Today was our last day in Bilbao. I can’t believe how fast this trip has gone. We started off the day with our usual morning breakfast before heading off to the School of Engineering. Once we arrived, Professor Saoia led a captivating discussion on how citizens access the free, public healthcare in Bilbao. We talked about the differences in healthcare access in Bilbao compared to the United States. She showed us how easy it was to schedule doctor appointments and talked about how money is never a factor when it comes to accessing the best medical care. We shared with her how it is completely different in the United States. From the moment you walk into a hospital, to months after your visit, money is always at the forefront of the healthcare system. We then visited the robotic arm prosthetic club to learn about their developments in the world of prosthetics. They shared with us their process of designing and manufacturing the prosthetic and how they have worked with an amputee to improve their work. Then we visited the lab where another club builds electric guitars. We learned a lot about the process in which they design their guitars and got to try them out.
After lunch, we walked to the metro to Getxo to see the hanging bridge. Despite the rainy and windy weather, we were able to go up to the top of the bridge and walk across. It was a little nerve wracking since we could see through the wooden planks we were walking on, but the views were worth it. After the bridge, we stopped at a cute coffee shop for a midday pick me up before heading to our goodbye dinner. The dinner was delicious. I had a truffle burger and chocolate souffle. We then walked back to the bus and said goodbye to Professor Saioa and Mikel. It was extremely sad. On the bus back to Bilbao, we all sang some great songs to end the trip. I have enjoyed every second of this adventure to Spain. From meeting new people, to experiencing a new culture, I feel like I have truly had one of the best study abroad trips. Thank you to everyone that made this possible, it has been an experience of a lifetime.
