My work experience in Bilbao: a great way to learn Spanish

My name is Manuel MARATON, I am 19 years old in my first year of the BTS, Secretarial Course at Management Level in Jehan de Chelles college.

During my first year I have to carry out a work experience placement abroad. Following the advice of my Spanish teacher, who knows the area very well, and also on account of the positive comments from students who have previously been to the same place for my course, I decided to go to Bilbao.

And I certainly don’t regret it – Bilbao is a very warm and welcoming city, and there are lots of things to see and do, such as the famous Guggenheim Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. You can also do paragliding in the mountains, take the funicular railway up to Mount Arxtanda and witness the beautiful views across Bilbao.

Aside from Guadalupe and France, I have not travelled that much, so exploring Spain has been a new experience for me. Through the activities offered by Instituto Hemingway, I have been able to go to San Sebastian, Guernica, ascend the nearby mount Pagasarri, try local Basque Country delicacies and not pay for a thing. There are also beaches here, only 25 minutes away on the Metro.

Coming to Spain has been a great experience for me, something that I will definitely repeat in the near future!

Manuel MARATON