I have been traveling for 20 years, so when I signed up for this
class, I thought I would only be learning to write blogs like "Runaway
Jane." I can honestly say I didn't think about Marco Polo's journals
during his exploration or Charles Darwin's scientific journals sprinkled
with opinions about slavery!
Ironically, I never thought about ethnographic writing, but I just
ended a cruise to the Caribbean and spent a long time talking with my friend on
the ship about how different the culture is in Jamaica. I was blown away at how
the locals live and how small their houses are. I talked to a young man for a
while about how he's never left the island and all sorts of judgments were
running through my mind.
After this latest trip and having it brought up in the class, I
can see how people from different cultures have very different views. On the
cruise ship, my wife and I talked with the wait staff about their work
contracts being 7 months. How can you leave your family for 7 months? One of
the waiters had a 3 year-old and a 7 year-old. I can't leave my kids for more
than a few days and they leave for 7 months because it's financially necessary
(I'm guessing but I didn't ask).
It's not that my priorities are different from theirs. I just take
for granted that I have opportunities that some don't have. It would be
fascinating to interview locals while traveling to find out the different views
on similar topics.
On a separate note, I have not noticed much discussion of cultures
in current travel writing. I can't honestly say I want to see more of it, but I
think it's interesting. I want to see more of the same: tips on traveling
better and smarter and recommendations for places to go or stay. The blog that
Jane wrote for a few years would be a perfect example for what I would love to
write. Obviously with kids and a wife, this would be very difficult. Actually,
it would be impossible without being divorced with kids :)
I liked how she gave such specific examples about what she was
writing. I also liked how she gave very practical suggestions like "how to
spend less while traveling" or "5 places to see when in..." (she
had so many).
I think Jane's blog is what I like about current travel writing.
It seems to be more personal and very practical. Current travel writing also
provides a great awareness of audience. With the technology out there, it's
easy for travel writing to be organized. I like that I can google search “How
to survive traveling with kids” and get so many personal entries.
I’m not sure if this qualifies as “travel writing,” but one thing
I wish there was less of and that is negativity in travel writing. For some
reason negative attitudes are louder. I’ve read several blogs with people
complaining about the most insignificant issues like how it took 10 minutes to
get their room key or how the person in front of them on the plane reclined
their seat. I don’t know if I’m a more positive person or I just don’t get bent
out of shape by small things, but I wish people didn’t spend time writing about
petty issues. I see it in travel reviews as well about hotels. It’s hard to
believe travelers, like we read about in lesson 1. You just don’t know what
personalities and biases they are writing with!
The more we get into this class and I start to think about my own
interests in travel writing, I’m having a difficult time deciding what I will
focus on. I think my blog will be varied if allowed. If I’m writing about a
specific place, I will focus on food, culture, the hospitality and the natural
environment. However, I would like to also include humorous blogs about travel
in general as well as practical advice about traveling solo and with your
family.
I think my audience will be people in my similar age bracket
(25-45) who have children. I think I have to travel more to build my knowledge
base more though. In the past I have traveled without an agenda to gain
information that I would share with others. I have such a bad memory that if I
don’t write things down I forget them. So, I have to tell my wife we are going
on another cruise. That way I will take notes throughout on various aspects of
the trip from packing to tips to enjoy a small room on the boat and making the
most of the on-board activities. I better start saving money! J
Adam,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog, I decided to follow your travel-writing journey, not because I am in your age group; I’m considerably older. It’s not because I’ve been on a cruise; the memory of having seasickness, more than thirty years ago, during a short voyage to Catalina Island, is still haunting. It’s ironic. I don’t like flying, but your subtitle hooked me. I wanted to know more. I could relate to it. What had you gotten yourself into? It’s a question I’ve asked myself more than once.
Your introduction answered the question, and it also began your travel-writing journey as you unveiled your reflections of Jamaica, cultural observations, and cultural curiosity. While traveling through your blog, you discovered that not knowing what you had gotten yourself into was not so bad after all because you found a possible writing focus: “I think my blog will be varied if allowed.” I look forward to reading about “the culture of food, hospitality, and the natural environment” of certain places, and splashes of humor and travel advice will offer much delight and insight.
It is apparent that your sources—“Run Away Jane” and Charles Darwin’s scientific journals—are resonating in your spirit; these tour guides—metaphorically—will continue to navigate you through the sculpturing of your own travel writing. In fact, they’ve already started. I heard it in your declaration; travel writing will not be a litany of gripes.
Adam, the layout of your blog has visual meaning—the white font breaks through the black background, shedding light on what you had gotten yourself into. At least, that’s the message I see.
Janise
I laughed out loud at your second sentence, because the same thing happened to me. Your title is very apt and exactly how I feel after seven days in class.
ReplyDeleteI liked that you related a recent travel experience in your post. It emphasizes to your reader that you’re engaged in your surroundings. Your writing style is authentic and approachable. I think you could write how Jane wrote; it would just require a major lifestyle shift.
As far as negativity that you have seen, sometimes it seems like people just want to see their words online. It relates to what we have been reading about. If the pace of life is slower in a place, then it just might take ten minutes to get your room key.
It sounds like you have some good ideas for what your blog will be; talking to people in different countries about the same topic, offering practical advice, targeting a specific audience (people with children). If you wanted to narrow the focus more, you could focus on a type of destination for people with children; i.e. the tropics, European cities, American cities. The possibilities are endless.
Renada
Adam,
ReplyDeleteI love the title of this post. I think many of us in the Travel Writing course can relate at this point. I appreciate the honesty you show in this post. As we learned from Darwin, it's natural for many travelers to compare the places they visit with the places they are from but I agree with you that this comparison can easily turn to cynicism when adventures don't live up to our preconceived ideals. Finally, I can relate to feeling like I don't remember enough about past travel adventures to write about them well. Even though I have traveled a fair amount in the past, I think I am only going to blog about mini-adventures I take while in this course. We'll see if I stick to that! Good start. Oh, and I am intrigued by your background image. Very interesting.
Adam,
ReplyDeleteYour title hooked me. After I read it I automatically started singing Frank Sinatra’s song and began having visions in my head of all the places that I have traveled. As I went to the beginning of your blog post, your subtitle was intriguing and made me want to know more. It reminded me of a travel experience where I was left asking myself the same question throughout my trip, and boy was I glad for that trip to be over.
I think that based on your writing, you are able to show that you are new to the field of travel writing, but at the same time that newness gives you a chance to decide where you want to take your writing. I suppose this is much like deciding where you want to travel to next. While I like that you are interested in the cultural aspect of travel, I am hoping that your blog continues to mention it, but not be completely absorbed in trying to discover the differences between American culture and the culture of your destination. I did especially love that you expressed how you and your wife tried to talk and get to know people. I think that often times when people travel, they shy away from interacting with everyday people like waitresses/waiters. However, these very people can provide knowledge of the area, which may come in handy to you. On another note, you made mention to “Run Away Jane” and Charles Darwin’s scientific journal, it may be convenient to provide a link within your writing so that people can further learn who is inspiring you.
With that being said, I look forward to reading where your blog takes you, what aspects you choose to write about, and what your over all thoughts on travel writing are.
Hi, Adam!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us read along through your adventures! Although I did notice just a few smaller grammar errors, I loved reading through your adventures. You even included your friends as characters, mini plots, and a personal development - I thought this was wonderful!
What I would say about your blog in general is that you very specifically mention the class - our assignments, readings, discussions, etc. Perhaps for a public blog, you could think to address a more universal audience. Specifically mentioning our shared work within the class could be very limiting to the world at large.
Additionally, it's interesting to note that you have come across a deal of negative content in travel writing, whereas another classmate's blog noted that positivity seems to be a necessary element of travel writing. I could see how both arguments could be backed, so I wonder if we'll learn more about this temperamental nature of travel writing in the weeks to come!
I can't wait to read more of your adventures through your personal, entertaining, fun, and narrative style. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Adam,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog set up! I like the image in the background and your title. Your first paragraph is inviting and approachable. I agree with you on the functionality of current blogs. I think our reading for his week highlights the shift in the purpose of travel writing really well, and I feel like the practical application part you talk about is the next shift. It seems like you might be able to use a bit more in the way of transitions between your topics, but I could identify with everything you said. Nice job.
-Kimberly Strong