How a young Esperantist spent the summer
Last summer again offered a wide range of serious and recreational gatherings for a young Esperantist. For Zita from Latvia the choice was easy: first the International Youth Congress in Italy, then FESTO in southern France. "They are THE occasions to meet all my friends and enjoy pleasant holidays." Italy was also the logical choice for those interested in culture and history. "We were incredibly lucky to visit the famous town of Assisi before the earthquakes this autumn," says Palma from Hungary. But she added that for her the congress in Italy was fairly expensive. On the other hand, the International Youth Week, which the Hungary section of TEJO organises every year, is a remarkable example of an inexpensive but good quality arrangement. It was also possible to visit Italy cheaply thanks to two archeological work camps.
This year the Universal Congress took place in Adelaide, Australia. With only 1,224 participants it was a relatively modest Congress. About half of these were from Australia, China and Japan. "When you have to pay travel costs yourself, worldwide membership does not mean equal representation from all parts of the world." Young Esperantists from China, Japan and Korea met in Korea in August for their Joint Seminar, organised for the 16th time by the TEJO sections of those countries.
The preparations for next summer have already begun. Besides the TEJO congress in Rijeka, Croatia, there are plans for youth events within the Universal Congress in Montpellier, France. Another important event in Europe will be the Esperanto Cultural Festival, organised this time by young Esperantists in Sweden. But next summer is still a long way off. In the meantime there are plenty of other events, such as the Mountain Hut Gathering, ski weekends, TEJO seminars, festivals and the largest winter youth gathering, the International Week in Germany.
