Elena: "I'm like one of those sharks..."

Name: Elena

Course you’re taking and why: I met Douglas, the founder of PUGS, at a party. He said the word underground and we happened to be in a speakeasy and I like pugs. Shortly thereafter, an ecologically-minded landscape designer I follow on Instagram posted that she was going to be teaching a PUGS plant class [Decoding Plants].

It seemed like destiny. Her course description was super enticing, promising a way to learn a pattern language and framework for plant ID instead of the species-by-species memorization I was accustomed to.

Your instructor was amazing because: Mulysa has a remarkable combination of deep experience, prep, passion, science, soul, approachability and generosity that makes taking her class a delight. Plus it was taught in a mini, permiculture botanical garden (AKA her backyard) and I wasn't able to find a plant she couldn't identify.

Best thing about PUGS: Taking a break from my usual grind and learning from and with other Portlanders who share a similar passion just for the hell of it and not for a degree or work is really, really fun and revitalizing. 

I care about lifelong learning because: I'm like one of those sharks who must keep swimming to live. Substitute me for the shark and learning for swimming.

Dream course you want PUGS to offer: Hmm, perhaps fly fishing small creeks for trout or an edible mushroom hunting field trip.

Lindsay Burnette: "Opening my mind to untaught histories and alternative ways of living"

Name: Lindsay Burnette

Course you’re taking and why: Improvisation for Mindfulness - to make new friends, laugh a lot, take new risks, be more spontaneous.

Biggest takeaway: Improv can be part of everyday life. When we take risks, observe without judgement and let our imaginations run - we are improvising.

Most interesting perspective from another student: I'm taking this class with my mother's graduate school professor and my life-long family friend. I'm learning what makes him laugh and what he struggles with each day. I'm in my twenties and he's in his seventies, so our perspectives are quite different, but we both leave class each week with smiles.

Best thing about PUGS: PUGS has opened my mind to untaught histories and alternative ways of living. PUGS has allowed me to learn from and alongside my neighbors, finding shared interest and commonality among people I may never have connected with otherwise. In an often isolating time, PUGS creates community spaces that are accessible, engaging, full of curiosity and critical thinking and free of judgement.

I care about lifelong learning because: Learning connects me to my community and my surroundings, and gives me continued inspiration. There is always more to learn.

Dream course you want PUGS to offer: There are so many! Navigating the Portland Night Sky, The Engineering Behind Portland's Bridges, Social Justice Design, Designing Inclusive Places

What makes your instructor amazing? Marilyn embodies all that she teaches: be in the moment, let go of expectations, withhold judgements - she seems to do all of this in her own cheerful, quirky and humble way.