I'm here!
So it hit me when we finally spotted Spain outside the window of my flight from Dublin. Two of the few Irish passengers, who were seated next to me, oggled at the sights, forcing me to gaze out the window, basically until we taxied. The countryside was absolutely beautiful; very mountainous, especially because we flew along the western French coast and along the northeast porton of France. Bilbao is surrounded by beautiful, green mountains. Quite a site to see.
Their airport is an amazing design--so much more thoughtful and architecturally beautiful than so many American buildings. And it serves a purpose too! My classmate and fellow traveler, Danielle (who goes to Fordham and is in Bilbao for the year), and I met another girl waiting for baggage, someone else who's in the program here (it's called CIDE, run through Universidad de Deusto).
We met up with University representatives, who took us to our respective housing locations, and I spent the entire afternoon and evening getting acquainted with my Spanish family for the next four months. The mother, Feli, is an energetic, joyful, and generally excited middle-aged Spanish woman who loves hosting students and has done so for years. She and her husband, who was also very hospitable but whom I didn't see much of tonight, and she have two children, both who live out of the house already. They currently have a Spanish university student living with them as well: Jorge, who is a journalism major from a couple hours away from Bilbao. He and I had some interesting conversations, all in Spanish, and he was very patient at my stuterring and attempts to find the correct word, idiom, or conjugation, even though I found out later that he is fluent in English. They are all very intent on my speaking Spanish, regardless of my fear or apprehensions, as that's the only real way to learn it. I'm very happy for that.
I have a nice, cozy room, with everything I really need. The apartment itself is on the 10th floor, and is very spacious, with a few patios as well. It's nice to be sleeping in the city again, after my recent stint at home.
Well, we start evertyhing tomorrow: general orientation and a tour of Bilbao. We don't start classes till Monday morning, and we take our placement test on Thursday (pray that I do well in that and that my rust rubs off tomorrow, so I can show my knowledge and real ability).
This semester holds so much, and it's really all my decision from here on out. It's a wonderful feeling to imagine how I want to mold my European study experience. Bilbao is situated in an interesting place in Spain, and it's much different from the usual presumptions about Spanish culture. It shall be a different experience, and it's only just begun!
Expect more from me! Paz y amor--
AMDG,
Antonio
Their airport is an amazing design--so much more thoughtful and architecturally beautiful than so many American buildings. And it serves a purpose too! My classmate and fellow traveler, Danielle (who goes to Fordham and is in Bilbao for the year), and I met another girl waiting for baggage, someone else who's in the program here (it's called CIDE, run through Universidad de Deusto).
We met up with University representatives, who took us to our respective housing locations, and I spent the entire afternoon and evening getting acquainted with my Spanish family for the next four months. The mother, Feli, is an energetic, joyful, and generally excited middle-aged Spanish woman who loves hosting students and has done so for years. She and her husband, who was also very hospitable but whom I didn't see much of tonight, and she have two children, both who live out of the house already. They currently have a Spanish university student living with them as well: Jorge, who is a journalism major from a couple hours away from Bilbao. He and I had some interesting conversations, all in Spanish, and he was very patient at my stuterring and attempts to find the correct word, idiom, or conjugation, even though I found out later that he is fluent in English. They are all very intent on my speaking Spanish, regardless of my fear or apprehensions, as that's the only real way to learn it. I'm very happy for that.
I have a nice, cozy room, with everything I really need. The apartment itself is on the 10th floor, and is very spacious, with a few patios as well. It's nice to be sleeping in the city again, after my recent stint at home.
Well, we start evertyhing tomorrow: general orientation and a tour of Bilbao. We don't start classes till Monday morning, and we take our placement test on Thursday (pray that I do well in that and that my rust rubs off tomorrow, so I can show my knowledge and real ability).
This semester holds so much, and it's really all my decision from here on out. It's a wonderful feeling to imagine how I want to mold my European study experience. Bilbao is situated in an interesting place in Spain, and it's much different from the usual presumptions about Spanish culture. It shall be a different experience, and it's only just begun!
Expect more from me! Paz y amor--
AMDG,
Antonio
posted by Anthony Damelio at 4:36 PM
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