u/Kem243

Hola! I’m moving to the País Vasco region and will be in Bilbao from Sept to Oct and I’m looking for Spanish schools that offer homestays accommodation options (living with a local family, daily immersion, meals, etc).

I start an English language assistant job just outside of Bilbao in November, so I’d really like to improve my Spanish before then. I’m around A1/A2 and mostly need speaking + everyday practice.

Despite the positive reviews on Google, I’ve seen a lot of forums with people saying Hemingway Institutoa is terrible? So I’m unsure about that one.

If anyone has recommendations or personal experiences with schools or homestay programmes in Bilbao (or nearby with easy transport), I’d really appreciate it.

Gracias ☺️

I just got placed in País Vasco and I’m trying to get a feel for the region and do some research. It wasn’t my first preference (I was hoping for somewhere warmer and with less rain 😭), so I’m keen to hear from people who’ve actually lived there.

Couple of things I’m wondering:
• What do Auxiliares actually get paid here? It seems like the cost of living is high but pay is still quite low? (I know pay is quite low generally for these kinds of roles, but I assumed that in regions where cost of living is high, the pay might be a little higher?)
• What’s the general vibe of the region - social life, lifestyle, people, weather etc
• I really want to immerse myself in Spanish but I’m worried that if I’m placed in a smaller town, they might speak more Euskera?
• Is there a big rugby scene here? I’ve done a bit of research and it seems like there is but I’ve struggled to find much info about actual clubs you can play for
• Anything else you think someone new should know

While I am curious about how much people get paid here, cost of living isn’t a huge stress for me as I’ve got a decent amount saved. But, I’d still like a realistic idea of what people earn/spend and what day‑to‑day life feels like.

If you’ve lived there as an aux, would love any advice or insights you can share!