I (Jeff) got home from a very short business trip to Indianapolis this morning. The heat and storms that we had in Minnesota on Wednesday was hitting Indy today. It was hot and muggy when my plane took off at 7:45am. Anyway, I am sure a lot happened around our house during the day, but was not involved. I went to work after my plane landed, so I am not sure of all the details. Janna will update later, I am sure.Since Janna needed a break from all the action, I made the kids dinner (sausage, cheese and egg on a muffin or gluten free bagel. We call it a McMuffin sandwhich. We stole the name from McDonalds, even though we don't eat them at McDonalds. We like to make a more healthy version at home. Oh, Andoni pretended to try Green Peppers tonight. He is still not a fan of anything that we would consider a vegetable, unless chocolate is a vegetable...) and then took them all to the soccer field and park. It was such a beautiful night. Not a cloud in the sky. 80 degrees. Slight breeze. Just perfect. After traveling early in the morning and working all day, I was in the mood to just lie in the grass on a hill, high above the soccer field where Quinn had a practice. I laid on the grass, looking up at the sky, and asked Andoni 8,000 questions.
His English has gotten so good, that I can have a lengthy conversation with him now. We talked the entire 1.5 hours. He told me all about the boys (and girls) he runs around with, about the social networking site he is on all the time (tuenti), about the party in his town that started recently, about roller costers, and churros, and musical groups, and his dad's soccer team, and his little brother's soccer team, and celiac, and his holiday home, and on and on and on.
It was great.
He is a good kid. I think his parents will be proud of how far he has come with his English.
I like to tease him, and he is a good sport. So while we were chatting today, I talked him into a corner about what makes someone Basque. Since speaking the language of the Basque people is a major component of identifying oneself as Basque, I told him that I was going to go to the Basque country, learn the language, and become Basque. He told me I "could not!" I told him that I didn't care what he said, that I was going to learn the language and then I would be Basque. He told me I "could not. It's impossible. You are not Basque."
So I assured him that, while he may not let me become Basque, that I would let him become an American if he wanted. That there are plenty of Basque Americans. He said he had no interest in becoming an American, he is Basque.
So, much to Andoni's opposition, I have started my Basque language lessons. My goal is to be "fully Basque" by the end of the week. I mean, how hard could it be to learn a new language? However, since I will likely have a thick accent if I spoke Bizkaiera, I might go for Gipuzkera. I realize that if I go for Lower Navarrese, Andoni will write me off immediately. But if I learn Gipuzkera Andoni might not detect my accent and will allow me to be Basque. So that is my plan. Jeff, the American Euskaldunak.
Wish me luck!
Hello Jeff,
ReplyDeletethank you very much for all the time you are spending with Andoni and all the things you are sharing with him. We have always thanked Janna but we don´t want to forget thanking you. You both have more than enough with your own family and all the duties to add a foreign boy and, moreover, celiac. We are very lucky.
You seem to be positive and very open minded people, really interested in other cultures and people. I am sure Andoni knows it and he is aware of his luckiness (he told us). Referring to today topic, Andoni apparently hasn´t told you that I (his mother) am Basque but I don´t speak Basque. Although the percentage is diminishing, there are many Basque people who don´t speak Basque, especially mature people. So, I am sure you are becoming Basque before a week.