My dad was from Munitibar-Arbatzegi-Gerrikaitz. My friend — and distant cousin — Jon Zuazo sent me this video, made by Karmelo Goikoetxea. It is simply spectacular. It must have been hard for the men and women who, like my dad, had to leave this behind…
Thank you, thank you for sharing this video!! I want to go home, to the Pyrenees!!!
Of course, it was heart breaking for them to leave but considering the misery they had to endure, especially in the back country, the only thing left was hope and faith of a new and better life somewhere else.
During the reign of the Bourbon, it was absolute monarchy–meanings rules of the Catholic church or the Army. To protest would be a death sentence or life in prison.
One of my niece has a friend–Spanish who was sent to France when she was nine years old– a nine year old little girl!!! sent to another country to be a maid so that she could eat and have a roof over her head! She is now doing well and married into a French family.
There is a book that some of you may want to read–” Spain in our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939″ by Hochschild Adam. The accounts of war correspondents –Hemingway, Orwell and more.
Emotionally draining but good read.
Monique
Thanks Monique! I understand that there were drivers to leave. My dad was looking to make some money, to jump start a life back in the Basque Country, but eventually stayed in the United States after meeting my mom. But, I can’t imagine leaving such a lush, vibrant place as a kid (my dad was 18 when he left) and finding yourself stranded on a remote high-desert hill, alone, watching a band of sheep. Regardless of the reasons why, it must have been hard for all of these people.
I’ve heard of that book, but have yet to try to read it. I’ll place it on my near-infinite to-read list. 😉
Greetings,
after you have read the book, please let your readers know what think–your reaction. Thank you.
the Franco regime was particularly harsh on the Basque people.
Monique
thank you–my maternal grandmother, Justina Goicoechea, left the Basque Country for New York circa 1912. I think she had regrets, I understand why.
Thanks Ken. I imagine the same kinds of regrets haunt most immigrants, depending on what they were leaving behind, of course. My dad was looking for a better life, but in the end, the life his brothers and sisters made back home was just as good. I wonder what would have become of my dad had he stayed. Of course, I wouldn’t be here to wonder… 🙂
At times, I ask myself the same question–what am I doing here?
For me, it was more idealistic than financial and I had a good life in the U.S–but the question remains–what if? it may have been the memories of savagery of wars, both WWII and the aftermath of the Spanish civil war .
i was raised by two loving families, my blood parents and my Spanish extended family who immigrated to France. Who knows? too late now.
Monique
Yeah, I look at my uncles back in the Basque Country and wonder, if my dad had stayed, would his life have been like theirs? What would he have done in a place where maybe he fit in better, but, at least at the beginning, seemed to have less opportunity. As you say, too late to know now, but I do wonder…