'Longing, Longing Could Certainly Be Learned Here Too' – Small City Landscapes as a Backdrop for Adult Learning

This article explores the places and local social relations in small cities as the setting and context for adult learning. By referencing social capital theory and the concept of informal learning spaces, we discuss empirical examples that illustrate the mutual influences of the local environment and learning. The results are based on the technique of walking interviews, which we conducted with adult citizens of two Polish small cities: Ciechanów and Krosno. The basis for the analyses are the narratives of the respondents obtained during the walks and photo-report.The study found that adult learning in local communities is supported by social capital, understood as participation in a network of social relationships. This facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information and the organisation of bottom-up initiatives. A well-established collective identity and rootedness in the space of meaning, symbols, memories and emotions bind a person to the surrounding space and inspires its exploration and investigation. The familiarity and security of place provides a natural starting point for the acquisition and development of new skills and the search for one’s place. The study opens a discussion on the learning of adults in the context of their interaction with physical, social and symbolic space