I just bonded with a gay Ukrainian bartender about how great we think the Basque country is, and not just because we both like Basque boys. In addition to being brutos and gastronomes and super proud of their culture, Basques are also known for being a little bit closed and incredibly loyal. (Loyal (leal) is one of the new Spanish words I've learned this trip.) I try not to pay too much attention to stereotypes, but I also believe they usually exist because a lot of people meet them. People are always saying that if you make a Basque friend, you've got a friend for life. Around here, it's often said in comparison with people from southern Spain, who are friendly and outgoing but, according to some, all fake. Someone told me that one of the ways Basques are different from Spanish people is that they maintain their own friendships even after they get married. It seems obvious to me that being a good friend is a necessary condition for being a decent person; I don't mean to give the Basques a ton of credit for doing what you're just supposed to do. But I do appreciate it. And I'd take closed but genuine over friendly and fake any day.
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