My erasmus story
0 likes218 views
The author shares their experience studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal through the Erasmus program. While Italy had always been their top choice, they were selected to go to Lisbon instead. Despite not speaking Portuguese or English well initially, they were able to make friends from different nationalities. Living in Lisbon for 9 months provided the opportunity to learn the language and culture while overcoming challenges like taking classes and giving presentations in a non-native language. The experience allowed the author to grow, learn about Portugal's architecture and landscapes, and they consider Lisbon their second home.
My erasmus story
- 1. My Erasmus Story Before to start my story, I wanna to show you a video, about the excellent of this beautiful city. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tIpGIakcS0 Why did I select Lisbon to do my Erasmus??? My answer is so difficult to explain in fact to be honest it was not my first select, it was my second, my preference, it was always Italy, because I always feel predilection about this. It was my weak point, I don´t know why maybe the mainly reasons are the cinema, history ( I love the “Imperium Roman”), their architecture, gastronomy, and of course,….monument, maybe you thought I have to said another comment. Particularly I applicate to Bologna, let me guess, what can I do there? In addition to the famous “Bologna Process” who is well know in Spain, I guess in Europe also. It is so easy, I´m a bit sick of the old building and I was heard about the famous towel and I wanted to studied in its famous university and discovered its library and I can discovered the secret which they keep. You reader, should be ask you, this guy has told me about Italy and he felt frustration about he may no be select in his dream, “oh contraire” my friend, you know that sometimes the destiny play its cards, - I guess it is the quote- Fate has been very kind to me go to the city of my love and dream Lisbon. I lived there during 9 months and it was the best experience ever in my live, in fact I desire to deepest come back at my house “Lisbon”, after my Erasmus´s experience there is house. So…Let go there is going my story. I remember it as if it were yesterday when I arrived to Lisbon. My first day was on 5 September of 2011, it was a warn day and guess it, I´m Spanish and I didn´t speak Portuguese and English
- 2. so the communication, was so hard during the beginning, so u can imagine how should be, if in addition I lived in a residence without Spanish people….Yes you are right. But after a week I could managed the situation and I can make friends, a lot friends who I consider part of my family, it isn´t important the nationality the most important are the character, the personality and actually we didn´t pay attention about that. Well I continue my story my communication, was so bad during the first days, I talk to the others with monosyllable and I remember that when I was in the supermarket I asked to the child the name of the vegetable in Portuguese for I can learn each other, - I asked in front of their parents-. And I still remember their laugh. While I´m writing this article There come to mind so many memories of my experience. However, I should also agree that the majorly of people think that the Portuguese language is so similar to Spanish and it is so easy to learn, the opposite my friend, it is so hard for us, in addition we sufferer learning a different languages, it is another way. –if you desire, we can take this conversation taking a coffee, if you desire while I explain more details-. Because the Spanish people speak “Portuñol”, it is a mixture between Spanish and Portuguese languages, I know it is difficult to explain…I remember an anecdote in fact there are a lot…in my first day I ate in a restaurant and when I finished my lunch, I said my congratulations to the chef the food is “esquisita” so the chef was so angry with me because I just to say him that he prepared a degusting food while in Spanish the meaning is the opposite like in English is delicious. So believe me take care with the “fake friends” another anecdote is in my first day when I had to introduce myself in Portuguese and when I said year in Portuguese is like you say butt in Spanish so I couldn´t scape a small smile. I can say that I´m a lucky person with the relationship with my partners because I have a good relationship with them, with the teachers also, they taught me such…. for example lost my fear to make a public presentation talking in front of 20-25 people, in a different language which it isn´t my mother tongue. So I’m so grateful for that, they taught me the real value, the most important things in the life. So if I´m someone, I´m for them. My stayed them, let me know a wonderful and hide country with an amazing architecture, viewer and hills also, I mean Lisbon isn´t flat as Seville so during the winter for coming at home I suffered up the little hill for arriving. It is curios that Spain and Portugal are neighbour and we don´t know each other, I mean Spain doesn´t appreciate the magnify beach and landscape. Portugal knows about us. The time is almost over and it was time to say goodbye to good friends who you share such experience, I think it the worst, you lost a little bit your perspective about that. During the times which you have been living, you live in a burble, This is not something alien for who living the experience…. for finishing it is a experience who you may to live, because it is the best ever in your live, learning languages, meeting new people, new culture, travelling…..so if you can live this experience, don´t doubt, JUST DO IT.
- 3. I don´t know if I could transmit and share my experience, I hope you enjoy.