When I was in New York City in January I was amazed by the mosaic signs and artwork in the subway stations. When I got home I searched online for mosaic classes, thinking it would be nice to have a piece of all that for myself.
I was secretly planning to plan to take a mosaic class someday but never actually, you know, take one, but my plot was foiled by the fact that I found one right away, five three-hour sessions for beginners, and it started less than a week later. So I pretty much had to sign up for it.
The class ended today, and I was just able to finish and grout my project before I ran out of time. It's a little messy in places, and I wish I'd done some things differently, but I really liked working on this thing. I want to take the advanced class later this year. I want to make a million more.
I have taken a few classes at Laguna Gloria. They seem to have a good level of instruction there; the classes are serious enough but still accessible and fun. Plus it's hilarious to try to work when evil squalling peacocks are stubbornly perched on the windowsill of your classroom. I recommend it.
I am also taking a Japanese class through ACC Continuing Ed this month and next. Eric and I are going back to Japan soon (more, probably much more, on that later) and we signed up for the class together, thinking it would be nice to know how to say more than "thank you," "excuse me," "I am so sorry," and "uhhh, toilet?"
I am dismayed to find that my brain is much less agile and porous than the last time I took a language class more than 10 years ago. Now my brain feels more like some bitter old crank standing around with its brainy little arms crossed, snarling "English only!"
I have noticed it's gotten a little easier over the weeks, though, so maybe it's something you can gain back with practice.
Anyway, it's fun. There is also a writing component, which I didn't think I would care about, but I like it. I love practicing new letters in big, clumsy rows. I love being able to write whole words with my misshapen letters--each character is a syllable.
You guys! I can write "sushi" and "sake" and "nephew" and "up" in another alphabet. Also "enclosure." If you need anyone to write "enclosure" in Japanese, by all means hit me up.
Edit, 2/24, 12:48 a.m.: Eric points out that the Fonz's A's should really be E's since the Japanese E sounds more like a long A in English. So two thumbs up and an