Daily Routine & Reverse Culture Shock

There are several special people I see most days here in Bilbao.  There is a very nice man who turned on more lights for me when I was writing my first redacción.  Sometimes he is at the front desk, and other times I see him at breakfast.  I always wave or say hello, depending on when and where I see him.  I also say hello to Marissa every day between classes and in the dining hall.  When I caught a cold, she translated for me at the hospital and we had a nice conversation as we walked back to Colgio Mayor.  Then, of course, I have made friends who I see in my classes and in the dining hall.  We have mostly bonded over food, but we also had a great time at Santurtzi!  Finally, our Spanish 3 class is full of awesome, interesting people, especially you Carla!  Even though I had some issues with heat exhaustion, the trip to Vitoria was unforgettable.


The most important thing I would recommend to a new American student at Deusto is to be open to new experiences.  This is a good idea for anyone who goes to a different country because there are always new things to see and do.  Next, I recommend that students from America spend a little time exploring alone.  Going out in groups is best at night, but you can get to know the city better during the day if you take a map and walk around.  It is also very important to use Castellano whenever possible.  That is the main point of studying in Spain!  A study abroad program is a great time to find friends who like to travel, so making new friends is a must.  Finally, even though it can be difficult to be away from family and friends, new American students at Deusto really should try to limit the phone calls and skype sessions with people from home.  It's harder to really experience things if you only think about home.


I feel like my experience here has made me more prepared for student teaching next semester.  I know that I will be dealing with situations I cannot possibly anticipate, so I think that all of the unexpected things that happened here have helped me become more resourceful.  I don't know how everyone at home will have changed, but I think my boyfriend will be even more affectionate.  He was supposed to have a summer job in Alaska, but it didn't work out, so he hasn't had a very good summer.


I miss being able to eat whatever I want whenever I want, but I am not happy that it is more than 100 degrees in Nebraska.  It will be nice to have air conditioning again too.  I think the thing I will miss most after I leave is the beach.


During this trip, I have learned how to use the metro, the funicular, the tramvia, and a taxi.  If public transportation ever becomes as popular in the US as it is in Europe, I will definitely be prepared!