This was the first week of my new Osher classes. I now belong to two Osher programs: Pitt and CMU. Most of my classes this time are at CMU. I'm taking tai chi with a different instructor; estate planning; Gulliver's Travels; a cooking class; Gigapan photography; and auditing another art history class at Pitt: Women in East Asian art. I volunteered (hah) to give a presentation on Tuesday at the art history class. Keeps me busy.
Originally I signed up for another class: Spanish conversation. I'd really like to learn Spanish. On the morning I was supposed to have the first class I overslept. I took this as a message from my body and dropped the class. Maybe next year. I may drop Gulliver, also. All we seem to be doing is reading aloud to each other. I'll see how the second class goes, but I'd really like something more than that.
Estate planning is good. Not that I have much of an estate, but I found out there are some laws here in Pennsylvania I ought to pay attention to. Gigapan photography is really special. Did you see the amazing picture of the inaugural that you can zoom in on and see peoples faces and all kinds of detail? A robotic device takes pictures on a grid and stitches them together. We'll get an opportunity to borrow the robot and take our own pictures. Should be great fun.
100 Books Before I Die 
this falls under the “yeahbut” heading. Yeah, but I can be jealous can’t I? 🙂
I feel fortunate indeed to have so much to choose from. Both Pitt and CMU had provisions for elders to attend classes long before Osher came along. Pitt allowed us to audit undergraduate classes for a nominal fee. CMU had the Academy for Lifelong Learning, all volunteer, peer led classes. Osher had already been established with a full program of classes when I arrived in Pittsburgh. The ALL program had a long waiting list.
I immediately joined Pitt Osher and put my name on the CMU waiting list, which was subsumed into the program when they received their Osher grant. I’ve been happily taking classes in both places ever since.
BTW, keep in mind that Pittsburgh has an inordinately large population of elders, and Pitt and CMU are among the largest employers with substantial numbers of retirees, making all of this possible in a small city.
Ruthe
Here we have older adult programs through our city College. For many years I took that writing workshop then added the offshoot poetry workshop. This year I am taking one class in color and the poetry workshop. Free. We are a very diverse bunch too….in all those classes. I can’t afford any Osha classes, darn it. Would love to have those choices but within my budget.
I had longed to take the Photoshop Elements class as I just punt with my current program, but my Elements is too old and I don’t have the many thousands for the full program. I still own paint and brushes tho. 🙂
Ruthe, I cannot imagine TWO Osher programs in one city! Must be fabulous. Here in SLC we struggle to keep the one going after the grant was given. Our membership has changed so much that we’re now charged per class ($109-$179 per class) and $30 per year for membership (that was a ploy to get the 500 member sign up to gain that grant money). There’s a legislative house bill here that lets 65 and older adults take as many classes at the U that they wish (with minor restrictions) for $25 per semester. The old-timers consequently drop out altogether or take only one class and complain among one another how expensive Osher’s become; of course the new members are tickled pink and tend to be those financially well-off. I remember just a couple of years ago, the program coordinators were trying to figure out ways to include people of more diverse incomes and backgrounds. So much for that idea! To my mind the problem is that the program has been linked to continuing education and they charge about the same for their classes, and to make Osher classes cheaper in order to get more signups, they would be in direct competition with the CE which is an official part of the U, but what do I know? Only that Osher continues to struggle. It would be great to have more choice like you!