BilduEnjoyer

Pictured: A large mural of the Palestinian flag with a reference to Geurnika by Pablo Picasso.

Basque word of the Day: Askatu- Freedom/Liberation

Things are going well here. The Chinese friend I mentioned in the previous post is now my bestie. We’ve been hanging out daily and she even offered to host me in China so I could visit her family! I told her I plan to take her up on this once I get my Spanish citizenship in a few months.

She knows I’m gay/trans and she wants to be a matchmaker, “I will help you find a good man!”

I’ve been thriving here and every day I’m so happy that I managed to escape Burger Land.

HOWEVER: By having a Chinese friend I have been exposed to good ole sinophobia and racism. A dude at the bar asked me “why the Chinese? Why are you with Chinese people?”

We’ve been harassed by the elderly when we tried to study in a cafe. I’ve been pestered for looking not Basque enough (though I think in this case it’s because of anti-tourism sentiment in the region), and we’ve gotten dirty looks for just… hanging out?

Granted, most of it is from cranky old men. The rest is from general assholes. Most people have been chill, especially younger people, but after coming from the USA the bold racism is a culture shock and frankly- fucking annoying.

Pictured: “Free/Liberate Palestine!” In Basque.

I also saw a Palestine remix of Geurnika but it was high up on an industrial silo and I couldn’t get a good picture of it.

Yesterday was spent exploring local communities and villages. It was pretty quiet because it was Sunday on an off season. I am limiting photos because I post my stuff on social media, so what is on hexbear is only on hexbear.

Basque word of the day: “Txirimiri” (Pronounced similar to Cheer-e-meer-e). The word describes the sound of a light drizzle. Similar to “sprinkling rain”.

Today I spoke with my Chinese classmate who asked me “Why do American’s hate their home and president so much, it’s not like the president lives in their house.”

“I could explain over coffee if you want, I’m interested in your perspective from China as well.”

So she gave me a cigarette and we had a conversation over lunch. She is from hongkong so her perspective was different towards the mainland government. (All government is bad, high taxes, etc.)

I was told that in China what most Chinese know about America was from television. I told her that what is seen is only true for rich Americans, but for everyone else we are a product to be used by the rich for profit. By the end of the conversation my poor classmate was just

(She has friends who moved to America to start a business recently)

It was a productive conversation and I made a new friend! I’m going to meet up with her and her husband tomorrow and we’re going to go to the library.

Pictured: ACAB at a public, well maintained, outdoor gym.

I’m a long time Hexbear lurker. I came here as a lib from r/chapotraphouse and now I’m a lib who has read some theory. Thanks y’all!

I am Basque diaspora and trans masc. I had been planning to move to Euskadi (Basque Country) years ago, but with the rise of fascism in the states and the risk of being disappeared for being trans and openly anti-fascist I decided that I had to flee the country ASAP. I used all my savings, help from family, and a fundraiser to escape. I am extraordinarily lucky and beyond grateful to my found family and other loved ones. I hope to pay it forward.

I’m now living in a punk apartment in the middle of Bilbao, a historically anti-fascist region of Spain and a former victim of Franco’s reign of terror during the Spanish Civil War. The bones and memories of the Basque Partisans who fought and died for a better future are ever present.

A few facts about the Bilbao:

• Bilbao has a massive community center called “Azkuna Zentroa”

https://www.azkunazentroa.eus/es/

The center contains:

• A massive “climate refugee” space with heating in the winter and cooling in the summer for everyone to use, for free, as needed. Inside this space there is also clean bathrooms (nicest in the city imo) and an exhibition hall.

• A library featuring DVD’s, media editing centers, reserve study sections, a floor dedicated to comics, and a residency hall for international comic artists. There are books in Basque, Spanish, various other languages.

• A movie theater featuring independent films, locally made cinema, and more popular films for families. Tickets are about $5.50 on Tuesdays.

• For an additional cost there is access to a really nice, low light, gym and a pool. People with disabilities are accommodated with their own specialized locker rooms. Gym classes are free with membership.

————

The old part of Bilbao is over 700 years old and is full of Basque punks. There is fierce support of Palestine with actions performed every week. The center of the old town is dominated by CNT: Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, more information can be found here (Sorry it’s Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederaci%C3%B3n_Nacional_del_Trabajo

CNT has been setting up “Free Sectors of Bilbao” and emancipating abandoned churches and buildings for use as housing for the homeless. I have seen these projects throughout the city, this org puts the work in and has been active for over 100 years.

I could go on but there is so much I want to blab about. Euskadi isn’t perfect, but it is an oasis in Western Europe.

AMA and I will try to answer what I can.

So my family is from the Basque Country and I used to live there on/off.

I’m going to be moving to the Basque Country permanently this summer because I’m trans and I can’t take it in this hellscape any longer (Also I just love the Basque Country)

Any Basque comrades here or people familiar with recent Basque/Spanish politics that can give me a comprehensive update on Spanish politics right now? I’ve been doing my own research but it’s hard to navigate Basque language.