What inspired you to travel abroad?
I honestly don't know where the idea of me studying abroad stemmed from. I just knew I wanted to learn Spanish in Spain. The first time I went abroad was the summer after my freshman year of college and I thank that trip for increasing my interest in the international world too. I couldn't believe how different another culture was from mine. I felt that there was always something to learn and someone to meet.
Why did you choose Instituto Hemingway?
I had had a friend who went on an Instituto Hemingway program and I knew I wanted to do that. She had really good memories about her experience and now she is fluent in Spanish. I wanted to go to real Spain, and Bilbao is the perfect city for that - beaches, mountains and not overcrowded by foreign tourism.
Traveling around with my friends
What was your favorite part about Bilbao?
I really felt at home in Bilbao since the very beginning. Good customer services, good food, friendly, clean city, and organized. I LOVED being able to walk everywhere. It was a middle size, cute town so I never felt overwhelmed and I always had a good idea of where I was which is really good for someone like me who is directionally challenged.
Every corner held its own portion of beauty and there was a constant calming buzz from the people in the streets. The Spanish language literally sang in your ears everywhere you went too. It was absolutely beautiful. Spain will always be a special place for me.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I was incredibly blessed to have made some lifelong friends. I still keep in touch with all of them a year after the program. We also made some good friends who were locals in Bilbao. I talk to them every once and a while and it is fun to practice my Spanish with them and catch up with them too. My experience would not have been half the experience without them and I truly believe if you make the effort then you will make amazing friends too.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Jose and Alfredo organized weekend excursions, set up wine tastings, posted activities going on in town on the FB page and always had their door open if we ever wanted to talk. The orientation was really good too.
We had group meals every Friday so we could meet each other when we first arrived and they gave us a lot of helpful information in their welcome packet. Everything from what to do if you needed to go to the doctor to what the past student's favorite spot in town was in that packet. They were so kind and truly willing and happy to help you with anything you needed.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I ate more food. ...And I ate a lot when I was there. Perhaps also visiting more cities all around Spain. It is such an incredible country!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I would wake up, get a croissant and fruit from the market, go to school and have lunch at home or with friends. After classes, I would go for a run with a friend, eat dinner with the my roommate after we attempted to cook (we were both beginner cooks so it was pretty funny), and then I would do a little bit of homework or go out with friends. Some nights we got a drink with friends or we would stay home, get to know one other, talk about our hometowns, and eat a lot of food.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Going to the market, running in Museo Guggenheim surroundings, eating and drinking with friends, and walk the streets of Bilbao.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was in an apartment with another girl who was in Instituto Hemingway and we got along super well. It was the perfect amount of space - the downstairs had a couch, table, bathroom, and a small stove and fridge. There were two beds, two desks, and shelves for our clothes. The best part was our location - we were a 10 minute walk from downtown and a five minute walk from school, so everything was super convenient.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Get good walking shoes!!! Spend money on good ones, it is SO worth it!
Would you recommend Instituto Hemingway to others? Why?
YES! Instituto Hemingway blew my expectations out of the water. They held your hand through the entire process (pre-departure, during, and after your time abroad). Each person on their staff is SO nice and helpful and they made my experience truly worthwhile.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Traveling is wonderful in many ways. It captures us with a sense of wanderlust and has us longing for more destinations to visit, cultures to experience, food to eat, and people to meet. As amazing as traveling is, most of us think we need to wait until our later years to really explore a lot of the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I am WAY better at speaking Spanish. I know how to travel cheaply and how to plan a weekend trip. The friends I made there are still people I rely on when making big decisions.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye
