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I just came back from the National Junior Classical League convention in scenic Bloomington, Indiana, totally rejuvenated. I love this week every year, 2,000 students from Middle, Secondary schools and universities plus Latin teachers and a few odd extras meeting for one week every year in celebration of a supposedly dead language and civilization. Competition in an environment of coöperation, a sarcastic vibe in a very inclusive group, insane and sometimes reckless enthusiasm for things most of one’s peers would find odd: these things define the NJCL. Although the second-biggest nationally-organized youth organization in the country, behind Boy and Girl Scouts, the NJCL remains fairly obscure. This shall, hopefully, change after the very favorable coverage of the group in the New York Times, and an expression of interest from Oprah.
This year, I said farewell to many long-time friends as they went off to colleges across the country, and this year’s theme seemed unusually relevant: Amicitæ nostræ memoriam spero sempiternam fore, or, I hope that the memory of our friendship will be everlasting.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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No, I didn't. I didn't see much of Bloomington, but, from what I saw, I find it hard to believe that there are several people in Bloomington. My God, Indiana is humid, as bad as East Texas.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Oh! The National Junior Classical League. I thought this thread was about the New Jersey Cultural League. You know -- Turnpike rest stops, shopping malls, diners.
Glad you had a blast among your own kind. It sounds more your speed than the New Jersey variant.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Yes, and there are places much colder than Siberia. And, it is flat in Indiana, really flat, flatter than I thought possible. With lots of corn. Strange place, bleak, laconic observations are there inspired.
In all seriousness, great art museum and rare books collection at IU.
Posts: 1332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Only some of Indiana is flat, the southern tip is below where the glaciers descended. Not only are there places that are worse, but there are billions of people living in places that are worse .
Yes, we have one of the world's best university library systems, and a top notch art museum. Heck, our student union has a more valuable art collection hanging on its walls than many schools have in their art museums (though sadly most students hardly notice the paintings) . Most of the credit for these things goes to Herman B Wells, a very important man.
And we have more soybeans than corn .
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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