We started the day with breakfast before heading to a nearby restaurant for chocolate and churros. It definitely felt a little weird to have chocolate that early, but it was so good. After that, we went to a flea market and spent some time wandering around and shopping. There was jewelry, books, CDs, flowers, and all kinds of other things. There were so many people out and about, and the weather was warm and sunny. The flowers were especially pretty, and it was fun watching people pick them out.
After the flea market, we headed to the funicular. While we were waiting in line, we saw people performing traditional Basque dances, which were really fun to watch. There was a big crowd gathered, cheering them on. The funicular is basically the same as the Pittsburgh incline. Once we made it to the top, we had an amazing view of the whole city. It was fun trying to spot places we’ve already visited.
We then had a group discussion about everything we’ve learned so far on this trip. One of the biggest surprises for me has been how different the healthcare system is in Spain compared to the United States. It’s really interesting to see how much they value work-life balance. They take their holidays and don’t work extremely long shifts. In the United States, I feel like nurses often experience burnout quickly because they work long shifts for several days in a row. Another thing that has stood out to me is how important engineers are in the healthcare system. I had never really thought about it from their perspective, but I’m starting to appreciate everything they do. Healthcare systems don’t just rely on hospital staff—they also depend on engineers who help keep everything running smoothly. I know I still have so much to learn, and I’m really excited for the second half of this trip!
