Well, yeah, you can just pony up the cash and take the class. Your experience would be something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUDob3m6rds - it's really technical, and really challenging. If you have the cash to waste, and a week, it could be fun.
doorhammer|11 years ago
I don't know that I'd see it as a waste of money. I just like using my vacation time and money to experience something completely different and new, while learning new skills. Even if I'm not out doing something more interesting and engaged, I'd just end up hiking around finding a place to hang a hammock and read a book on coding or a technical paper.
My wife says my vacations aren't vacations because I never look like I'm relaxing in the classic sense. I'm not kicking back on a beach with a pulpy novel, usually (not that there's anything wrong with that). For me, a vacation is a time to psychologically recharge, and I get that by engaging myself, but on my own terms. Along with that, depending on how long the certification lasts, it's not that bad to have a backup skill/cert in the wings.
I've also found that it's really valuable to get insight into what other people do to make the world go round. Gives me a better respect and understanding of things in general.