Where did everyone go?

Rebonvenon al Esperanto!

"Pen pals", at least in the sense of writing actual letters, are a thing of the past. E-mail, instant messaging, Skype, texting, and other forms of electronic communication (including blogs like this one) have taken the place of paper, ink, envelopes, and stamps (I still vaguely remember what an actual letter looks like, but I might use one stamp every 2-3 months . . . ) And then there's Facebook, of course . . .

If you're looking for contacts for your students, there are a couple of recommendations. Edukado.net has a "koresponda servo" where you can search using a number of qualifiers. Generally you have to be a "member" of the Edukado community, but it's an easy process to sign up. Check it out at: http://www.edukado.net/pagina/Koresponda+Servo/157//

And Enrique Ellenberg maintains a similar service, sending out monthly announcements of people who are looking to correspond. I don't have his web site address at hand . . . maybe someone else can post it. He tends to publish his lists using the newsgroup soc.culture.esperanto, once a month.

I don't know if UEA still maintains any similar kind of service. Occasional requests for correspondence are published in Usona Esperantisto.

Lee

Maintaining a blog and using twitter to update facebook are the two main ways I keep in touch with my international contacts. I also exchange email, but usually only in the context of some particular event or project.

I think one thing we don't do very well in the Esperanto community is realistically evaluate our resources. We're pretty creative people and we have lots of good ideas, but what we don't have in abundance is a) money, and b) manpower. There's also a pretty strong tendency to think in terms of "they ought to do something." E-USA should, UEA should, local groups should, etc. But as in most of life, there is no "they", there is only "we/us/I/me." So one huge step forward would be for people to renounce forever the words "E-USA should do something about X" and resolve to say only "There is a problem/opportunity/need related to X, and I myself will do _______."

I also think we need to give ourselves a break. We're all busy people, and Esperanto is not the primary thing in my life. I work full-time plus, I have elderly parents who need help, my wife has some health problems, I have church commitments, I have professional commitments, I have other commitments . . . I read what I can, contribute what I can, participate in whatever way I can, but I feel totally free to say "no" to any requests or other needs that come my way.

As for giving feedback and commenting on specific issues, all I can say is that sometimes I have time to do that, sometimes I don't.

I also want to say that Esperanto is something people can approach as a source of pleasure and enjoyment. If it ceases to be that and turns into an issue of duty and work and struggle, then I'd say "put it aside for a while."

Lee

If we stay real still, we might catch a glimpse of the king's deer!

Or the king's rear.