simple program in python using cImage

I am not familiar with python at all, but have been asked to write a program in python that that will do the following: 1) prompt the user for a .gif filename; 2) display that image on the screen that is half size. I am suppose to set each of four pixels and draw only one of them. and secondly in a different python program to pixelate that again will do the following: 1) prompt the user for a .gif filename; 2) convert the image such that you take the average of surrounding pixels to "blur" the image and then display it... These are seemingly easy little programs in python, but I am not a great coder at all. can those with great knowledge show me the code? Thank you very much