A Brief Hiatus

Readers, it's time for another adventure. I'm leaving today for Peru, where I'll be spending three months in the Sacred Valley region near Cusco. I'll be teaching English with an organization called Projects Abroad, and I'll also be working on my Spanish skills.

I return home March 30, but in the interim this blog will be on hiatus. If you want to follow my adventures, stop by my other blog, Wandering Ashley. In the meantime, keep learning! I look forward to jumping back into things as soon as I return.

Spring Schedule: IUPUI Community Learning Network

In today's Indianapolis Star, you'll find the catalog of spring classes at the IUPUI Community Learning Network. As in recent semesters, there's a heavy concentration of career-planning and professional-development classes. But, the network also has some interesting new classes to try.

As promised, you'll find lots of new green/sustainability classes. Among them are Landscaping with Native Plants, Sustainable Economics, Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits and a green remodeling workshop.

Another intriguing addition is the IUPUI Music Academy, which offers classes in guitar, piano and voice. The six-week and eight-week classes meet all over the city, from Carmel to downtown to Greenwood, so there's a convenient option for everyone.

And, of course, I highly recommend both the floral design classes and the Spanish Immersion Institute, both of which have taken home this blog's Best of Indy awards. Happy learning!

Upcoming Classes: Conner Prairie

If you think of Conner Prairie as a warm-weather destination, think again. The museum offers activities all year round, including a handful of January classes:

• Basket-making -- Learn traditional techniques from Conner Prairie's basket expert, Louise Hoover, and make a basket to take home (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 9, $75).

• Leather-working -- Learn about leather-working tools and techniques and make your own Haversack, a single-strapped shoulder bag (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 16-17, $300).

• Pottery Basics -- Get hands-on experience with wheel-thrown pottery and traditional glazing techniques (Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Jan. 19-Feb. 23, $170).

Or, for an interesting night out, try the museum's Hearthside Suppers, where you'll help prepare a multi-course meal the old-fashioned way. This year's menu includes cheese and crackers, pork roast, chicken fricassee, skillet cranberries, hearth bread, bread-and-butter pudding and more.

All classes and events require registration; call (317) 776-6006.

Happy New You!

What's your educational resolution for 2010? Whatever it is, you'll find guidance in the January issue of Indianapolis Monthly, which has a great story about the best adult classes in Indy (written by yours truly and Alicia Garceau!).

You'll learn how to dice an onion, scuba dive, play a drum, quilt, and much, much more. The article also features profiles of some of Indy's best teachers, such as Erin Kem (cooking classes at Frasier's Gourmet) and Bonnie Ramirez (welding classes at Boca Loca Beads).

Also check out my contributor bio at the front of the magazine. Alas, the plug for That'll Teach Me got cut, but at least my hair looks fabulous!