Recuerdos de Bilbao

My last day in Bilbao, Spain is today. I am sitting here in the room I have occupied since I arrived to Bilbao on September 1st, taking a break from packing up my bag. It seems that Bilbao is sad that my friends from ISA and I are leaving because today, of all days, it is raining and storming. According to our house moms Bilbao isn't usually as sunny and happy as it has been this entire fall. I am so blessed to have been able to come and study abroad, practice Spanish, learn a different culture and make new friends.

The first day you arrive in a different country or a new place you are always full of anticipation, wonder, curiosity and adventure. You don't know what this place has in store for you and you are so excited to begin a new time in life. What my friends and I discovered is that Bilbao is not the stereotypical Spanish city, where the people are open and friendly. Bilbao is Basque. If any of you has ever heard of ETA, they are a basque terrorist group fighting for the separation of all the basque areas from France and Spain in order to create their own country. While I have been here, ETA has said that they are no longer in action, but then again, they have said that in the past so who knows if they are done or not. Anyways, the majority of the people in Bilbao believe that they are not Spanish, they are basque and it shows. The basque people are very closed off and not friendly so my friends and I have pretty much failed at getting to know locals our own age because they like to keep to themselves and do not care for foreigners. Which, in turn, made my group of American friends grow closer together and form a tighter knit group. I am so thankful to have had such great friends while I have been over here, otherwise I might have gone crazy. We have all grown and changed and now it is time to go back home.

This trip has given me a greater appreciation for the culture in the United States and the ease at which we go about our daily lives. I have realized that I could never love another country as much as I love the US. I also have a greater interest in things that previously I thought were boring, but are important: such as economics, politics and current events. I have truthfully enjoyed the time I have spent in Bilbao and the rest of Spain and the things I have learned, but I am ready to be back home where I belong.

Now, enough with the heavy. I have found some pictures of Herman hiding that I haven't put up yet. All the pictures are from various places around Bilbao. He is in every picture so have fun looking!

Over and out.