The 2010-2011 Class Experience Begins Here!

It's a new year and a new class experience for our group of travel writers to Puerto Rico. This year, Dr. Meta G. Carstarphen, course director, and Ms. Jocelyn Pedersen, guest lecturer, are leading this year's class members. Our preparation so far have included some field trips in Oklahoma and Texas to explore the ways in which different locales "communicate" their culture--through geography, monuments, signs, art, food, music and more. Our next stages include a fast-paced, immersion experience in Puerto Rico. For seven days, we will travel the Island to places such as San Juan, Fajardo, Luquillo, Loiza, Ponce, Vieques and points in-between. We are reading When I was Puerto Rican by Esmerelda Santiago, a wonderful memoir that will guide some of our own reflections on our Island experience. Along the way, the students will be developing their own stories which they are going to pitch to editors for potential publication. Their final group project will result in a multimedia display of some of their work. Follow our students' adventures, read their reflections and share your comments!