Had a crazy week, really behind, a million cool things to post though!
First up, a funny little item about this guy, Mark Boyle, who wanted to do a pilgrimage from England to Gandhi’s birthplace without a penny to his name, relying solely on the goodwill of strangers, to whom he would offer his labor in exchange for food, transport, whatever. Dude didn’t think it through too well obviously though….
Boyle got as far as Calais before he realised that, unable to speak French to explain his mission and unable, frankly, to get much vegan food in this part of northern Europe, he faced starvation. He was forced to turn round, recross the Channel and yesterday was to be found in genteel Eastbourne, East Sussex, explaining why a two-and-half-year pilgrimage had turned into a month-long jaunt to France and back.
Having grown up in a super hippie area, I can appreciate the kind of sentiment motivating this guy, Berkeley is infused with it, but it needs to be tempered with a little bit of practicality now and again.
The Guiri Dispatches 
March 3, 2008 at 4:56 pm
If this idealist had been a bit more practical he would have learned Esperanto. I’ve used Esperanto to get to know ordinary people in a dozen countries or more. There are plenty of courses on the net, and there is a whole network of Esperanto speakers committed to help.
March 3, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I must say I’m an Esperanto skeptic, but in this case, sine he was going across mainly Europe (and Esperanto is pretty euro-centric) it may have been a good idea for him. Or at the very least he could have arranged for a translator/guide/assistant before hand to help him across each country or region.
March 9, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I’m sorry to disagree but if one studies Esperanto you do not need a translator. You do not need a guide. You do not need an assistant.
Bearing in mine that the major growth areas for Esperanto are now both Africa and Asia, where did you recieve the information that Esperanto is Euro-centric?
Perhaps ignorance is holding Esperanto back? please check on http://lernu.net