Well, I'm one week down! My first day proved to be quite emotional - as I sat in that tiny little lecture chair, I almost cried! It was almost as emotional as getting our passport applications lodged.
First lecture - Great Books. First great book - 'Odyssey' by Homer. Yes, I was aware Homer was a Greek bard as well as an ever popular contemporary cartoon character and if I hadn't done this course, there is no way I ever would've picked up a piece of Greek literature - 18th and 19th century are more to my taste - not c800bc!!. Be that as it may, once I came to terms with the concept of the mortal and the immortal world, I am actually really enjoying it. The workload seems to be pretty intense, even after one week. Eight chapters of the book to read before next week which is no problem but on top of that, about 14 questions per chapter!! I'm still not entirely sure if they're for us to actually answer or to dwell upon! Second lecture - Social Enterprise. An extremely interesting concept and more reading! This I have been doing for most of the day and I'm still not done. Thankfully I'm only doing two subjects to start with!! It's going to take time to settle in but hey, it's not nearly as hard as applying for a passport.
Has anyone ever NOT had trouble applying for a passport? I have been trying to get passport applications processed for the kids for about 4 weeks and correct completion of the application alone surely requires completion of a Degree or two. After getting together relevant birth certificates, name change certificates and marriage certificates and obtaining about 20 copies of these certificates; correct sized photos (no smiling, please); signatures witnessed and just about every other piece of identification needed to prove who we all are, save fingerprints, I headed to the post office yesterday for the 4th time only to be told I needed an appointment (which nobody had been kind enough to tell me the last time I went in), upon which I could've jumped across the counter and put my hands around the clerk's neck! However, being the mature age student that I am, and in my new-found rationalism, I calmly made an appointment and returned later in the afternoon and, thankfully, had it all lodged. However, it all seems too good to be true and I'm waiting with baited breath from the Passport Office to tell me something's not right and asking for our actual fingertips!
All in all, a great week. The housework has gone on the back burner, the kids are on a rigid roster and Supportive Husband No. 1 is happily on shopping duty. Yes, I know I'm lucky - Marge Simpson, eat your heart out!!
Homer's Odyssey should be interesting - a great first lecture, although a little scary!
ReplyDeleteI didn't do much, or make that any, early literature, I think I explained in an earlier post about choices of institution being limited to location rather than course content for a mature student with a family. I envy you that start. Even after a full degree there are significant gaps in my literary education, gaps I am determined to fill eventually. After all, most later literature owes something to the Greek classics.
Getting your passports sounds rather like the proceedure I had to go through to get a parking permit for uni - good luck!