Lima, Peru. The story “A Curious Observer,” by Monica Rojas Turpaud, was selected as one of the 19 winning stories by the Otxarkoaga “Story Contest without Borders," organized as part of the 39 Children’s Days of the Txirula Kulture Taldea Association in Otxarkoaga, Bilbao. The story that this young woman from Lima wrote will now be part of the book that will be presented next October. The first prize-winning story, “Koplaria,” also corresponds to another Basque linked to the Diaspora, Mari Joxe Azurtza Sorrondegi.
The author of “A Curious Oberver,” told EuskalKultura.eus that she is a member of the Lima Basque club through her husband’s relationship with the institution since he is a Basque descendant from Sestao, Bizkaia and has been a member for years. “We found out about the contest through the club, and my 13 year old son and I decided to write and present a story each,” she said.
From the initial contact through her husband she had delved into the Basque language and has become involved in the euskal etxea. “I have taken Basque and cooking classes; I am a member of the Basque dance group; I participate in the Aberri Eguna and Korrikas, and I have also had the opportunity to accompany my husband to World Congresses of Basque communities, she said.
Although her initial contact with Basque seemed to come from her husband, approaching Basque culture made her inquire: “I shook my family tree and a great-grandfather ‘Aguirre’ fell,” she recounts.
“A Curious Observer”
“A Curious Observer” will be available to read in October, the date that the book will be presented in Bilbao by the Txirula Kultura Taldea Association. In the meantime, the authored said that the story “recreates a coastal town, addresses issues of caring for the environment and harmonious coexistence among its inhabitants, with a touch of suspense developing a story that has a revealing ending.” Zorionak, Mónica (eta Mari Joxe)!
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