Amanda McQuade

B Day
Ms.Yates
10/12/2016

Basque Interview between an American with Basque History, and a Native Basque
Amanda: Kaixo aupa everyone this is Amanda, Interviewer for Unmasked Basque and Im here
to talk to a special guest today. Lets give a warm welcome to (name) !
(Name): Kaixo aupa Amanda, its great to be here. I was originally born in (name), and I am
Basque-American.
Amanda: So you have basque ancestry! Have you continued any traditions?
(Name): There are some Basque clubs scattered around the country, and other Basque-American
families settled in places like California and Arizona. Lots of these communities come together
in July, and they have big weekend celebrations. Basque foods are served, like pork and
empanadas. Theres dancing, storytelling, and games there! At home, my grandmother has taught
me a couple of words.
Amanda: Thats exciting to hear! We have found that the Basque community is a very small
minority in other places, and sometimes, people have never heard of the Basque Country! Its
great to hear that people are still passing on traditions. Euskaraz badakizu?
(Name): Ummm.
Amanda: (laughs) I guess you dont really speak the language?
(Name): ehh.no. But I know Mila esker? Ongi Etorri?
Amanda: Hey, thats impressive! At least you know some greetings! To tell you the truth, not
many people speak the language anymore. Depending on where you live, people speak Spanish
in the South, and French in the North. But it never hurts to learn! Its an ancient language.
(Name): Yeah, I know that the Language is now considered a dying language, like Latin. But
its a unique language! Italian, French and Spanish are Romance languages, while the Basque
dialect is Indo-European.

Amanda: It seems like youve learned a lot. Can you impress us with anymore knowledge of the
country?
(Name): Soccer- I mean, football is intense.
Amanda: well, you aren't wrong. Were proud people here; we have a rich history, the 70s-80s
cultural revival, the ongoing revolution, the spicy food, and then, theres football. Football is
EVERYWHERE in Europe, and the Basque country is no exception to this!
So, (name) weve talked about a lot today; celebrations, the language, football but theres
more to speaking the language, watching sports, and even celebrating our culture.
What does being Basque mean to you?
(pause)
(Name); In America, the Basque culture remains a mystery, and it will be easier for people to
recognize where Spain is. As a child growing up in America, I never learned about the Basques
in school. It was never in History books, or put on maps. If you were not Basque, you probably
never heard about the Basque Country. But learning about it through my family, was an amazing
thing to me. Being Basque means a lot to me. It doesnt mean that I am French, or Spanish.
Being able to recognize what I am, and where I came from is a blessing. Yes, it was extremely
hard to hear about the history of these people. The repression of Basque rights, not being able to
speak the language, the history of takeover by large, powerful countries and learning about the
widespread terrorism and the people needlessly murdered in Spain. But part of learning what it
means to be Basque, means learning what you need to do to let your culture be remembered as
something good. I will learn all that I can about history, tradition, politics, and mythology to
preserve an excellent memory. The Basque culture may be dying, but I will do my best to make a
positive impact on the world today, as a Basque-American.
Amanda:Eskerri asko, (name). Unfortunately, thats all the time we have to chat today. Next is
(Name) with (blank)!

MLA Citations

Basque Country Tourism:

http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com/

S.L., Veiss Comunicacin. Basque CountryTourism. Basque Country Tourism,

http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com/.

BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34175224

News, BBC. Ancient DNA Cracks Puzzle of Basque Origins. BBC News,
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-341752242015.

FOX News: ETA

Fast Facts: Look At Spain's Eta. Fox News, FOX News Network,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/12/03/fast-facts-look-at-spain-eta.html. 2004

History of the world according to the Basques:

Nash, Elizabeth. BEO - The History of the World According to the Basques. BEO - The
History of the World According to the Basques., http://www.basqueed.org/basque-history.htm.
2005.

Lonely Planet:
Planet, Lonely. Basque Country - Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet,
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/basque-country.
Rise and Fall of the ETA and the Basque Country:

@Markbieter. The Rise and Fall of ETA in the Basque Country. The Blue Review,
https://thebluereview.org/rise-fall-eta/. 2015.

The Gaurdian:
Jones, Sam. Spain Eyes Basque and Galician Elections to Break Political Deadlock. The
Guardian, Guardian News and Media, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/23/spaineyes-basque-and-galician-elections-to-break-political-deadlock.2016.

Phrases and Words

Ongi Etorri- Welcome
Kaixo- Hello
Nire izena.da- my name is.
Eugen on- Good morning
Agur-Goodbye
Bai-Yes
Ez-No
Agian- Maybe
Ez dakit- I dont know
Euskaraz badakizu? -Do you speak Basque?
Bai pixka bat- yes a little
Barkatu- Excuse Me?/ Sorry
Mesedez- please
Mila esker- Thank You

History
The Basques were the first recorded group to settle in Europe during the last ice age, over 7,000
years ago during the last Neolithic Ice Age. They were isolated at first around their french and
spanish neighbors. During the Bronze Age, migrants from the east spread Indo-European
languages to the west, especially into modern day Spain and France. Somehow, the Basques
were not affected by this, because they were so isolated from the rest of the world. The Basques
were almost untouched by the rest of Europe. They shaped their own Indo-European language,
stayed healthy during the Black Death, and avoided conquest and takeover for centuries. The
resisted invasions by the Romans, Arabs, and Visigoths until the Middle Ages, when their land
was seized by the Spaniards. Most of their culture survived, and most of their practices were
saved under the King and Queen of Spain at the time. But, during the regime of General
Francisco in 1931, the Basques were unable to practice their culture and speak their language. In
the 1950s, things began turning violent in the country after suppression by the Spanish. In the
1970s and 1980s, a separatist Basque group called the ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna meaning
Basque Country and Freedom) spread terrorism through Spain, and killed over 800 people for
the countrys independence. There is still political unrest today, and strained relations between
the Basques and the Spanish. Thousands of Basques have left the Basque country due to labor
shortages, and fled during the uprisings of the mid-1930s when Basques lost independance. The
culture is beginning to die, as traditions are no longer celebrated in Spain, but the culture
continues to thrive in France, and the Basque clubs along the West Coast of America. As of
today, about 12-25% of Basques still speak the Basque language. Even if their culture cannot
survive the turn of the century, the Basques can be identified by special genetic traits. While the

rest of Europe is a broad mix of peoples, the Basques have lived secludedly, causing this
phenomenon.

Food
Cuajada- curdled milk often served with walnuts, honey, and/or fruit as a dessert or sometimes a
breakfast
Gateau Basque- a French-Basque wheat flour cake with an almond, cherry, or vanilla pastry
cream filling
Marmita- a tuna fish stew with potatoes, onions, peppers and tomatoes
Pincho- an appetizer of a small slice of bread with a topping of seafood, meat, or even a
chocolate spread
Piperade- soup made with green pepper, onions, tomatoes, and Espelette pepper. This dish
reflects the Basque flag, and is often eaten during Basque celebrations and events
Pisto- a dish similar to Ratatouille (which is another common french-basque food) made of
tomatoes, onions, eggplants, olive oil, and red peppers. It is commonly served warm with bread
or fried eggs. It can also be used as a filling inside empanadas.
Talo- similar to a corn tortilla
Chistorra- minced pork sausage
Bayonne ham (Jambon de Bayonne) - cured ham.
Txipirones- Baby Squid served in its own ink
Clothing
Berets are commonly worn by both men and women. Most of the time, Men wear black berets
and women wear white/red berets.

Reflection:
When creating the interview, its not impossible to create a story with multiple narratives,
especially when you are apart of that culture. I understand that creating an interview between
Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain, or a member of the ETA would make an interesting
interview, but to be honest, it was not something that was interesting enough, for myself to be
writing. I decided to create the interview between a Basque-American and a native Basque,
because there is a special connection between the two. The Basque Country, is this small,
isolated mountain culture. America is this giant melting pot of peoples. It was much more
bearable, because it was personal, and interesting to write about. I influenced awareness, because
I am fortunate enough to be in first-person view to both American and Basque culture. I didnt
have to find knowledge from sources online, but I actually got to have conversations with my
family. Getting my information from primarily American websites, was creating a single
narrative,but, the Basque narrative is quite different. Life was hard, for my Basque grandmother,
when she was a child, not only in a different time, but of a completely different story. My
childhood, growing up as an American, was a different story.
I learned, there can be no comparisons, because it detaches you from that culture. You think,
thats a faraway place or that culture is completely different to try and justify, that you
shouldnt have to learn about it, and you can just fall asleep on your desk, and your life as an
American will not change. Or you can tune your grandparents out because, that was so long
ago and play on your cell phone, when they ramble on about the revolution. As of now, my
awareness needs to expand, not only of my Basque culture, but I know that it is crucial to
increase my awareness of the world. Someday, that culture will disappear from your history
book, and a single narrative world, will be all that you can see.