Today was our last full day in Bilbao. I’m so sad to leave but so grateful that I got to meet and become close with such a wonderful group of people. Everyone has made this experience so special and truly an experience I won’t forget. For our last day we had one final presentation in the morning at the School of Engineering regarding healthcare from a users perspective. It was really interesting to learn all the difference and similarities between the Basque Country healthcare system and the US’s healthcare system. I found it really engaging that we were able to see all the different appointments and checkups that are usually synced up with a pregnancy in the Basque Country because even though the steps are similar in the US the rate of who actually goes to these appointments is much different. Unless people have health insurance it can be a lot of money to go to these appointments so some tend to not go at all. Also a lot of people simply don’t trust the healthcare system and don’t think they will be able to help them. I really liked hearing this presentation and being able to ask my many, many questions. After this presentation we got to visit a club that is working on building a prosthetic arm. It was fascinating to be able to see the progress they have made and also talk to some current students. Next we saw a club that designed and hand makes electric guitars. It was interesting to be able to see all the different guitar prototypes they have made and how they have changed each one. I also liked watching our professor and our friend play the guitar for us.
After talking to both of the clubs we went over to the cafeteria for lunch where I got to have pork cheeks for the first time which was actually very good. This was definitely one of my favorite entrees. After lunch we took the metro over to see and go up the hanging bridge. While this was terrifying for me it was cool to be able to see the town from such a high point of view. I am lucky that I had my friends help me and cheer me on and we walked all the way across the bridge. I could not have done it without them. After the hanging bridge we decided to go to a cafe to get some snacks and coffee and just talk all together. This was really nice and I am going to miss times like these. After about 2 hours in the coffee shops and lots of pastries later we headed back to the metro to go to dinner. Once we got there we took the funicular to the beach. It was cold and windy but still very beautiful. We all sat down for dinner and shared appretizers and then ate our main meals. Everyone was talking and laughing. It was truly a great time. Next we got onto our bus saying goodbye to Saioa and Mikel. They have done so much for us on this trip and I am so grateful for them. Our bus ride home was filled with songs and singing. We sang many songs all together one last time. This was so sentimental and I will never forget it.
This experience has truly been wonderful for me. It has taught me so many different things, got me close with so many different people, and let me see amazing sights. I am so grateful to everyone who made this trip happen and be an experience I will never forget.
