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They are having an adventure of a lifetime.  Ten children from the Donostei School in Baigorri are currently in the US, where they will visit California and Nevada in the footsteps of their families who immigrated to America.  The trip is the culmination of “Arbasoen Ildotik,” a project of studies on emigration that they have been preparing for several years.  Now, they will interview people who left the Basque Country to find a better life and their descendants.  No better way to learn, and lesson that they will certainly never forget. 

San Francisco, CA.  Students who are part of the “Arbasoen Ildotik,” project have already made their way to the US.  These students from the Donostei School in Baigorri, a private bilingual school in Basque and French, have proposed this adventure as part of their education on the subject of emigration.

The project is the culmination of many years of work, fundraising, crowdfunding, seeking sponsors, as well as washes at the school to pay for the tickets to the US for these students and their teachers.

The original group of travelers included sixth grade students: Laina Aizpurua, Alaia Arangoits, Maialen Innara, Enaut Gorostiague, Ana Gouffrant, Inaki Hualde, Morgan Labat, Mathias Lallemand, Leatitia Oronos, Pauline Perez, Céline Séméréna and Viktoria Toro along with four teachers Amaia Castorene, Danielle Hirigaray, Xantxo Lekumberry and Christine Paulerena.

During their stay in the US, the group will visit California and Nevada where they will meet the local Basque community.  The students are lodged with families and will conduct interviews with members of the community to deepen this practical study on the emigration experience.

Today, for example, they will be at the Wool Growers Restaurant in Bakersfield, CA and have invited all Basques in the area to join them and tell them about their experiences.  More information is available my emailing: slobasque@aol.com.

Anyone wishing to follow their travels, or to get in touch with them, can do so on their Facebook page: "Arbasoen Ildotik."