"My Polish friend speaks Basque in a surprising way. You may be interested in the magazine. The warning that we had arrived at the wording made us join Casia, the day before returning to Poland. Before starting the interview, we were surprised by his oral level in Basque.

You make it very clear in Basque. What's that like?

I studied anthropology at the University of Poland in my youth and they offered us the opportunity to learn Basque in a subject. Not only did the language catch me from the first day, but the desire to know Euskal Herria also entered. The next year, I made my first trip with a friend. We came from Poland hitchhiking in three days! (ja, ja, ja).

On that journey, dare you speak in Basque to the Euskaldunes?

Yes, yes! Plus, I came up with a curious thing. I was talking to those here first in Euskera, but many asked me to do it in Spanish... But I didn't know!

He has visited Euskal Herria frequently, for work reasons.

From the anthropological point of view, I was very interested in Euskera from the very beginning, and I have tried to guide the studies and university projects to the history of Euskal Herria and Euskera. In this regard, for the last sixteen years I have made a trip here, in one place or in another. This is my second home today. I have a lot of friends here who are very important to me. The truth is, it changed my life to know how to speak Basque, study language and research.

There are a lot of people in Poland who are interested in Basque culture, right?

At one time, much of the knowledge that people there had of the Basque Country was limited to the activity of ETA, to the armed conflict. We started working to change that perception, and we started doing workshops, concerts, conferences, literary translations -- related to Basque culture. That's how movement came about. Today, I think it is very enriching for the people of Poland.

What are your favorite Basque creators?

Benito Lertxundi's music is very special to me. A friend from there told me that I had a disease of lertxunditis, by the midwife I gave me with her songs! (ja, ja, ja). I also like Mikel Laboa, Jabier Muguruza and Izaro. The writers include Bernardo Atxaga, Harkaitz Cano, Joseba Sarrionandia and Rikardo Arrangi. Here are many quality creators!

This interview was published by Karkara and we brought it to ARGIA thanks to the CC-by-sa license.