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Un Semestre en España

a travel blog by Laura Hanson


I am studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain from January to May 2010!!

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Athletic Club

Bilbao, Spain


So this weekend has been so much fun! On Thursday night we made it out to one of our favorite clubs for the usual Thursday night Erasmus party. It was 80s night or something of the sort, so it was fun listening to Michael Jackson and the usual 80s hits all night. On Friday morning, Summer and I met up with Geno and Ellen and went to the San Mames futbol stadium where the professional team plays. We got a tour of the stadium and saw the lounge where the president of the club sits, the locker room, stood on the Field, and sat on the bench where the team sits during the games! It was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me, and I hear that Bilbao has some of the best fans so I can't wait to see a game! On Saturday, Summer and I finally got out of the House and downtown, only to find out that like every other week, it was a day of fiesta and all of the shops were closed. We had fun though walking around town, sitting out side the museum talking, and grabbing beers and wine at a cute, little bar next to the river. That night, we went out with Camille and some other kids in our program, which was fun. Since it's the end of the semester, school work is really piling up, but hopefully there's enough time to continue enjoying the city and people during these last couple of weeks!

permalink written by  Laura Hanson on April 30, 2010 from Bilbao, Spain
from the travel blog: Un Semestre en España
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Ultimo Fin de Semana

Bilbao, Spain


So it's the last weekend in Spain, and the weather here seems to be reflecting exactly what we're all feeling here...sunny and warm at moments, and then suddenly, freezing and rainy. This past week and weekend have been amazingly fun, but still veiled with the sadness that we will never be able to do this again.

The festivities began on Wednesday with Cinco de Mayo. Summer and I headed over to our ISA friend Arielle's dorm for authentic Mexican food and beers before we headed to the Athletic Club soccer game. It was rainy and cold, but we had great seats and I really enjoyed the ambiance and clear love for the game that these Basque people had. A highlight of the game was at halftime where we looked around and EVERYONE had packed a bocadillo (sandwich) to eat for dinner...it was almost comical as the stadium was filled with the sound of ripping aluminum foil and plastic bocadillo bags rolled across the field in the wind like a tumbleweed. On Thursday, Summer and I headed out for the night early and headed out to one of our usual clubs for the weekly Erasmus Party. Since it is our last weekend out, the club was packed, and it was fun spending time with many of our friends. On Friday, we spent the day relaxing and unsuccessfully tried to do homework. We met up with two of Summer's friends from Texas that night and headed to a pub crawl in Casco Viejo. Something I love about Bilbao, is how it is a big city, but you still run into people you know everywhere you go...on the metro, in a random side street, in a bar or restaurant. always. It makes living there so much more comfortable knowing that wherever you go, you'll see someone you know. The pub crawl was a lot of fun and packed with people inside and outside of each bar. On Saturday was our very last weekend night out and Summer and I wanted to see everyone that night. It was amazing how many people came out and it was a sight to see with 50 or 60 Americans all out roaming around. We finally made it home and in bed by about 7:30am this morning, marking a successful last night.

In the last couple days, people have become much more sentimental and reflective about their last couple of months abroad, and it has lead to many long talks and revelations between us. To me, there really is no greater experience than being able to spend time in another country, being a part of their culture, and meeting new people along the way. Being here has changed me in a way inexplicable to people who have never studied abroad before. There is just something about the culture here that is so warm. Here, life isn't about looking to the future or being obsessed with getting ahead in your job or life; it's about enjoying the little things everyday, eating dinner with your family, and spending time with your friends. Why are there so many benches here? Because people take time to sit and talk and enjoy their surroundings. Why is there a siesta during the middle of the day? Because being at home with family is more important than making a little extra money. Honestly I really have never been in a place so accepting and non-judgmental than here. People don't care what you wear (thus the blue hair, piercings, and crazy clothes), what you do, or what you believe...all they care about is being happy and doing whatever it is that makes them happy, and that truly is something to live by. Sure, I came to Spain to learn Spanish, but I will leave Spain with some of the most important keys to life: a greater confidence, independence, acceptance, and tolerance...you can't ask for much more than that.



permalink written by  Laura Hanson on May 9, 2010 from Bilbao, Spain
from the travel blog: Un Semestre en España
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