Life Long Learning is Alive and Well in SMA, 10/21/17

The Life Long Learning group in SMA is a terrific organization but its structure is very different from the ones in the US.  It is not affiliated with any university or community college and you do not join.  You pay just for the classes you want to attend.  Being a history nut, I signed up for the all-day seminar on President Diaz and the Mexican Revolution.

All LLI classes are held in the Instituto Allende which is a huge facility within an easy walk from my apartment.  As with most buildings in SMA the front gives no hint about the beauty inside.

Students heading into the auditorium.

Please note this amazing cat.  It lives at the Institute and is obviously well cared for and pampered.  When the lecture started he/she (not sure and I wanted to respect its privacy) jumped from the desk and took a seat in the second row.  It stayed there for the entire 2 hours and every once in while you'd see its head pop up and look around as if checking to see if we were paying attention.  It meowed right when it was time to break for lunch.  During the afternoon session it curled up in a woman's lap who was not taking notes and stayed there the entire time.  During the playing of some of the Revolutionary songs, it actually loudly meowed along.  Obviosly pro-Revolution.  Very funny.

The gentleman is Jesus Ibarra.  He is well known in SMA because he is the retired editor of the local English/Spanish Friday newspaper - the MUST read if you want to know what's going on in and around the town.  Jesus is also a movie critic who has written 2 books on Mexican cinema.  Like all instructors at LLI SMA, he volunteered his time.

The staff of the Institute prepared a lovely lunch for us that was served on the patio.  The entire day, including lunch cost $425.00 pesos or only $18/US.  I can't get over how inexpensive everything is in SMA!

During lunch I sat with a group of the volunteer history

tour guides.  My tour guide from the privous week was at the table.  This is another group of very dedicated volunteers whose efforts support a local childens dental clinic.  I was facinated to hear their stories as to why they were in SMA, for how long, etc.  Each had a unique and interesting story to tell.

After lunch I wandered around looking at the lovely grounds and found some of the art studios used by the students of the Institute.

It seems not matter where you are, you have a view of the Parroquia.