My work experience in Bilbao: Spanish courses, shopping and excursions in Biscay

My name is Stephanie, I´m 18 years old and I´m currently studying in my first year of the “BTS AM”, a higher-level diploma to be an Assistant Manager, in the Jehan de Chelles Institute in France.

During this year, I have to undertake an obligatory internship in a company abroad for a period of 2 months – between the 4th April and the 4th June 2011. I chose to come to Bilbao with my classmates because I like Spanish and our Spanish teacher was already familiar with Bilbao and had already advised some former students to go to the city.

I didn´t have any prior knowledge of Bilbao but I had been to Barcelona on two previous occasions. In Bilbao, there are lots of parks, attractive places to walk along and the atmosphere in the city is pleasant and buzzing. It´s a big city with new buildings, industrial zones and an excellent transport system. The people are warm and welcoming and the climate is mild.

There are lots of shops, shopping centres and places to visit. With my friends, we wanted to go to San Sebastian, Guernica, Artxanda, up Mount Pagasarri for a hike in the mountains, try pintxos (Basque tapas)…and thanks to the activities that Instituto Hemingway offers its students, we have been able to do all these activities for free.

I think that the clothes shops in Bilbao are more or less the same as those in France, since you can find all the big names like Zara, H&M and Promod and the prices are also comparable. Whether you´re in France or Bilbao, you can still find small shops selling clothes at reasonable prices. I don´t think there´s much difference in price.

However, in France there are huge hypermarkets for doing your shopping in, such as Carrefour, Leclerc, Cora…whereas here in Bilbao there are only small “Express” shops, such as CarrefourExpress, Simply and Eroski, in which the prices are sometimes somewhat more expensive since they´re smaller shops catering for a smaller neighbourhood.

It´s true that the people in Bilbao and in Spain in general are more friendly and smiley than in France. The pace of life and the customs are completely different to those in France. I think that the Spanish way of life is very enjoyable indeed.