Bilbao, Spain
10 months in Bilbao, Spain
Meet Ashley!
I’m an international relations major with a Spanish minor. I love to learn about other cultures and explore new places, so Spanish has always interested me. I love being able to communicate with other people in a different language. I enjoy traveling, reading, dancing, spending time with friends, and more in my free time. I’m the social media manager of La Tertulia (GVSU Spanish Club), a study abroad mentor, and I work as well.
Program type: Partnership program/exchange through GVSU called “Spain: Universidad de Deusto Advanced Spanish Language Immersion—Bilbao—Year long”
Most time spent in: Bilbao, Spain
Length: 10 months
Semesters/Years: Fall 2022 - Winter 2023
Year at GVSU when studied abroad: Junior year
Background
I wanted to focus on improving my Spanish skills, and I’ve also always wanted to travel Europe, so this program worked out perfectly for me.
Example Day
A normal school day for me was waking up at 6am to get ready for school, go downstairs at my residence hall to have breakfast at 7am. I would take the tram to school, which was only 10 minutes. I would have classes throughout the day and would normally be done by 3-4pm. I would then walk home which was super fun to see and enjoy the city. Sometimes I would stop to pick up a few groceries and walk for longer through some parks. I would then study for a while, maybe go for a walk, plan trips, etc. I would have dinner downstairs from 8-9 with friends, then shower, relax, and go to bed. Some nights I would go to events with friends like karaoke night!
Reflection
It was mostly what I was expecting. There weren’t too many culture shocks and overall, I loved every day I was there. I wish I would have found more local stuff to be involved in too.
"I loved every day I was there."
Advice/Recommendations
I would always recommend to go as long as possible because it’s an amazing experience. That does mean you’ll have to put in a bit more work to stay longer but it’s definitely worth it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way, visa processes and more can be confusing.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help along the way"
If you have any questions about the program above or the experience of this page's author Ashley specifically, feel free to contact her using the following email: pattashl@mail.gvsu.edu
La Tertulia (GVSU Spanish Club)
This website is kept up by La Tertulia, the GVSU Spanish Club. This club gives students the opportunity to practice their Spanish and expand their knowledge about different countries where Spanish is spoken. Check out the La Tertulia Laker Link page for more details!
If you want to share your own experience studying abroad and be featured on this website to help future fellow students, fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/anqjj4d2tP5eQwWE9