationship with forced blogging though. I feel that blogging in this manner sort of forces one to limit himself or herself as to what they want to write about whilst abroad, and sometimes hinders creativity. (But I may just be cranky because of all the work I have to do). However, I also have to sincerely thank Steve and this course for forcing me to do things I wouldn’t have done while in Prague, whether it be a cultural event, exploring new restaurants and venues, or what have you. The class is what I expected, and I felt that it was a great way for Gallatin students to share their writings with one another in a supportive environment full of fellow student travel writers that fosters a sense of a common traveler community. The only suggestions that I would offer the course is that I feel that there should be more open topics available as blog posts, as opposed to usually writing along the constraints of specific topics or issues. Additionally, I would also suggest that the blogs not be necessarily centric to the place in which we are studying abroad, and give a bit more liberty to discuss our travels outside our place of study. Other than that, I highly recommend this course and our professor, as I’ve learned so much in such a short period of times, and will have these writings to treasure long after this experience has come to an end.

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