By scripture and brush of UTA students

Why am I a student at UTA?

The aims of the University of the Third Age is to provide new information and obtain skills for people of the third age. Our branch of study "Gardening and fruit growing" tries to fulfil the given goal. many interesting lectures offer knowledge on gardencraft and fruit growing management, on different agricultural techniques and growing of various sorts of plants.

The study is very attractive for us, while almost everyone has at least basic knowledge in this area and has a garden of his own, where we can test acquired information. The lecturers enrich their lectures with visual materials and projection techniques. We appreciate educational trips to the well-known centres of decorative plants and fruits growing, where the experts in this field give lectures. Our teachers make us an opportunity to discuss our practical problems and exchange our ideas. The most popular are practical exercises, where many important skills are demonstrated eg.: cutting, grafting of fruit trees and grape.

Taking part in this study is for us also a possibility to get new contacts and find new friendships as well as an interesting way of spending free time. It contributes to our feeling of usefulness and importance both for the family and for the society although we are all beyond the border of productive age.

Oľga Furdíková - How I ran across my old coat

It happened near by, in Prievozska street, only a few people walk there, therefore I saw a coat which was very familiar to me. I slowed down and focused my eyes on it. On an old man it looked very strange, but it was it I recognized it by the pattern on the material, the wide collar and the way the belt was closing. Yes, it was definitely my old coat.

I wore it 25-30 years ago, when I was 178 cm tall, growing older, I have now shrunk a little and weighted 15 kilograms more than now. It was my checkered woolen winter ľ length coat which I used to wear with slacks. It was made to measure because i had no confection type of figure. The coat hopelessly hang on the old man below his knees, the part around his hips hanging as a skirt. He had one hand pulled inside the sleeve and his other hand was in his pocket. The sleeve gathered up as it was too long, therefore he did not need any gloves. On this late autumn day the coat certainly kept him warm, because it was lined with thermal material.

Believe me, I was happy to see it again and I had mixed feelings and I was about to laugh and cry at the same time from happiness. We passed each other, then I turned back and followed the old man quite a long distance. I wanted desperately to tough my coat, it needed dry cleaning or at least dusting or brushing, and the old man too, but then the old man would not feel in his skin.

How did my coat which kept for a long time in my wardrobe got to this old man?

O, yes. When the time came, and I had to move to a retirement home, called a pension in my country, I was not mentally and physically able to liquidate my household on my own. I hardly managed to organize my books, the ones I liked the most I kept for myself and most were taken by my children and I took the rest to a secondhand bookshop. But what to do with the rest of the stuff? There was alternative. I had to listen to my children's advice: "Take only what you need, and forget about the rest". It happened. I did as my children recommended, left the flat without looking back and the only think I took with me were my memories.

I never asked my children, what happened with those belongings. My children would not keep, therefore I can not tell you, how did my old coat got to the old man. But it was a good feeling that my old coat exists and still was useful to someone.

Now after meeting with my old coat I catch myself wishing of the pleasure of meeting again my old deserted handbags shoes, scarves, hats and my old clothes, etc. I might see them again by a coincidence one day and, will be pleased and have very good feelings around my heart as if I had met some of my good old friends.

Mgr. Ladislav Bednár - Third age university educational program for the students of first year-branch architecture

The first two terms of architecture branch are aimed on the development of architecture. 14 lectures of a completed cycle approach the history of architecture from its beginning till the end of 19th century. Each lecture is characterized by a complex view of the corresponding development staple.

The introductory lecture deals with the architecture as the art of building. The second lecture is aiming at the period of architecture birth. Each following lecture is evaluating a concrete historical period in its integrity, complexity of the cultural and social development, laying stress upon the task of the art of building through the most architectural marks and an expression of the period of architecture.

It concerns the architecture of the ancient culture of the Middle East, Egypt, the building art of ancient Greeks, Romans and buildings trials of the early Christians.

Two lectures approaches the architecture of medieval Europe. With four periods of the new ages development is completed the cycle of lectures from the history of architecture. To the most figurative confirmation of the problematic serves a rich picture fond of slides and also architecture models, made by the students of the Architecture faculty of the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava. To the architecture's lectures belong also excursions in the terrain, with explanations of an expert pedagogue.

Pavlína Harmaniaková - Etnography and folklore

Both questions could be answered by various ways and in various ranges, but in fact all answers would include these reasons:

• prevention of fatal affecting of time to physical and psychical gifts of own personality
• at least a partial substitution of absence of university education concerning the part of audience, which did not reach this education for different reasons when being young
• development of education range at university educated students

The choice of this form of studying is in fact confirmation of statement of J. A. Komensky (J. A. Comenius): "Only active life is a real life".

And why ethnography and folklore?

The choice for this branch may rise from our not only reasonable, but also emotional dispositions. To get thoughtful knowledge about evolution of our nation, about its fight to survive including providing of dwelling, food, clothing, tools and at the same time a gradual creation of superstructure - spiritual domain expressed in habits, ways, songs and sayings - all this in worth for every effort.

Each seminar gives us not only a particular ring of facts concerning the topic, but simultaneously shows us how to watch these events.

Years spent by individual study effort and research work in the field are evident in high specialisation of lecturers. However we accept these knowledge by moderating way, expect education they are spiritual experience too.