Saluton, Uvi, and everyone!

I first read about Esperanto about 11 years ago. I found an encyclopedia article about it after seeing it somewhere like an internet drop-down list for languages; IIRC it was on a search engine or something. I couldn't fathom the notion of someone constructing an entire language, so I knew I *had* to learn it, figure out this beast of creative endeavor and its inner workings. A fickle 13-year-old doesn't much consider the things he "has" to do, though, and eventually, it slipped out of mind.

Flash forward to last winter. I was on a sabbatical from university, with a bit more free time than I knew what to do with. I read somewhere in passing about Vikipedio (Wikipedia Esperanto), took a look at it, and fell back in love with the idea of learning to read and speak this exotic yet subtly familiar language. I studied pretty intensively for about four months, and now I read almost as often in Esperanto as I do in English.

I suppose it was more or less an intellectual curiosity at the time, and little more. Lately, though, I'm finding other Esperantists online, and I've been directed to Lernu enough times that I finally decided to join and connect with Esperantujo more tightly (you'll notice I'm fresh-out-of-the-box new here ). There's an atmosphere to the world of Esperanto that you can't find anywhere else in the world... it's a culture of people who are all very genuinely interested in learning and sharing in many different kinds of positivity, especially creatively and intellectually. I tend to have a love for languages in general, but for these and countless other reasons, Esperanto will always have a pretty special place with me.

It sounds like you definitely get that sense of community, Uvi, and I'm excited to hear how much it could lift you up in the midst of the kind of dire atmosphere you see every day. That kind of spiritual benefit is exactly why Esperanto exists-- I hope that stays with you always!

I knew about Esperanto since my childhood, when I found a little Esperanto vocabulary among my father`s books (guess what else did I find there ). However I didn't start actively studying the language until last year. As we moved to Gdansk, I was forcing myself to learn Polish (which I failed to do even one year past). During one of many attempts "to start learning" I accidentally found lernu website. As learning Esperanto was way less painful, I went down the way of lesser resistance. That didn't help me to live in Poland at all, but at least I had an excuse - it's their fault that they can't speak the international language, not mine!

Uvi:

arkadio:Saluton Uvi. I like languages. I was studying Russian, when I felt that I'd like a break from all those irregular verbs and inflections. Assuming that a constructed language would be the least irregular, I took up Esperanto. (I still enjoy Russian too.)

Russian kicks ass!! Although I only understand a few words and constructions, I'm caressing the intention of slowly getting into it for my own pleasure and personal knowledge. And also, I think Russian sounds awesome in music

I hope you enjoy it Uvi. (You seem to be a very positive, optimistic person.) Russian prepared me for certain aspects of Esperanto. The Esperanto way with adverbs and the "non-standard" uses of the accusative seem to have come straight out of Russian. (Though they may be generally Slavic as opposed to particularly Russian. I'm not enough of a linguist to know.) And after years of dealing with that wonderful Russian case system, it's hard to get worked up about the "difficult" Esperanto accusative. Do svidanya.

Sal al cxiu!

I first heard about Esperanto through the sci-fi/comedy Red Dwarf. My mum filled me in on what it was, and for a long time I forgot about it. When I was 18 or so I got interest again for reasons I don't remember, but didn't learn it as I was too lazy to actually post off part of the postal course.

This year, however, I decided to try one new activity (the only condition being that it was cheap or free) each month. March was learn Esperanto month, and I stuck with it. My experience has be overwhelmingly positive, and the benefits I have taken from it more than compensate for the funny looks from my friends (which I'm sure we all know about to some extent)! Although my interest in it was based on the belief that it is a good idea and worthy of support, I'm practical about it. The most tangible benefits for me are the light it has shed on English as a language and the "stepping stone" factor.

I've made the effort to find and meet Esperantists, although I draw the line at proselytizing as my girlfriend hears enough about it already

The esperantists I've met have in common with me optimism and eccentricty, mostly. I think we're a good bunch!

Gxis!

This topic has been done before a couple times; here is one lengthy thread: How people came to Esperanto

I read about Esperanto in a Stainless Steel Rat book when I was in middle school, and the book said it was easy, so I decided to learn. Almost no one I knew had learned a language to the point of fluency through class, and I wanted to beat out my friend who spoke fluent Spanish and Farsi (through her parents). I wanted to learn more languages than she spoke. I thought Esperanto might be my only chance to become fluent in a foreign language. I didn't know, at the time, about the possibilities for travel and friendship.

In retrospect, deciding to learn Esperanto was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have gotten far more out of it than I've put in. On foreign business travel with colleagues, my colleagues are stuck asking advice at the hotel for restaurants to go to, and trying to puzzle out menus. I, by contrast, get taken out by the local Esperanto speakers, who frequently arrange a special meal in my honor. My colleagues depend on tourist busses to take them sightseeing, and those busses take them to souvenir shops where they're given the hard sell. Esperanto speakers drive me to tourist sites and little-known local gems, and guide me around and help me locate any specific souvenirs I'm looking for. My colleagues pay for extra days in a hotel if they stay longer than the length of the business travel. I stay in an Esperanto speaker's house. When my colleagues leave the country to go home, no one cares. I am treated to a goodbye dinner and often given a couple of souvenirs of the place I visited. My colleagues return home with some photographs and souvenirs. I return home with photograph, souvenirs, and new friendships.

When I'm abroad, I have friends everywhere, even if I haven't met them yet, only because of the language I speak. I am an honored guest; my colleagues are chopped liver, all alone in a place where they don't speak the language. It's not that I'm anyone special or important; I'm a nobody. But hospitality to foreign guests is a strong part of the culture associated with the language. I'm accorded the same kind of welcome that any foreign Esperanto speaker can expect. And of course, I do the same for Esperanto speaking guests to my area.

I just wrote in google: esperanto. I got into youtube and i saw this page in a vid, and I got in and I liked it =)

I have always had an interest in constructed languages. I don't remember how or when I first encountered Esperanto, but I took a special interest in it because it seemed to have so many different learning resources available. Also, there was and is a large "after-market". There are numerous novels and publications to read, communities to be a part of, and forums to chat on. When you learn the language (I am still learning) you can actually USE it! For me, it is an intellectual exercise with a practical benefit: meeting new people.

UVI, I was just in Montreal two weeks ago! It was my first time there, and me and my girlfriend enjoyed it very much. We'd like to go back next Spring or Summer to enjoy some of the warm-weather activities.

I have always had an interest in constructed languages. I don't remember how or when I first encountered Esperanto, but I took a special interest in it because it seemed to have so many different learning resources available. Also, there was and is a large "after-market". There are numerous novels and publications to read, communities to be a part of, and forums to chat on. When you learn the language (I am still learning) you can actually USE it! For me, it is an intellectual exercise with a practical benefit: meeting new people.

That's pretty much my story right there

I was reading on Wikipedia and came across a reference to Esperanto. It peaked my interest so I read about it a little. Then forgot about it or something. xD Then got into it again, but to a larger extent.

Wow, you all have beautiful stories; some quite candid, some more reflective.

Thank you!! Your words mean a lot to me