Assignments


1. Introductions Post by Jan. 25 Get started: If you're just getting started, read this Welcome note. The instructions for creating an account and posting blog entries can be fournd on the website help pages here. Once you’re comfortable with creating a blog, try learning how to post images. First post: Write a short piece (about 400 words) introducing yourself to the other members of the class. Write about what seems relevant to you: where you’re from, your concentration, where you're studying abroad, what classes you’re taking, what you hope to accomplish while abroad, perhaps something that's already happened on your travels. If you know which two travel books you plan to read for the tutorial, mention them and say why you chose them. If you’re still working on your reading list, check out the suggested list. The idea is to focus on travel writing and other books about the place you’re studying, but you can take some liberties with this. When you post the entry, be sure to scroll to the "Art of Travel" in the "Classes" box and "1. Introductions" in the "Topic" box. The instructions for adding an image to your post are here. For this first post, you could post a picture of yourself or the place you live or the place you'll be studying, or something else related to what you discuss in the post. Try out the "Locations" feature, which creates a map of whatever location you select. The instructions are here. Take some time to read everyone’s introductions so you get to know who’s in the group. If you feel like it, click on the “add new comment” link at the bottom of the post and say hello to some of your fellow students and comment on something they’ve said about themselves. While it may be hard for you to keep up with everyone else’s blogs, try to read a few each week and write a short comment on one or two. This will help make the class more of a group sharing with each other, rather than everyone just working and writing in a vacuum.
2. Departure-Arrival Story Post by Jan. 30 Write a short travel story about what’s been going on with your trip so far. You might write about your departure—the taxi to the airport, going through the airport, saying goodbye to friends and family, your final memories and thoughts about what’s to come. Or you might write about your arrival—the first thing that happened when you arrived, your first walk around your new neighborhood, etc. What seemed strange? What surprised you? If you haven't left for your abroad site yet, write about a story about preparing for the trip. When you post the entry, be sure to scroll to the Art of Travel tutorial in the "Classes" box and "Departure-Arrival" in the "Topic" box. Include an image in your post. Here are the instructions. By the way, since the tutorial is about the “art” of travel, you might look for a painting of the place you’re studying. You Comment on someone else’s blog. This is important to help make the tutorial a real class and not just a bunch of independent studies.
3. De Botton, ch. 1 - 3 Post by Feb. 5 Read the first three chapters of Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel For your post, write something in response—a reflection on his themes, a little story illustrating one of those themes, etc. This book is one of the inspirations behind our tutorial (as you can tell by the title). You may be able to find it in a bookstore (hopefully you did so before leaving the States), but if not, it is also available online through the NYU library by going to this link. You may need to download a special piece of software to access the book. If you're having trouble accessing the book via the NYU server, you can find pdf versions of the firs three chapters here. Remember to scroll to the Art of Travel in the "classes" box and to "de Botton" in the "topics" box. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own, that somehow relates, even indirectly. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
4. Open Topic Post by Feb. 10 Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc. If you’re looking for an idea, here are a couple: Tell a travel story in which you played a part, but from the point of view of someone else in the story. (The “I” in the story is not you but your friend, the cab driver, the person who sat next to you on the train, etc. Write a story about an encounter between two people (one could be you, but it could be about another student) who don’t speak the same language. Describe the gestures that were used to try to convey meaning, or write about what happened as a result of a misunderstanding, or how we tend to create a meaning when we’re not sure of the intended one. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
5. Discuss a reading (1) Post by Feb. 15 Write about one of the books you’re reading for the tutorial. (You don’t have to finish the book to do this.) Since the other students in the group may be unfamiliar with the book, say a few words about what the book is about, then focus on something more specific relating to a travel theme. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
6. Quotidian life Post by Feb. 20. Write about some of the quotidian, everyday, nitty-gritty details of your life abroad: what’s your apartment like, how far from school are you, how do you get there, how much do things cost, what costs much more or less than it does in New York, what is the classroom building like, what do you do in the evening when you’re not studying, where do you hang out, etc., etc.? Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post,
7. The "art" of travel Post by Feb. 25 For this post, write about art—paintings, drawings, photographs, artifacts, etc.—associated with the place you're studying—work by a artist who lived there (or lives there now), or work that depicts the place (as in a landscape painting). Hopefully you've already been to a museum where you are; if not, it's about time. You could write about a trip to a museum: the experience of going there, what you saw, what you're learning about the art of the place you've living, etc. Or you could write about a particular work: How is the place you're living represented in the painting? How does art works like this affect your perception of the place? To get your thoughts going on this assignment, read: Alaine de Botton, from The Art of Travel, chapter 7: “On Eye-Opening Art” (available in the ebrary here or pdf below). As always, post an image and comment on someone else's post.
8. Open Topic Post by March 2 Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc. If you’re looking for an idea, here are a couple: Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
9. Authenticity Post by March 7 Read "Staged Authenticity: Arrangements of Social Space in Tourist Settings" by Dean MacCannell. If you have trouble opening the link, you can get the article as a pdf (attachment). Write about MacCannell’s thesis that travel and tourism are related to pilgrimages, and that what the traveler seeks is “authenticity” as this idea relates (or not) to your own experience of travel abroad. For example, give some examples from your own experience of the traveler's desire to get into a "back region," or try applying MacCannell's six stages in the movement from front to back regions. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
10. Cultural activity Post by March 12 Do a "cultural activity" and write about it—a trip to a museum, a restaurant, a performance, the theater, the movies, or some "touristy" destination. As always, post an image and write a comment on someone else's post.
11. Discuss a reading (2) Post by March 23 Write about one of the books you’re reading for the tutorial. Since the other students in the group may be unfamiliar with the book, say a few words about what the book is about, then focus on something more specific relating to a travel theme. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
12. Open topic Post by March 28. Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
13. Place Post by April 3. Describe a place in the country you’re living. It could be a room, a building, a block, a neighborhood, an architectural treasure, a café, the place where classes are held. As you’re working on the piece, take a look at some of the travel books you’re reading and see how these authors describe places. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the place you’re describing. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post
14. Person Post by April 10. Describe a person you’ve encountered who’s from the country where you’re living. It could be a new friend, a teacher, someone who works in your neighborhood. It doesn’t have to be someone you know well—maybe you’ve never even spoken with the person. Try to convey how the person seems typical of the people in this culture and how the person seems atypical as well. As you’re working on the piece, take a look at some of the travel books you’re reading and see how these authors describe people. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the person you’re describing. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
15. On habit Post by April 15. Read the chapter "On Habit" in de Botton's Art of Travel (available in the NYU ebrary here or below as a pdf—log in and click on the title of the assignment at the top of the page to see it) and write a response. Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the person you’re describing. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
16. Advice Post by April 20. Write a post giving advice to other students planning to study where you are. Would you recommend this study-abroad site? What would it help if they knew in advance? What do you wish someone had told you? If there are choices about where to live, what would you recommend? What tips do you have about preparing in the weeks and months before the abroad semester begins? What places have you discovered that you want to tell people about—bars, clubs, parks, museums, neighborhoods, etc.? Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.
17. Course Evaluation Post by April 25. Write a short evaluation of the course. Was it what you expected? How did you like blogging? What would have made it better? What other suggestions do you have for the next time around? Post a comment on someone else’s blog
18. Final Thoughts Post by April 30. Write some final reflections about your study abroad experience. Some possible questions to consider: What was the most rewarding aspect of the experience? What were the biggest problems you faced? What do you think you’ll do differently when you get back home? What will you take note of at home that you weren’t noticing before? What do you think you’ll remember years from now? What might NYU do to make study abroad a better program? Include a picture. Post a comment on someone else’s blog

Post by Jan. 25

Get started: If you're just getting started, read this Welcome note. The instructions for creating an account and posting blog entries can be fournd on the website help pages here. Once you’re comfortable with creating a blog, try learning how to post images.

First post: Write a short piece (about 400 words) introducing yourself to the other members of the class. Write about what seems relevant to you: where you’re from, your concentration, where you're studying abroad, what classes you’re taking, what you hope to accomplish while abroad, perhaps something that's already happened on your travels.

If you know which two travel books you plan to read for the tutorial, mention them and say why you chose them. If you’re still working on your reading list, check out the suggested list. The idea is to focus on travel writing and other books about the place you’re studying, but you can take some liberties with this.

When you post the entry, be sure to scroll to the "Art of Travel" in the "Classes" box and "1. Introductions" in the "Topic" box.

The instructions for adding an image to your post are here. For this first post, you could post a picture of yourself or the place you live or the place you'll be studying, or something else related to what you discuss in the post.

Try out the "Locations" feature, which creates a map of whatever location you select. The instructions are here.

Take some time to read everyone’s introductions so you get to know who’s in the group. If you feel like it, click on the “add new comment” link at the bottom of the post and say hello to some of your fellow students and comment on something they’ve said about themselves. While it may be hard for you to keep up with everyone else’s blogs, try to read a few each week and write a short comment on one or two. This will help make the class more of a group sharing with each other, rather than everyone just working and writing in a vacuum.

2. Departure-Arrival Story

Post by Jan. 30

Write a short travel story about what’s been going on with your trip so far. You might write about your departure—the taxi to the airport, going through the airport, saying goodbye to friends and family, your final memories and thoughts about what’s to come. Or you might write about your arrival—the first thing that happened when you arrived, your first walk around your new neighborhood, etc. What seemed strange? What surprised you? If you haven't left for your abroad site yet, write about a story about preparing for the trip.

When you post the entry, be sure to scroll to the Art of Travel tutorial in the "Classes" box and "Departure-Arrival" in the "Topic" box.

Include an image in your post. Here are the instructions. By the way, since the tutorial is about the “art” of travel, you might look for a painting of the place you’re studying. You

Comment on someone else’s blog. This is important to help make the tutorial a real class and not just a bunch of independent studies.

3. De Botton, ch. 1 - 3

Post by Feb. 5

Read the first three chapters of Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel

For your post, write something in response—a reflection on his themes, a little story illustrating one of those themes, etc. This book is one of the inspirations behind our tutorial (as you can tell by the title). You may be able to find it in a bookstore (hopefully you did so before leaving the States), but if not, it is also available online through the NYU library by going to this link. You may need to download a special piece of software to access the book. If you're having trouble accessing the book via the NYU server, you can find pdf versions of the firs three chapters here.

Remember to scroll to the Art of Travel in the "classes" box and to "de Botton" in the "topics" box.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own, that somehow relates, even indirectly.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

4. Open Topic

Post by Feb. 10

Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc. If you’re looking for an idea, here are a couple:

Tell a travel story in which you played a part, but from the point of view of someone else in the story. (The “I” in the story is not you but your friend, the cab driver, the person who sat next to you on the train, etc.

Write a story about an encounter between two people (one could be you, but it could be about another student) who don’t speak the same language. Describe the gestures that were used to try to convey meaning, or write about what happened as a result of a misunderstanding, or how we tend to create a meaning when we’re not sure of the intended one.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

5. Discuss a reading (1)

Post by Feb. 15

Write about one of the books you’re reading for the tutorial. (You don’t have to finish the book to do this.) Since the other students in the group may be unfamiliar with the book, say a few words about what the book is about, then focus on something more specific relating to a travel theme.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

6. Quotidian life

Post by Feb. 20.

Write about some of the quotidian, everyday, nitty-gritty details of your life abroad: what’s your apartment like, how far from school are you, how do you get there, how much do things cost, what costs much more or less than it does in New York, what is the classroom building like, what do you do in the evening when you’re not studying, where do you hang out, etc., etc.?

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post,

7. The "art" of travel

Post by Feb. 25

For this post, write about art—paintings, drawings, photographs, artifacts, etc.—associated with the place you're studying—work by a artist who lived there (or lives there now), or work that depicts the place (as in a landscape painting). Hopefully you've already been to a museum where you are; if not, it's about time. You could write about a trip to a museum: the experience of going there, what you saw, what you're learning about the art of the place you've living, etc. Or you could write about a particular work: How is the place you're living represented in the painting? How does art works like this affect your perception of the place? To get your thoughts going on this assignment, read: Alaine de Botton, from The Art of Travel, chapter 7: “On Eye-Opening Art” (available in the ebrary here or pdf below).

As always, post an image and comment on someone else's post.

8. Open Topic

Post by March 2

Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc. If you’re looking for an idea, here are a couple:

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

9. Authenticity

Post by March 7

Read "Staged Authenticity: Arrangements of Social Space in Tourist Settings" by Dean MacCannell. If you have trouble opening the link, you can get the article as a pdf (attachment).

Write about MacCannell’s thesis that travel and tourism are related to pilgrimages, and that what the traveler seeks is “authenticity” as this idea relates (or not) to your own experience of travel abroad. For example, give some examples from your own experience of the traveler's desire to get into a "back region," or try applying MacCannell's six stages in the movement from front to back regions.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

10. Cultural activity

Post by March 12

Do a "cultural activity" and write about it—a trip to a museum, a restaurant, a performance, the theater, the movies, or some "touristy" destination.

As always, post an image and write a comment on someone else's post.

11. Discuss a reading (2)

Post by March 23

Write about one of the books you’re reading for the tutorial. Since the other students in the group may be unfamiliar with the book, say a few words about what the book is about, then focus on something more specific relating to a travel theme.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

12. Open topic

Post by March 28.

Write about whatever you want—a travel story, reflections on the place you’re studying, a comment on something you’ve read about travel, etc.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

13. Place

Post by April 3.

Describe a place in the country you’re living. It could be a room, a building, a block, a neighborhood, an architectural treasure, a café, the place where classes are held. As you’re working on the piece, take a look at some of the travel books you’re reading and see how these authors describe places.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the place you’re describing.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post

14. Person

Post by April 10.

Describe a person you’ve encountered who’s from the country where you’re living. It could be a new friend, a teacher, someone who works in your neighborhood. It doesn’t have to be someone you know well—maybe you’ve never even spoken with the person. Try to convey how the person seems typical of the people in this culture and how the person seems atypical as well. As you’re working on the piece, take a look at some of the travel books you’re reading and see how these authors describe people.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the person you’re describing.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

15. On habit

Post by April 15.

Read the chapter "On Habit" in de Botton's Art of Travel (available in the NYU ebrary here or below as a pdf—log in and click on the title of the assignment at the top of the page to see it) and write a response.

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own. It doesn’t have to be of the person you’re describing.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

16. Advice

Post by April 20.

Write a post giving advice to other students planning to study where you are. Would you recommend this study-abroad site? What would it help if they knew in advance? What do you wish someone had told you? If there are choices about where to live, what would you recommend? What tips do you have about preparing in the weeks and months before the abroad semester begins? What places have you discovered that you want to tell people about—bars, clubs, parks, museums, neighborhoods, etc.?

Include a picture, either from another website or one of your own.

Write a comment on someone else’s blog post.

17. Course Evaluation

Post by April 25.

Write a short evaluation of the course. Was it what you expected? How did you like blogging? What would have made it better? What other suggestions do you have for the next time around?

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