Global Food Cultures: Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong, China
Dates: January 3 - 16, 2010
Rolling Application Deadlines: November 1
An interdisciplinaryand intercultural examination of human communication through food. Thisspecific program focuses on Hong Kong's unique and diverse food cultures within the larger contexts of Greater China and the Chinese diaspora around the world. It explores the social,economic, political, and cultural ramifications of the technology, production,acquisition, preservation, packaging, distribution, promotion, representation,selling, presentation, and consumption of food, as well as the disposal of food-related wastes. Students will have a unique opportunity to explore variouslocal, regional, and transnational cuisines and food rituals in Hong Kong asthe manifestation of changing social norms, economic realities, and culturalbeliefs in an increasingly global and multicultural city.
Specific interests include: the defining communicative characteristics of Chinese cuisine anddiverse regional food cultures, foodways in Hong Kong as expressions of international and intercultural communication, culinary tourism, local andglobally hybridized dim sum cultures, food production and the rise of health consciousness and environmentalism in Hong Kong, the social role of homeland food ways in the Chinese diaspora around the world, the globalization and cross-cultural diffusion ofChinese food, the globalization and hybridization of local food cultures, the localization and regionalization of imported cuisines in Hong Kong, Hong Kong cafe cultures, British high tea and the colonial legacy in Hong Kong, mediarepresentation of Chinese food, food writing, food waste and its cultural significance in Chinese society, etc.
Guided field tripsand culinary explorations in Hong Kong will supplement supervised readings,classroom instructions, and research projects. In addition to scheduled group activities, students will have ample personal free time to explore Hong Kong ontheir own (and to conduct original field research for their research projects).
Graduate students are encouraged to apply for this program. Qualified upper-level undergraduates with 96+ earned credits and related course work may be considered and will require approval from the faculty director as well as their program academic advisor.
Courses
This course iscross-listed in two departments. Students have the option of registering forthis course either through the Program in Food Studies or with the Departmentof Media, Culture, and Communication. Students from across the university andamong diverse academic backgrounds enrolled in this program last year.
E33.2251.095 - Global Food Cultures (4 Points)
Offered through the Program in Food Studies.
E58.2351.095 - Global Food Cultures (4 Points)
Offered through the Department of Media, Culture and Communication.
2010 abridged course syllabus and preliminary schedule: E33.2252.095 / E58.2352.095
Faculty
For further information (e.g., academic requirements, sample syllabus, trip schedule),interested students are strongly encouraged to promptly contact Mary Taylor,Graduate Advisor, Media, Culture, & Communication, Tel: (212) 998-5130;Fax: (212) 995-4046; mary.taylor@nyu.edu
Accommodations
Students stay in asafe and comfortable hotel in downtown Kowloon in Hong Kong.
Your double-occupancy accommodation is included in your Housing and Activity Fees,which also covers seven meals, a Chinese dim sum cooking class, and a number of guided academic and cultural field trips in Hong Kong.
Students may check-in at 3 PM on January 3 and check-out at noon on January 16.
Costs
Tuition: $1203 per point plus registration and services fees
This course counts toward your Spring 2010 courseload and tuition.
2010 Housing Fees: $625
2010 Activity Fees: $625
The Housing and Activity Fees are due to the Office of Academic Initiatives and Global Programs on November 20, 2009. Tuition for thecourse will be due based on the Bursar's Payment Schedule for Spring2010. (click here for Bursar's Payment Deadline Dates)
International Airfare is not included. Students must purchase their own tickets.
Recommended Airfare Search Engines: Vayama, Kayak, Bing
Flight, Travel and Visa Information
Flight: Students book their own travel to coincide with program dates. A set of recommended flight itineraries will be provided early in the orientation process. Students should expect to arrive on Sunday, January 3rd with a departure on Saturday,January 16th (local Hong Kong date/time). Classes will begin onMonday, January 4th and end on Friday, January 15th.
A complimentary airport transit coach is being arranged to pick up students at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on January 3. This free shuttle is scheduled to leave HKG by 8:15PM. Students who wish to take advantage of this free ride should arrange to arrive at HKG at no later than 7:00-7:15pm on January 3(local time). Students who arrive on earlier flights are welcome to wait at theairport for the shuttle departure. Students whose flights arrive at HKG earlyin the day and need to arrange their own airport-to-hotel transit will be given clear bi-lingual local travel directions during the orientation process.Weather permits, the program will treat the students with a complimentary city tour for the view of the Victoria Harbor at night with a snack stop at the famous Temple Street night market to begin at 9:30pm on January 3rd.
Passport: All program participants are required to have a valid passport, which must have avalidation date of July 15,2010" or later. Students who need to apply for a visitor visa or entry permit to enter Hong Kong must have their valid passport in time to acquire their visa before the trip.
Visa: No visa isrequired of holders of the passport from the U.S. and the British Commonwealth(e.g., Canada, the UK) to enter Hong Kong for this program. To confirm visarequirements and application instructions, visit the "Hong Kong VisitorVisa" link below. All other passport holders should check with theirrespective visa requirements.
Helpful links: US State Department, Hong Kong Visitor Visa, Center for Disease Control, Lonely Planet Guide, Discover Hong Kong
Weather
Temperatures during January in Hong Kong range from an average low of 47ºF to an average high of 64ºF. The weather is typically cool with low humidity, and occasional chilly spells make layering important.
Helpful links: BBC Weather, Hong Kong Observatory
For More Information
Academic Content: Mary Taylor, Graduate Advisor, Media Culture & Communication, The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, 239 Greene Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10003Tel: (212) 998-5130; Fax: (212) 995-4046; mary.taylor@nyu.edu
Program Administration: Office of Academic Initiatives and GlobalPrograms, The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, 82 Washington Square East, 5th Floor,New York, NY 10003-6680; (212) 992-9380; steinhardt.global@nyu.edu