I'm practically bilingual, but since I left the Basque Country at six and a half I speak better Spanish. As you may already know, it's really difficult to trace the roots of the Basque language (which we call Euskera...) and language specialists don't agree about it. It is clear though that Basque does not come from Latin, like Galician, Catalan and Spanish. In schools in the Basque Country there are various options - a) only Spanish, b) only Basque, c) a mixture of both with more emphasis on Spanish, d) a mixture of both with more emphasis on Euskera. Indeed, my father specially was aware of me learning the language. He, however, did not know Euskera very well. The authorities have tried to standardise Euskera because for centuries it has been spoken differently in different parts of the region. Though I'm sure this was necessary to help the language survive, it also means that people from some small remote villages can hardly understand the Euskera used on the Basque TV (such as ETB - Euskal Telebista) or the Basque radio (like Radio Euskadi), or the one used for today's Basque children. Maru told me that something similar also happens in Galicia. I don't want to forget my Euskera although these days I don't live in the Basque Country. It's part of a culture I don't want to lose. However, I would not criticize other people in my situation who opt for not keeping it. It seems to me bilingualism should be an option, not an obligation that creates unnecessary tensions and conflicts.