Why Burgos?

Written By: Kaitlin LaRue

 Major: Global & International Studies | Spanish

 Location: Burgos, Spain

Out of all the places to study abroad, why Burgos? 

I’m asked this question quite a lot once I introduce myself as a student studying abroad. To be honest, I initially chose this program because it was the only Spanish language intensive WMU program available in Europe, specifically Spain. However, now I wouldn’t want it any other way. It has always been my dream to visit Spain one day! I knew there was something special about it. As I’ve been living in Burgos for a little over a month, I can say I love this place. Here’s why: 

• Burgos is a tranquil yet lively city with lots of culture and history. During our free time and with guided field trips coordinated by the school I’m attending here, Universidad de Burgos, we’ve explored Castillo de Burgos (Burgos Castle), Museo de Burgos (Burgos Museum), Catedral de Burgos (Burgos Cathedral), and more, and we’ve gotten to know Burgos even more. In addition, our class had the opportunity to walk part of the infamous Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Burgos is one of the major cities along the most popular routes of the Camino de Santiago which is called the Camino Frances, or the French Way.  In 2018, over 320,000 people have faced and completed this enduring journey, and about 57% of the 320,000+ pilgrims have walked the French Way (Gailwonders, 2018). Before coming into this program, I knew nothing about this so it was a very neat experience for me. While it was physically challenging to walk 25km+, up and down rocky and steep hills, it was a nice time to self-reflect and be in nature. 

• Since Burgos is a small city, everyone speaks Spanish all the time. While at times it is difficult to communicate with the locals, it has helped my Spanish skills a lot! Burgos isn’t your typical study abroad city in Spain like Madrid or Barcelona but in these big cities, more people can speak English so it’s easy to fall back on English rather than practicing Spanish. So even though I’ve made plenty of mistakes, I’ve learned and grown in my skills.

• Not only am I learning more Spanish when I’m out exploring the city, but I’m also solidifying my skills in our Spanish classes at Universidad de Burgos (UBU). We take a wide variety of fun and interesting classes like grammar and conversation, cooking, dancing, and history and culture including monasteries, castles, and more! Outside of the classroom, they set up field trips (see #1) for us to get to know Burgos more. In addition, since UBU is part of the Erasmus+ program, I’ve been able to meet students from all over Europe and the world through coordinated activities from the Burgos Erasmus Chapter. For those who don’t know what Erasmus+ is, it is a European Union (EU) program funded to support the education, training, youth, and sport in Europe for many individuals and organizations around the world. 

• Another thing I love about Burgos is that the locals are friendly. People say “hola” or smile when passing by. At stores and restaurants, before I leave, the cashiers, bartenders, and waiters almost always say, “hasta luego” (until later or see you later). 

• Getting around Burgos is super fun because it is a very bike and walk-friendly place. The bus is the main mode of public transportation here but it is easy to follow and is pretty punctual. I use it basically every day! Furthermore, I’m lucky enough to be able to use my host family’s bike so I usually go to El Centro (the Center) by bike and that only takes 15 minutes. I live pretty close to the school so it only takes 20 minutes for me to walk there.

• Lastly, the way to live in a foreign country as closest to a true local as you can get is by living with a host family, and I’m lucky enough to be doing so. This is not only a great way to enhance my Spanish skills, but for me to be part of the culture of Spain such as eating the typical foods, which are amazing (check out my previous blog, “Connections Through Food” to see some of the delicious dishes I’ve tried), taking siestas (naps), and building close relationships with a Spanish family. My host mother and I have a great relationship. We have bonded mostly over mealtimes with fun conversations and good laughs. 

As I’ve immersed myself in the lifestyle and culture of Burgos and met some great locals, the city has a special place in my heart. So it’s not one of the well-known cities like Madrid or Barcelona, but why not Burgos? 

Categories: Burgos, Spain, Spanish, Global & International Studies, Choosing your location, Spanish Immersion, Host family, Culture