Why did you decide to study abroad with ISA in Bilbao, Spain?
Lauren: I chose ISA as my hosting program because they helped with the visa, they had an office with 2 directors on site that was literally next door to the university. They offered health insurance, travel insurance, host family placement and really helped the students with their questions such as the best night clubs, extra curricular activities like photography and exercise programs. Geno and Nago were the best people to ask cultural questions too, they were really understanding and corrected all my Spanish papers and projects. They loved to go out to lunch with us too.
What made this study abroad experience in Bilbao with ISA unique and special?
Lauren: My experience was unique to me because I spent years preparing for it, trying to save money and pick the best city. I did a lot of research on where to travel, how to get there, time managed my trips. I also chose a host family, who happened to be the kindest people I met over there. The sister had a baby while I was there too, and so the whole family included me in the care of their newborn and we went to lunches and bars and the beach all the time. They helped me with my Spanish and taught me how to cook their traditional meals. They were so kind to me and told me if I ever come back to Spain, I can stay at their home again.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Lauren: I am going to be a Nurse, and being fluent in Spanish really helps me everyday with my patients. I also learned how to be independent because no one held my hand in Spain to show me how to get between the cities or how to get around in Bilbao. That is important for life in general, because you cannot rely on other people to make your dreams come true.
Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.
Lauren: A unique experience I had in San Sebastian was with a group of kids from my program when we were staying in the hotel. There was a piano bar downstairs and my friend started playing "Thousand Miles" and all of us girls knew the song, so naturally we all sang it super loud. The patrons of the bar loved it, and they tipped my friend, and asked us to sing it again. After the second round, one of the patrons was so excited he bought us all a round of drinks and wanted to talk with us about how we all knew that song. It was very cool that we sort of blended the two cultures together with a song and we all had a good night.
What did ISA do for you and what did you need to do on your own?
Lauren: The ISA program picked us up from the airport in Madrid and took us to Bilbao, and set us up with the housing. But after that I had to pay for the metro tickets to get from the host family's house to school, which did end up being rather expensive. They also set up trips for us that were pretty local, such as going to a winery in Rioja and San Sebastian, but we had to do all our own planning and booking for other trips. They also offered to set up the visa for us before we left the country. There was also that office literally next to the university that we could hang out in and plan our trips and eat lunch or talk with the directors. They had free wifi so it was really easy to book trips. There was also an extra trip, that cost money outside the program, that was all ISA students and directors and we went to Fes, the Sahara, and Meknes, in Morocco. Loved the trip, and it is really cool I can say I have ridden a camel in the Sahara.