Dream Vacation

The purpose of this blog entry is to explore the way we talk about cities. As the authors we have read so far point out, our ideas about cities come to us from a variety of sources — in other words, from many different narratives.

My dream vacation, I would enjoy very much to visit Oslo in the mid summer. I have really been facinated with Scandinavia. Something about it just makes me want to go there. I did some research into the city and found out that it is where a majority of Norway's population is found. To me it just seems like a very peaceful city located on the side of the bay. With moutains around covered in green pine trees. I guess I enjoy the picturesque scenes like that. I've also read that it is a very safe city and that the main thing to worry about is pickpocketing and other theivery.

Though one thing that would be really challenging is the language barrier. Some people visiting France, Spain or Italy who have taken some Spanish, French, or Italian can sort of figure out what the natives are saying. But Norwegian is completely different then those languages. I've always had a want to learn it but I can't seem to find anywhere that can teach it. Been told that english is taught as a second language in all norwegian schools so native norwegians are likely to respond in english.

I have not really seen much media portrayal of Oslo. It's one of those cities most people don't really pay much attention to, I guess it's my own fascination that drove me to pick Oslo.

The Media Portrayal of Detroit

The main image that keep sticking in my mind about Detroit was from a movie, Scary Movie 4. In this movie the tri-pods are taking over the world and it shows Detroit before the tri-pods attack and there are gunshots being fired and just in general a portrayal of a dangerous city. Then when the tri-pods attack there is still the same picture but with the tri-pods making things explode. I really think that this is a stereotype of the city of Detroit. I have not lived in the city but I have been downtown enough to know yes sometimes things are not the safest but the media clearly over exagguates the city a bit much. I have felt safe walking around the city during the day. Even though everyone out in Livonia poke fun of oh you never stop at the red lights while in Detroit. I really think it is bad that this is the stereotype given out in the media and even those who live in the suburbs of Detroit. It is not really an unsafe place in my opinion.

FIRST POST!!!!!!11

Okay in all serious not first post but anyway. This is my blog that I will be using to keep up with blog posts for the Comp 106 Online course for Professor Woodland. Not too sure what is going to be discussed here. I'll most likely add some more information about this when I make it to the face-to-face meeting tomorrow afternoon.