Retiree college student (or: the grey wolf)

[pedorrero]

Well, the fourth week at USF is about to start. I'm 46, a part-time student again (it's been five years). Not the oldest on campus, but pretty close to it. I'm studying Spanish (BA program) probably to no career end (who wants to w*ork) but it'll come in handy on future trips south of the border, or shopping in Florida for that matter. I certainly enjoy the student body (so to speak) ... thank goodness for the warm winters. My main complaint is the long commute: about an hour each way. Also no takers (yet) on finding other students to study with. But I recommend higher education, even with baser motives for the dirty old man who likes to broaden his mind while minding the broads.


-- Pedorrero, who can't vote for Ron Paul this Tuesday (because he's a registered Libertarian) but did pick up a bumper sticker at campus.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i've had a few college professor friends over the years and i could never understand how they work that job. every year they get older but the students never age like some dorian gray nightmare.

learning more spanish is a great idea. it really opens up a whole other world of travel and gives you lots more options on where to retire.

i was at usf in 1975-about 77. lived at fontana hall, an off-campus, dormatory-style, 13-story zoo on fletcher at north end of campus. we used to put a table and chairs in the elevator and play cards or backgammon there.

when hurricane wilma cut our electric for two weeks i got out of town and did a roadtrip around florida. while in tampa i visted my old haunt. got to go inside fontana hall (think it has new name now--cool, just found it The Edge on 42nd | Tampa, FL Student Housing) and spoke to some of the students. then i toured the campus and i almost started to tear up because i couldn't find the library. so much change over 30 years.

though i was able to get directions from a campus cop. and he was so respectful of this grey haired guy in his then silver t-bird. funny 'cause i was likely stoned a lot my last time there. but talking to the cop this time didn't make me paranoid at all. well whatdaya know.

[pedorrero]

Thanks Bum! I've ridden my bike past the Edge so I kind of know the area. After some fiddling, I managed to find out that, yes, you can email all the students in a class to (for instance) ask if they'd like to study. Got some takers. So at least I will be able to study and who knows what else. It's a nice campus and I look forward to spending more time there. On the other hand, the junk food places with Wi-Fi 40 miles from campus have more free seating

[Sarah in SC]

Joining in as an ancient college student starting this term. 3/4 hours and still working. All of mine are online so I've got no ogling potential for my fellow students!

I am finding my classes very interesting and hope I will keep up the enthusiasm--it has been a very long time since I was in school, and I was the "not living up to her potential" student for pretty much my entire school career!

My sister did a lot of coursework (most of bachelors and all of masters) at USF and lived in a fairly raunchy area where crack fiends stole the quarters from the washing machines--as a visiting teen, I thought it was most exotic, especially when the parking lot flooded 3 feet deep! That was maybe late 80s.

[lsbcal]

I think it's great that your taking college classes in Spanish. Learning a language is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. I'm certainly not a natural at languages but am taking French classes at our local JC which has a very good language department.

Bonne chance!