| I really do believe in the old adage "you're never too | | | | Elderhostel |
| old to learn something new". Over the years as a | | | | Elderhostel is America's first and the worlds largest |
| public school teacher, I had many occasions to work | | | | educational travel organization for adults fifty-five |
| with the local public and private colleges and | | | | years of age and older. They are a non-profit |
| universities in my area. Much to my delight, I observed | | | | organization that provides exceptional learning |
| many retired people taking courses. In fact, many are | | | | adventures in more than one hundred countries around |
| actually working towards a degree matriculation. As | | | | the world. Over ten thousand programs are offered a |
| the most recent research indicates, this is yet another | | | | year. In 2000, two hundred fifty thousand people took |
| activity that may protect against Alzheimer's and result | | | | advantage of the programs that are offered. Their |
| in lower rates of decline in short-term memory and | | | | website offers a very thorough search mechanism. |
| perceptual memory (a persons ability to perceive new | | | | Take an Ivy League School Sponsored Educational |
| information). | | | | Vacation |
| Here are some specific examples on how to keep | | | | Here's an interesting educational alternative: Many |
| those brain cells active: | | | | top-ranked colleges and universities offer domestic |
| Adult Education | | | | and international study tours. The best part is that you |
| By all means, contact your local board of education to | | | | do not have to be an alumnus. And, a faculty member |
| determine if adult education programs are offered in | | | | usually leads tours. A Great deal of information |
| your community. You'll find the cost to be minimal, the | | | | regarding availability can be found online. |
| offerings to be extensive, and the rewards to be quite | | | | Learn Something New While Having Fun: Take a |
| satisfying. Many communities offer joint programs in | | | | Theme Cruise |
| conjunction with neighboring towns and cities. By | | | | It seems as though cruise line companies are realizing |
| pooling resources, these towns and cities are readily | | | | that many baby boomers yearn for something more |
| able to expand their course offerings. Most courses | | | | from cruising. They want to learn, and at the same |
| are offered in the evening from 7:00PM - 9:00PM. A | | | | time have some fun. Hence, the theme cruise has |
| semester typically lasts four to six weeks. | | | | arrived as an enriching alternative to your standard |
| Local Senior Citizen Center, Recreation Center, and | | | | cruise. Travel analysts say that this area is one of the |
| YMCA | | | | few travel markets that are growing at a rate of |
| If you are a person that would prefer to engage in | | | | about twenty percent a year. |
| learning activities during the day, then you should obtain | | | | Radisson Seven Seas has offered a twelve-day |
| a schedule of events from your local senior citizen | | | | antique road show sailing from England to |
| center or recreation center. Don't be apprehensive | | | | Copenhagen featuring lectures and shopping at. You |
| about doing this because you feel that you're too | | | | can also travel with the Cunnard Line aboard the |
| young. In my town, the minimum age for joining the | | | | Queen Elizabeth Two and participate in themes such |
| recreation center senior activities is fifty. You'll find that | | | | as classical music, British comedy, science fiction, and |
| the events are varied and reasonably priced. Most | | | | filmmaking. |
| centers offer great deals on day trips to tourist | | | | Learn a New language In a Another Country |
| attractions, day classes of general interest, and | | | | While we're on the subject of traveling to learn, here's |
| lessons sports. | | | | a novel idea: Travel to another country to learn the |
| How About Graduate School? | | | | native language. |
| Now that we're living longer and healthier lives, it may | | | | In an effort to keep their economies stimulated, many |
| be easier to begin a new and enriching life cycle. If | | | | governments of smaller countries are attempting to |
| your nest is empty, and you have the desire to | | | | promote something relatively new called language |
| continue learning, why not go back to school? | | | | tourism. Basically, you are immersed in the culture of |
| According to Department of Education, 120,000 men | | | | the particular country while you study the language for |
| and women over the age of fifty are earning graduate | | | | an intensive period of time. People who participate in |
| degrees. | | | | this type of instruction often experience the joy of |
| A relatively new way of taking courses is called | | | | learning about the country without feeling like a tourist. |
| distance learning. You don't actually go to classes. You | | | | During the off hours, you can explore the topography |
| become part of a rapidly growing roster of virtual | | | | of your surroundings. |
| campuses. You do all of your coursework at home on | | | | A popular destination for Spanish language instruction is |
| your computer through the Internet. | | | | Ecuador. The Canoa Spanish Language School |
| Online schools offer programs that lead to a bachelor's | | | | features immersion instruction on a beautiful |
| degree, master's degree, and doctor of philosophy. | | | | beachfront setting. Private teaching is scheduled at |
| Many public and private colleges and universities offer | | | | your convenience. The Ecuador Spanish Language |
| distance-learning programs. The University of Phoenix | | | | School offers a home stay approach in which the |
| offers a wide variety of degrees with full accreditation. | | | | student lives with a family. If you would like to learn a |
| That institution is very highly rated by the Wall Street | | | | little of the Italian language, The Italian Language School |
| Journal. You can choose from programs in business, | | | | offers two to four week sessions. |
| criminal justice, education, healthcare, and technology. | | | | |