Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to San Sebastian and Bilbao, two beautiful, sunny
northeastern coastal cities. Through an organization called Smart Insiders, a few friends and I hopped on one six hour bus and were transported to narrow, winding streets, sandy beaches, stunning mountain views, and endless pastel-colored apartments. It was so interesting to learn about Pais Vasco, the region where both cities are located,
and the deep history and culture that enshrine every street, monument, and the Basque language. The roads in both San Sebastian and Bilbao were alive and vibrant with families on Saturday afternoon walks, children playing in the parks, the smells of pastries wafting through the air, and the endless array of pintxos, or small plates of foods, in the windows of bars and restaurants.
Both cities captivated me, but Bilbao captured my heart. On a guided tour around the city, we learned about
Bilbao’s history of being an overwhelmingly gray and smokey mining city. Then, on August 26th, 1983, massive floods devastated the city and destroyed the infrastructure, with 1,500 million cubic meters of water levels reaching about 5 meters. The city of Bilbao was reconstructed entirely with the goal of adding more color and light to the city, effectively replacing the previous gray with a variety of colorful and bright buildings. The Plaza Barria, the central plaza in the city, was covered with pastel yellow brick and massive palm trees. Light and life pour through every crevice. Hues of pinks, reds, blues, and oranges are at every turn. Bilbao was the perfect reminder that even after devastation, beauty and regrowth are always possible.
Zevdah Drizin
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
Major: History; Spanish
Program: WIP Universidad Complutense de Madrid
One reason I chose my program is because of the incredible opportunity to take classes fully in Spanish at Unviersidad Complutense in Madrid. I want to learn all about Spanish culture and traditions and enhance my Spanish conversational skills.