euskalkultura.eus

They called it “Udaberri Jaia” Spring Celebration, and spring in Atlanta often means rain.  With their event being held in the rain, organizers of the first public activity for the Atlanta Euskal Etxea (AEE) were very “happy and hopeful” with the response they received.  They were “reinforced” by the commitment expressed by those attending, 35 people of all ages who are already thinking about the club’s first projects.

Atlanta, GA.  The organizers are satisfied because “now we have names and faces,” they were able to meet and share ideas and take steps towards establishing a euskal etxea in Atlanta.  Camilo Aguirre, the club’s first president, and main event organizer along with his family, ensures that last Sunday’s gathering has provided support and encouragement for the task of “little by little, but with a firm stride,” creating a space in order to cultivate and support, for them and the coming generations, “the knowledge of the Basque culture in its widest sense and reinforce links with Euskal Herria.”

Facing heavy rains, 35 people attended this first event.  Among them, there was a little bit of everything, “older people and youth, couples and individuals, families and children, and a large number of children,” Aguirre said.  “The majority attending came from Atlanta but we also had guests, for example, from Athens and Cleveland, Georgia.  We also had three people from Biarritz, two from Bilbao and one from Donostia...” he concluded.

Treating it as a Basque event, they couldn’t avoid the gastronomic ingredient and the opportunity to taste some delicacies with a menu based on “txuletoia (big steak), txistorra, Italian sausage, Tolosa beans, roasted potatoes, salad and homemade flan,” Aguirre added. They also had the talents from their friends at Aupa Plancha, a company in Atlanta that promotes Basque 'plantxa' ways. “We also enjoyed Basque music all day,” Aguirre said enthusiastically.

Those gathered shared their views on the steps taken and also launched the idea for a Txoko.  They still have to concretize the details of membership, but it seems certain that a representation of the group will be attending the NABO convention next July in Buffalo, Wyoming.