I agree about the syntax. If this is an introduction to coding it might make sense to stick to something more c-like. It wouldn't be a huge leap to move closer to JSON.
That said, it's easier said than done, and what's in Adventuron right now is functionable. The explanation about the different meanings for :, = and ({}) helped me understand better, and could be really helpful to have near the start.
One of my other pet peeves was the different typings of strings i.e. boolean "0" or integer "5". true/false and 5 are more succinct and universal.
I like the challenge of coming up with new systems in such a foreign environment though.