Just came back from my holiday to Basque country, where I spent almost three weeks. I decided to take a break from politics (as far as possible in Basque country lol). To make this easier, my phone randomly decided to die a few days in, so I lost all connection to the world.
I wanted to use the holiday to find myself again. I was dealing with anxiety for the past two-three months, overly worrying about money and the future even though it may not have been needed to do so.
I did some hikes on the rocky beaches and through the mountains for a few days. I spent days on the beach relaxing and swimming. My gf gave me a book that, according to her, was meant to take me away from politics. She gave me ‘Fall of Giants’ by Ken Follett. For those who have not read it, it’s a book about the labour struggle in England, the (build up to) the first world war, fall of aristocracy and the Russian Revolution. It even features Lenin lmao. It’s mostly fiction, so she probably thought it would be nice for me to read fiction. I am enjoying the 1000 page book so far, so she was right.
While looking for balance in life, I had my great breakthrough on a rock. I was swimming at the beach when I suddenly felt the urge to swim past the cliff seperating the bay from the sea. There was nothing but cliffs behind it and I decided to go back when I suddenly saw a small rock protruding from the sea. I swam to it and climbed it, facing my back to the land. I saw nothing but ocean in front of me and I sat there for over an hour, staring into the distance. I saw water, incredible clouds, a far away thunderstorm and a boat in the distance, slowly passing by. I sat there thinking how this view will be the same in a hundred years and that I’ll be long gone by then. And so will be the people back at the beach, together with all our worries. It made me realize again how little time I have in this place and how much time I spent worrying about unimportant things. When the hour was gone, I felt like a weight was gone from inside my head and my shoulders, and I swam back to the beach.
I enjoyed my stay in Basque country. I tasted the local cuisine, spent some time at the beaches, the bars and in between the Basque people. I enjoyed the countless political flags and (communist) statements made everywhere. I enjoyed the easy and laid back way of living and I feel refreshed. I’m ready to continue the communist fight over here now, and I have a lot of things coming up.
And, importantly, I will start my new job at the Union next monday.
How is life going? Have I missed important things while I was gone?
Dear Comrade,
I am writing to you from my humble apartment in Moscow. Life here is not easy, but we have to endure it for the sake of our glorious Motherland. The government provides us with the basic necessities, but sometimes they are not enough. We have to queue for hours to get bread, milk, or meat. Sometimes there is nothing left when we reach the front of the line. We have to ration our food and clothing, and share everything with our neighbors.
We also have to work hard for the state. I am a factory worker, and I have to work 12 hours a day, six days a week. The conditions are harsh and dangerous, but we have no choice. We have to meet the quotas set by the Party, or else we will face punishment. Sometimes I wonder if there is a better way of living, but I dare not say it aloud. We have to be loyal to the Party and the Leader, who know what is best for us.
I hope you are well and happy in your country. I hear that things are different there, that you have more freedom and prosperity. But I also hear that you have many problems and enemies, that you are not united and strong like us. Maybe one day we will meet and see for ourselves how the other side lives. Until then, I wish you all the best.
Your friend, Ivan