Natalia Blanco in Bilbao, Spain
Program: Universidad de Deusto (CIDE)
Term: Spring 2026
Major: Psychology
Minor: Legal Studies
As a Puerto Rican, my identity played a HUGE role in my time abroad. Speaking Spanish and learning the differences between Puerto Rican and Spain Spanish was really interesting. I was able to broaden my view of what being Latina means, and it made me beam with pride to see how Puerto Rican culture has reached the entire world through its music and pop culture!
Be yourself, authentically and purposely. I found it wonderful to share my culture with others, especially the Spanish people I met! They are super open to learning about your experiences and how they compare to their own.
I chose to study abroad because it was an incredible opportunity I just knew I had to take advantage of. I always knew I wanted to live abroad at some point in my life, and travel is an amazing way to jumpstart your personal growth journey + learn more about the world through an educated, widened lens. I wanted to immerse myself into a new culture, meet new people, and leave my mark somewhere that I had never been to before. I knew I wanted to study in a smaller city and I really wanted to study somewhere where Spanish was the main language (I am Puerto Rican, fluent in Spanish, + my dad’s side of the family are from Northern Spain. So Bilbao was just about perfect for me 🙂 ). I chose the Deusto CIDE program because Bilbao is the perfect blend between big city and small town vibes, the Spanish immersion is top tier, and Basque culture is absolutely enthralling!
I was quite surprised to see that most shops and restaurants close for hours in the afternoon because it’s lunch time! I am so accustomed to 30 minute lunch breaks in the US that seeing Spanish people go out for drinks, have long meals, and hang out with their friends during the work day was a real shock. It was an absolute pleasure to immerse myself in their lifestyle — Spanish people manage to find a perfect balance between being hard-working and prioritizing human connection through fun!
One of my favorite memories while abroad was Carnaval weekend in Bilbao. Everyone dresses up and prances around the city, dancing and singing with each other. I dressed up as a ladybug whilst my best friend in the CIDE program was a hippie, and we went out with some others to Plaza Nueva in Casco Viejo (the best place for pintxos and drinks!). There was a huge stage set up where Basque bands came up to sing, drag queens performed, and games were played. My friend and I ended up dancing with a community of older, queer Bilbao residents and it was the most fun we’ve ever had. They had a huge van bumping reggaeton and Lady Gaga while pintxos and drinks were passed around. It is a memory I cherish deeply because I loved being “adopted”, so to speak, by such an amazing little community in the city! To this day, our friends we met that day message us and ask us how we are. It was a truly amazing weekend full of fun, dancing, and silliness — during Carnaval, there are parades and rides, and at the end, there is a tradition where they burn down a huge sardine while everyone watches.
I loved the classes I took so much, specifically my Spanish gender topics and literature courses. My professor was incredible, I developed a deep bond with her and will cherish all I learned from her for the rest of my life. I learned so much about Spanish culture and media through my courses, and it was the best way to immerse myself into their culture. I loved how Deusto prioritizes student experiences and most classes are discussion based. Moreover, Deusto local students are super kind and I loved running into them while I was out and about. Also, there are a plethora of extracurricular activities you can look into that can broaden your worldview and give you something fun to do after class! I took a Basque dance class through Deusto and although I was truly horrible at it at first, I was able to pop some Basque moves in the club at the end of the semester with my new Spanish friends. In terms of the program, I enjoyed our cultural trips to places around the Basque Country. My favorite trip was the one we took as a program to Madrid — it was super fun and we got to see some amazing historical places.
I lived in an apartment, meaning I had my own room but shared a kitchen and bathroom with other Bilbao residents. I would choose an apartment over and over again if I had the chance to re-do this experience. I was able to have friends over, have a space where I could wind down, and experience independent living. I am a very independent person — I like cooking for myself (as I am a little picky…) and making my own decisions! Given that I am fluent in Spanish, I saw living with a host family as less convenient since language immersion is the most important part of that housing situation (many of my friends lived with host families and LOVED them because they were able to improve their Spanish). 🙂
The main struggle I faced was getting homesick and missing my family at times. However, building a tight-knit circle of close friends through the CIDE program made this a lot easier. We were like each others’ family those few months, and I am beyond grateful for the connections I was able to make. I also developed a Facetime schedule with my mom and sister, which was hard at first due to time zone changes, but we got used to it! I tried my best to call them everyday. Moreover, I got pretty sick twice during the semester, but the program director helped me SO much when it came to making my doctors’ appointments, getting my health insurance refunds, and getting better as soon as possible. For someone who gets sick pretty often, it was really comforting to know that I had a whole team of people behind me ready to support me and help me figure out healthcare in a foreign country. 🙂
Don’t be afraid to talk to local students and become friends with people from Bilbao. It was the best thing I did, and having Spanish people to hang out with and genuinely get to know is an amazing way to immerse yourself (although it makes saying goodbye a whole lot harder..). It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and only hang out with other people in your program, mostly talking in English, but I advise you to branch out. You’re only going to be there for a few months, throw embarrassment out the window and put yourself out there! Have fun and make the most of this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’ll have lots of adventurous stories to tell when you get back.