The Dickens Universe 2009

Information for Elderhostlers
Program #4650-080209

Welcome to the Dickens Universe. This information is mainly intended for those of you attending for the first time, since our EH program is a little different from what you might be used to.

The biggest difference is that you will be totally integrated with other participants. We do not house EHers separately or assign them their own workshops. If you requested a double room, you will most likely share with another EHer, but otherwise you will be one of the gang. The other participants range in age from high school to senior citizens and may come from as faraway as Japan. Many of your fellow EHers, as well as other participants, have been coming to the Universe for many years and can be a great resource for help and information.

Part of the appeal of the Dickens Universe is the diversity of its participants and the mixing of all these elements. To that end, we encourage faculty, grads, EHers, and everyone else to eat together and socialize.

JoAnna Rottke, the Dickens Project Coordinator, is also the on-site EH coordinator. She has an amazing ability to answer just about any question related to your Elderhostel program, or the Universe in general.

The week will be fun, stimulating, and perhaps exhausting. We schedule lectures and activities from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm, so pace yourself and allow plenty of down-time. Although all activities are at Kresge College, they take place in many different rooms. These rooms are all accessible to wheelchairs, but there are very few flat areas at the College. If you have restricted mobility for any reason, please call JoAnna (831/ 459-2103) to discuss the terrain and your options.

If you wish to arrive early (Sat August 1) or depart late (Sun August 9) you can do so by paying an additional $90 per person per night. Make your check payable to UC Regents and mail to the Dickens Project, UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz CA 95064, or you may charge to a credit card by phoning the office. This discounted rate applies only to those registered through Elderhostel.

Your accommodations are in SHARED apartments and, while we strive to keep the apartments non-coed, many couples request double rooms and the balance of the apartment may be shared by either a man or woman, or another couple. If you ABSOLUTELY cannot share the bathroom with a member of the opposite sex (and who could blame you?) please call or email and let us know. We'll try our best to accommodate you.

If you have other needs, such as large-print handouts, or grab bars in the bathroom, please download and print the Accommodation Form.

See the General Information page for more details.Once you have registered through EH, we will send you a packet in the mail. If you don't receive your packet, or still have questions, please contact the office.

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