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To be able to study abroad is such an privilege, one I will be grateful for the rest of my life.

That being said, there is this sort of unspoken expectation to travel…all the time…every weekend.

Well, I might be a little dramatic, but sometimes it’s hard to separate what you would like to be doing versus what everyone else is doing in terms of “making the most of your study abroad”. I remember at the beginning of this all talking to a friend about avoiding being stuck in a state of comparison, and I feel that I have done my best, to prevent from falling into that state.

That being said, I traveled almost every weekend for the first two months of studying in Bilbao, and I have three main things to say on the matter. One: I feel I traveled more than enough and had some of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Two: I feel as if I could have traveled more and planned out which places I wanted to hit a little better. And three: to travel as much as much as we have takes a certain toll on your body that I have never experienced before. Scientifically, it’s not good for our bodies to be constantly on the go (I should know as someone who gets sick quite often from stress).

I’ve had the privilege of traveling to my dream city, Paris, London, Portugal, Malága, Madrid, and so many more cities around Spain. Halfway through November I noticed I was more tired than usual, more irritable, I knew my body needed a break.

Now, as we are nearing the end of our program, I decided to stay in the Basque country the past four weekends. Though I felt a little regret for not leaving the country as much as my peers, I realize that you can easily make the most of your study abroad experience by staying right where you are. For me, the past four weekends have helped engrain that sentiment. I’ve kept myself busy, visiting little cities around Bilbao, working on my drawings and having my first cat-cafe experience. I volunteered to paint a room for a deaf children’s facility and attended my first Athletic Club game. (So fun!)

It doesn’t matter where you study abroad, or how long you did, I’m sure we all feel a sense of “did I do enough?” The answer is always yes. If you feel happy, if you feel accomplished, then you did more than enough, even if you only traveled out of the country once or twelve times.

I’ve learned so much about gratitude over these three months in the beautiful Basque Country. Gratitude, and the art of being happy where you are, knowing the universe gives us people and places for a reason, right when we need them.

What a beautiful life.

Agur!

-GM ❤

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Living in a tiny apartment with five other people and constantly surrounded by noise and personality made me forget how much I enjoy being alone.

Recently, I decided to take a little day trip to one of the cities neighboring Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián. I had a weekend all to myself and wanted to make it back to the small beach town after hearing about a specific ocean-water therapy-based spa called La Perla.

So I booked a morning bus, made a reservation for 9:30 am, and I was off. Upon arrival I was greeted by gray clouds and lots of rain, not exactly ideal for a spa day, but we made do.

I had two hours at La Perla to enjoy the various pools and saunas. There was even a door leading out onto the beach, which due to the gray sky and frigid temperature I did not intend on taking advantage of. That was until I met Maite.

I was struggling to tighten my swimsuit top in the bathroom when an older Spanish woman came in and offered me help. I told her it was my first time at the facility and she got so excited, insisting she show me around and introduce me to her friends. Soon I was sitting in a sauna with a bunch of 80-year-old Spanish folk, talking chisme (gossip) with them. It’s amazing to see how much life is in the older generation. We shared jokes and little ice cubes you were supposed to rub on your legs in case you got too hot.

Eventually Maite convinced me to go out in the freezing cold ocean with her, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. We had the best time, laughing and screaming and jumping over the waves.

I spent the rest of the time enjoying the various sea-water pools, bubbles and jets, before seeing my time was up. Maite reminded me of a grandmother, insisting to help blow-dry my hair and walk me out. I will certainly remember that experience for the rest of my life.

After, I decided to explore old-town (I bought myself a pin that looked like a pintxo de tortilla, SO CUTE!) before climbing up Parque de Urgull and seeing the tall statue of Jesus “El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús”. It was so peaceful being on my own, getting to enjoy the rainy weather and lush greenery. There were various colorful flowers growing around memorial stones. It was perfect, not too hard of a hike, but once it got too cold and rainy I decided to cut my losses and head back down into town.

There, I treated myself to some patatas bravas and well-known San Sebastián cider. I brought my book and read for at least an hour while I enjoyed my snack, chatting with other customers and the staff (who didn’t end up charging me for my cider, so sweet!)

The rain started to let up by then, so I did some souvenir shopping for family and friends, getting to see the pretty architecture and cathedral throughout the small city.

Walking along Ramon Maria Lili Pasealekua, a street by the ocean, I hit every stand at the Christmas markets, treating myself to some churros and chocolate before visiting a nearby nativity scene in a little park.

Before getting on my bus home I ended the night walking along the beach, calling family members and accidentally stumbling in on a church service in the cathedral next to the bus station (same thing happened in London at St: Paul’s Cathedral, how fun!)

It was the perfect me-day, exactly what I needed. Though I do hope I can come back when it’s not too rainy next time!

Agur!

-GM ❤

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