The morning was like every other: a plate of eggs and ham alongside some cornbread and conversations with peers about the days gone by. Saioa held one final educational presentation in which we compared the US to Spain, not just in terms of healthcare. The roads, the foods, and the expectations differed, but I couldn’t help but appreciate that there was still a lot that remained similar. Everyone loves to eat, hang out with friends, and idolize the hometown sports rivalries. Those are very human things, and I enjoyed observing them halfway across the planet. Afterward, we briefly went to see the electric guitar club in the engineering school. Each academic year, the team builds around 2-3 new guitars based on data gained from previous years. They were very proud of their work and even let students play the instruments the workshop housed. 

     Following a fun metro ride, we arrived at the Las Arenas area at the Bizkaia Bridge or the “Hanging Bridge”. It stood 50 meters above the Nervion River and transported traffic through a gondola from one shore of the river to the other. We took the elevator all the way up to the top and were able to look out onto the city from the top of the bridge. It was high! It would have traumatized people with a fear of heights, with the wooden board floors being wobbly and the river visible through the cracks. I loved it, though, and enjoyed taking scenic pictures from above. I felt like I was on top of the world (at least until we were ready to ride the elevator back down).

     As a great goodbye, we all had a team dinner on the beach, where I enjoyed pork cheeks and potatoes. We all laughed and knew we would remember this trip for the rest of our lives! Thank you, Bilbao and Pitt, for making these two weeks a special and unforgettable trip! Special shoutouts to Nora, Dr. Abramowitch, and Saioa.

H2P!!