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There's Always Something New to Learn
Cats are known for their curiosity. But when it comes to curiosity, human beings far outstrip them. When your children were toddlers, they probably drove you crazy, asking “how come” at every possible opportunity. Even as people grow older, they find it hard to suppress the impulse to ask “why” or ignore the feeling of satisfaction they get when they learn something new. Curiosity defines us as a species.  Learn Online
Now more than ever, it’s easy to satisfy that curiosity. The Internet is a vast source of information. Want to learn how a human embryo develops? Try www.visembryo.com. Contemplating knee replacement surgery? You can assist a surgeon perform a virtual replacement at www.edheads.org. Looking for an inspired recipe for dinner? Type in www.epicurious.com and get the best from Gourmet and Bon Appétit. Of course, for any question you might have, there’s always Google! Take a Class
While some people may prefer learning on their own, opportunities for more formal learning abound. If you’re fortunate enough to live in a college town or near a university, you’re in luck. Many colleges offer no pressure, noncredit programs for adults through their schools of continuing education, while others actually sponsor special institutes for seniors. (The Osher Foundation supports more than 100 of these programs. For a directory, visit www.usm.maine.edu/olli/national). In addition, local communities often sponsor short courses on such topics as languages, current events, and crafts as part of their recreation program. One way to find out about them is to check the Web site of your local government. Travel and Learn
An ideal way to satisfy your curiosity—and have an adventure at the same time—is to travel. Elderhostel is, perhaps, the best-known educational travel program catering to seniors. Its catalog includes 8,000 trips in all 50 states and more than 90 countries. Travelers can do everything from taking a private train trip on the Trans-Siberian Railroad or going to Quebec for French immersion classes. (For a free catalog, go to www.elderhostel.org and look under “Highlights.”) If the joy of cooking coincides with the joy of learning, why not take a short course at a cooking school? The Culinary Institute of America (www.ciachef.edu) and the New England Culinary Institute (www.vtculinaryresort.com) are just two of the establishments offering courses for vacationers. Altogether, there are now more ways for seniors to learn more things than ever before. If you’ve got a question, there’s no better time to ask it!
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