Photoessay #2048 - Academia treats

Did I mention how much I'm enjoying going to the UW several times per week during the day and taking a class? I'm having a blast, no doubt about it. I'll probably get over this but I look at the UW as one big candy bowl with lots of things for me to taste.

The professor in my current class, Jews and German Culture had made it pretty clear to me that his primary concern were the 50+ undergraduates in the class. But I've talked to the TA about German language resources and exchanged some email about definitions of Judaism. After class I chatted with him a little about why Jews don't proselytize. He laughed and said I was sounding too Jewish. Then he said, "Haven't I seen you around here in the past?" I am interpreting this as "You belong here".

Of course, I am so so thrilled about the success of my papers I wrote last year in the Family History class. Both will be published, the biggie with Connecticut History. It's really pumped up my confidence. Where should I go from here? I'm motivated to write another substantive paper. I'll leave my mind open when I take the trip to New Haven week after next. I even looked what it takes to become a graduate student. So what that I don't really have the prerequisites and AM 60 years old? I don't have a degree in history (though I do have a BA), I have no GPA (I have the evaluations) , I don't read another language, no letters of recommendation and by GRE scores are 37 years old. Plus they only took 7 out of 117 applicants. Other than that, I'm a shoo-in, don't you think?

Doesn't matter, I'll stay an access student for right now.

But I am having a great time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to do this. Most people can't as they have other responsibilities and they're not close to campus. I live about 10 miles away and can take the bus if I park the car at LFP Town Center. It's a great hobby!

Picture of Moses Mendelssohn, an 18th century Jewish philosopher who we are discussing in class this week.