Post by Kari Muffin on Sept 27, 2008 2:51:20 GMT -5
I have no idea if this would classify as a fanwork or just a horribly long rant. Either way I'm posting it here. It's a mock Essay of something that I would probably end up writing if I was a Card in SoDland. Then again I have no doubt that Harold would have written this in his diary sometime. 1466 words. I'll add more if I think of something.A Simple Guide to Esterberry
So you want to visit Esterberry? Rather than ask you if you've seen a medical health professional I'll simply list the various aspects of Esterberry and key places that you might like to visit. Of course, if you're not part Esterberry than you'll probably be treated like an outcast your entire visit unless you have a degree. If you do, carry it with you.
Education
The one thing Esterberry prides itself in more than life itself. If you come from Esterberry you probably went to school until you were twenty five. If you didn't you obviously need to go back.
All children in Esterberry are required to go to basic schooling. Primary school lasts for five and is required of all legal citizens who reside in the realm. There is the option of homeschooling for the parents who don't want their children subject to other children, but it's generally frowned upon.
All Secondary schools are private, and cost a minimal fee for residents of the realm. Any outsiders have to pay an arm and a leg to enroll a student, but often have the chance to receive scholarships if they come from "underprivileged" families. Schooling lasts for seven years and when a student completes Secondary schooling they receive a degree. This little piece of paper sometimes allows them to get a higher paying job than most people. Nine times out of ten an Esterberry student chooses to continue their education.
Universities is what most people think of when they here the word "Esterberry." There are various different levels of Universities in Esterberry. Two year Universities are for smaller degrees and are generally frowned on by traditional Esterberries. Mostly these schools are populated by outsiders who don't want to go to school forever. The two years of classical or contemporary education allow them flexibility with their degree and field.
Four years schools are more common for Esterberries. They have various schools for just about anything. Once the four years of education in classical and contemporary education are complete the student gets a nice piece of paper, normally with gold foil, that says they're smarter than everyone else in that particular field.
There is another option for education beyond University. Graduate school allows individuals to become Masters in their fields. This generally means two to four more years of school depending on their area of expertise.
Why anyone would want to go to school beyond this point is far beyond /my/ comprehension. However there is schooling beyond this point. Age does not matter, any resident of Esterberry over the age of thirty can return to a university of their choice to update their education for free. Certain individuals (medical majors and educational majors), to keep their degree, must return to school for "buffer courses." For most Esterberries it is a nominal fee.
Of course 98% of Esteberries prefer to double or triple major in their education. The 1.9% of the population that has a single major is looked down upon. And the .1% of individual that choose to take on more than three majors are looked upon as insane.
Here is a list of schools that any Esterberry will know by name. Some people outside of Esterberry will even recognize the names.
Top Schools
Primary:
1. Livingston Primary School
2. Marshall Elementary School
3. Johnson's Primary Academy
Secondary:
1. Elverson High School
2. Soto Secondary School
3. Anderson Secondary Academy
Two Year University:
1. Henderson-Long University
2. Colemen's University
Four Year University:
1. Ross-Foster University
2. Hayes Scared Heart University
3. Noel University
Joke Schools:
1. Brun-Barbier University
2. Morris University
Three Kinds of People in this Realm....
There are three kinds of Esterberries. The first kind belives that everyone else is below them with the exception of their Esterberry peers. If you are not born at least part Esterberry your opinion doesn't matter. You may be the Queen of Hearts but you are not as smart as they are.
The second kind of Esterberry is mild and shy. They still have a great deal of pride in their realm, but and generally laid back about other residents. They generally don't associate with other cards unless it's a small social situation. These Esterberries like to be left to their own devices.
The third kind of Esterberry is the kind that refuses to fit either stereotype. They have pride in their region, but they're not about to snuff someone who doesn't come from their realm. More often than not these are the people who leave Esterberry to find jobs "in the real world." They come in varying temperaments of "angry revolutionist" to "mild mannered sarcastic writer." This is probably about five percent of Esterberries. Most people fit into the general stereotypes or some degree of them.
Vegetation
Tourist often come to Esterberry during the winter to see they evergreen plants. Not only are the trees green year round, but the grass and a few different kinds of flowers survive during the snowfall. Many Esterberry residents think it's silly for people to come all the way to their region just to see plants, but their are various tourist traps that spring up from the rather cheerful entrepreneurs that litter the dark parts of the region.
Esterberry Pride
Many outsiders to the region have heard the term "Esterberry pride" and scoffed. Of course those people have no idea what the term really means to a member of the realm.
The ideal philosophy behind Esterberry pride is that if you come from the realm you are smarter and better than everyone else. This might not be true but it is.
Never insult an Esterberry's intelligence.
Esterberries are fiercely proud of their intellect. If you insult it they will automatically defend it by pulling up obscure references and possible curses to prove your wrong. Some Esterberry's even resort to physical violence because snotty remarks can only go so far.
Realm Rivalries and Views
Corvistowneians are either looked down upon by Esterberries or get some level of respect. If a Corvistowneian claims to be smarter than an Esterberry, all hands down the Esteryberry will hate the Corvistowneian and do everything in their power to prove them wrong. If a Corvistowneian looks mostly "normal" and doesn't make any far fetched claims they all is well. Some Esterberries, however, have a natural hatred for this realm. After all, no one is better than them when it comes to smarts.
Highlanders and Esterberries have an interesting relationship. They can respect each other, but sometimes Highland pride clashes with Esterberry pride. "I'm better than you" matches often lead to complicated intellectual spats. That is assuming that the Highlander and Esterberry can get past the hello without cursing each others names out.
Most other realms are looked upon with mild distaste. If you don't prove your worth by saying something intellectual most Esterberries would pass you by. Many Esterberries think Lowlanders are on a sub level of intelligence and only really consider them furniture. Golframs are generally thought of in the same light. Even if they can prove an Esterberry wrong they will still be "as dumb as a sack of bricks."
Cuisine
There are people who cook in Esterberry. Nine times out of then these people have a typical full fledged education in the culinary arts along with some other related major. The region is filled with high class restaurants for high paying tourists and educated Esterberries. Various dishes using venison are a common realm cuisine.
Architecture and Art
Most of the public buildings in Esterberry have Romanesque designs. It's a popular belief that classical educational buildings should have a classical and ornate style.
Of art related majors, going into the field of architecture or things relating to it is more respected than any other form of artist. Generally people who have art anywhere in their major are looked upon as jokes... and then sent to Villa en Miir so they can get a proper education.
Libraries
The second thing people think of when they hear the word Esterberry. There isn't a single small town without a library of its own in Esterberry. Books and scrolls are some of the most valued thing in the realm. There are "laws" of the region that all Esterberries abide by about treating reading materials.
There are various large libraries known for their rare manuscripts containing dangerous material. 99% of the rare literature is kept under lock and key and cared for by magically and otherwise armed specialists of the field. The one percent remaining is kept under glass boxes to be viewed by privileged scholars and individuals.
Sacred Hart Library is known for having the most manuscripts form various wars. It's often said they keep documents that could change the way the realms coexist. But most people think that they're barging.
There are five libraries that are known through the region as famous, and ae known outside of the region.
Top Libraries:
1. Sacred Hart (next to the Scared Heart campus)
2. Mendoza Archives (one miles away from Brun-Barbier campus)
3. Lloyd Knight Library
4. Fisher's Scroll Archive and Library
5. Baker Murry Library
