Esperanto has ...

[luke]

I just realized the North American Summer Esperanto Course is approaching. It will be immediately followed by the Usona Landa Kongresso, which may make for a nice 9 day immersion experience in Esperanto in Raleigh, North Carolina.

I've attended both of these events before and found them worthwhile.

I've not been paying attention to Esperanto for about 5 years, so wondering whether I should turn my attention to towards Esperanto for a little summer vacation getaway.

Is anyone else thinking about going? Are you afraid that if I go, that will be one too many kooks?

[Le Baron]

Sir, Esperanto doesn't do double 's'. Kongreso!

Okay, seriously, It sounds like a great little holiday. Even if it gets boring you can just leave and go about in Carolina.

*cough* fewer, not less *cough* (I'll get me coat).

[Iversen]

I have been to several Esperanto congresses and I don't remember that anyone ever was presented as a cook. The nearest thing was a fraction for vegetarians.

[Le Baron]

Even the cooks are kookier in Esperanto.

[newyorkeric]

It's worth going just for the North Carolina bbq... drools...

[Radioclare]

I'm not going this year but I went last year and I thought it was a great event. Beautiful venue, really good atmosphere and a surprisingly "normal" crowd in attendance. There were probably only two people I'd describe as "kooky", which is fewer than at a typical European event. People seemed to make loads of progress with their spoken Esperanto over the course of the week and get a lot out of the teaching. Raleigh was a really nice town to walk around as well; lots of beautiful historic wooden houses. It is ridiculously humid outside but the AC at the venue is great.

The only weird things about the experience for me were:
a) It's a dry campus, so you have to go offsite if you want to drink alcohol. I'd never been to an Esperanto event before where the attendees were so permanently sober
b) The beds are so high off the ground that I had to stand on a chair to get into mine. My top tip is bring your own fitted sheet (they give you a sheet but it's not fitted and you will spend your entire week rearranging it )

[luke]

Sir, Esperanto doesn't do double 's'. Kongreso!

Okay, seriously, It sounds like a great little holiday. Even if it gets boring you can just leave and go about in Carolina.

*cough* fewer, not less *cough* (I'll get me coat).

Oh, I hadn't seen "boring" used in a context that included Esperanto and classes and lectures. Are you sure you're an Esperantist?

Actually, the pedantism, yes, you're an Esperantist.

I'm not going this year but I went last year and I thought it was a great event. Beautiful venue, really good atmosphere and a surprisingly "normal" crowd in attendance. People seemed to make loads of progress with their spoken Esperanto over the course of the week and get a lot out of the teaching.

b) My top tip is bring your own fitted sheet (they give you a sheet but it's not fitted and you will spend your entire week rearranging it )

Thank you for your tips and feedback, Radioclare. I'm leaning more now in the direction of going.

[Le Baron]

Actually, the pedantism, yes, you're an Esperantist

Pedantry.

I'm just doing myself in with this.

[luke]

Actually, the pedantism, yes, you're an Esperantist

Pedantry.

I'm just doing myself in with this.

No, I appreciate it. You're teaching me about our common language.

Oh, but pedantism is in the dictionary. Maybe we're...
separated by a common language.

I hope I haven't gotten myself into some trouble here.

[Le Baron]

That's pedanticism !

I have this feeling I'm being tricked into being like a cat chasing a laser pointer on the wall.