Once a student, always a student…

Aline writes: as we are now about halfway through our year-long adventure, it felt like it was time to do something in addition to sightseeing/traveling. I especially felt the need for some sort of regular activity, as believe it or not, I do feel tourist fatigue!

Of course, after 5 years in the MLA program, what would be more natural than taking more classes. So, I am taking a weekly singing class, trying to get my voice (I did sing in choirs for 20 years, but that was 15 years ago) to sound halfway decent. It’s a great class – 18 people, and we get together every Saturday morning and sing songs and learn harmony, with a very sympathetic teacher. It’s 5 minutes walk from my house – a bonus!

I also took a one-day drawing class – I’ve taken a few quick-sketching classes in the past, and this one was more in depth - working on your drawing. It was very useful, and I did some sketching when we went to the Alhambra in Spain. What I love about sketching is that it forces you to really look at what you are drawing, and you thus see it in a way that is quite different.

Finally, Bill and I are taking a History of London course – from 43 AD to 2005. We meet at a different site every week – this week is Roman Britain, meeting at the Roman wall by the Tower of London.

An added bonus is that it’s a great way to meet people!