Culture   

• The Soul of Southeast Asia 

• HYBRID: In the classroom and online. A Zoom link will be sent to all one day before class.

  Southeast Asia in 2023 is a world very different from ours in terms of cultures, languages, beliefs, foods, and people. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we see the Royal Palace complex and its Khmer-style architecture. The classic art of Apsara dancing introduces us to the ancient civilizations at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, whose stunning ruins speak of a glorious distant past. The Killing Fields site is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the Khmer Rouge regime. In Thailand we see the elaborate temples of the Grand Palace in Bangkok as well as the ruined palaces of Ayutthaya, the former capital. Laos is a mountainous and scenically beautiful country where old ways predominate over modernity. A Mekong River cruise brings us to a remote village to learn how local people live. Finally, in Vietnam, we board a classic junk to explore the breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay. In bustling Hanoi, we view a Water Puppet performance and enjoy a bicycle/rickshaw ride through the thriving streets and marketplaces of the city’s Old Quarter. George Jabol received his B.A. degree from Muskingum College in Ohio, and a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. Fully retired now from a career with the federal government, George creates photographic slide shows as a way to remember his travels and share them with others.

  

  

  

   

   

   

  Show Description

• Fee: $15.00

• Instructor(s): George Jabol

• Dates: 10/10/2024 - 10/10/2024

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Hybrid: In-Person and Online

  Room: Vineyard Cafe and Zoom

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• Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before class begins.

  You will be delighted and inspired by Iris, an Albert Maysles documentary made in 2014 about Iris Apfel, a Manhattan cultural icon and self-proclaimed geriatric starlet. Movie critic Manohla Dargis of The Times called the documentary an “insistent rejection of monocultural conformity” and “a delightful eye-opener about life, love, statement eyeglasses, bracelets the size of tricycle tires, and the art of making the grandest of entrances.” A juicy group discussion will follow the film which runs for 1 hour, 19 minutes. Feel free to wear something fabulous! Linda Gintowt holds an M.A. in drama from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for history and the preservation of art and culture. Linda served as the Elderwise Program Coordinator for five years.

  

   

  Show Description

• Fee: $15.00

• Instructor(s): Linda Gintowt

• Dates: 10/21/2024 - 10/21/2024

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• Saddle Weavers of the Gobi Desert 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent the Friday before class begins.

  “You must wear something colorful when you ride a camel.” said Mary Underwood’s Mongolian friend, Bodio, before Mary’s first trip to the Gobi Desert. Willing or not, one does make a statement when suspended seven feet off of the ground! Some eight years later, during the week of Tsagaan Sar (the Mongolian new year), Mary traveled again to the Gobi with her friend for a camel festival and to study with a renowned camel saddle weaver. In this class Mary opens the doors of our imagination to the world of camel fibers, camel husbandry and racing, and to how a camel saddle is created. Join us as she treats us to a glimpse of Mongolian life and culture from her travels around that country. Mary Underwood is a hand spinner and weaver who works with natural fibers. Her yarns and weaving are intended for functional use, for apparel, or the home. She is a member of local, state, and international weaving guilds and groups. Her interests extend to those who grow, raise, prepare, and dye the fibers and yarns she uses. Mary’s constant thirst for adventure has led to multiple trips to Mongolia to ride horses and document the textile traditions there.

  

  

   

   

  Show Description

• Fee: $15.00

• Instructor(s): Mary Underwood

• Dates: 11/11/2024 - 11/11/2024

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: M

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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• The Normandy Coast: Fascinating History, Art, and Charm 

• ONLINE: A Zoom invitation link will be sent one day before class begins.

  Commemorating 80 years since the D-Day landings on its beaches during World War II, France’s Normandy coast will be a veritable tourist mecca in 2024. Join Gerlinda Melchiori for a “virtual” visit, without the crowds, to some of Normandy’s most famous historic sites: the Omaha beaches; Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake; Honfleur, the cradle of impressionism; and Monet’s home and garden in Giverny, near Paris. We will also journey to medieval Bayeux and its Viking tapestry; the Benedictine Abbey of Fecamp, famous for its herbal liquor; Le Mont Saint Michel Abbey (now a commune) on a rock island looking over to England, as well as the region’s beautiful seaside cliffs. Gerlinda Melchiori holds advanced degrees in history and business, and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Michigan. She has served as an international consultant to universities around the world. Her special interests include the history and arts of regions and cultures worldwide.

  

  

  

   

   

   

  Show Description

• Fee: $15.00

• Instructor(s): Gerlinda Melchiori

• Dates: 11/14/2024 - 11/14/2024

  Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Th

• Building: Online Course

  Room: Online via Zoom

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