Eman ta zabal zazu , jalgi hadi !

It is still cold in Chicago, after the lowest winter temperatures of all times, Spring is still cold . However, the welcome extended by the University of Chicago to Mari Jose Olaziregi, who has travelled there on behalf of the Etxepare Basque Institute could not be warmer, in her own words. There he was received by Karlos Arregi, coordinator of the Koldo Mitxelena Chair and the readership, Amaia Gabantxo, the reader of Euskara and Basque Culture, and of course the present visiting professor at the Chair, Miren Azkarate.

Olaziregi, Institute director for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language had the opportunity to have several meetings yesterday, such as those held with Chris Kennedy, head of the Department of Linguistics, with the committee that manages the readership and chair, with the literature teacher Mario Santana or with Karlos Arregui . In these meetings they discussed in detail the arrangements for the coming years , the potential visiting teachers, technical requirements and other issues.

It is still cold in Chicago, after the lowest winter temperatures of all times, Spring is still cold . However, the welcome extended by the University of Chicago to Mari Jose Olaziregi, who has travelled there on behalf of the Etxepare Basque Institute could not be warmer, in her own words. There he was received by Karlos Arregi, coordinator of the Koldo Mitxelena Chair and the readership, Amaia Gabantxo, the reader of Euskara and Basque Culture, and of course the present visiting professor at the Chair, Miren Azkarate.

Olaziregi, Institute director for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Basque Language had the opportunity to have several meetings yesterday, such as those held with Chris Kennedy, head of the Department of Linguistics, with the committee that manages the readership and chair, with the literature teacher Mario Santana or with Karlos Arregui . In these meetings they discussed in detail the arrangements for the coming years , the potential visiting teachers, technical requirements and other issues.

Miren Azkarate’s first appointment with their students was in the afternoon. The teacher appeared very pleased with a 18-page syllabus and diverse digitized material to start the 30 class hours she will offer within the Chair program. Mari Jose Olaziregi thanked the students for their interest in the program, Karlos and Alicia for their work, and, of course, Miren Azkarate for having accepted the invitation of the Institute and for her academic generosity. So the beginning of this year’s program, that will run in Chicago until the first week of June, was excellent.

Today Mari Jose Olaziregi has travelled to the University of Iowa, where she will give a lecture and begin negotiations for the opening of a new readership . The Institute really appreciates the interest towards the Basque Language and Culture Lectureships in these outstanding universities. By chance, as we learned yesterday, the rector of the University of the Basque Country is also visiting Chicago this week.Eman ta zabal zazu, jalgi hadi !