Why Erasmus. Why in Portugal.

Why Erasmus. Why Portugal.

I don’t really remember what was the first thing which made me consider going for Erasmus. It was definitely a process. On one side there were positive opinions about the programme which I heard from many people who already took part in it, on the other side- was my brother who said that it was once in a lifetime opportunity and I should take it. I agreed with all of that. I thought it would be a great adventure and experience; something totally different from what I had chance to get to know so far. What was the most important for me - the possibility to live in another country for few months and I had already such a country in my mind – Portugal.

In 2008 my mother and I went there for holiday. We chose Portugal by accident. The decision about going on holidays was totally last minute so we could take only what travel agency offered us and as I remember there were only two options. Portugal wasn’t a very popular  holiday destination in Poland back then  so I don’t remember what made us choose this one. I remember ,though I was happy that it will be something different – many people were spending time in Italy, Spain, Greece – but only few could say they were in Portugal. I didn’t know anything about it, about its culture, language, people, etc.

We took a flight from Poznań to Faro but we didn’t stay there even for a moment. Bus took us to the north and the first stop was Lisbon. I remember it very well, we stopped near the Belem Tower. It was a warm and sunny day of September. I recall the feeling I had when I left the bus. The view of the Tag River, fresh air, the wind blowing from the river and the sun – it all made big impression on me - I took a deep breath and I knew it, I knew it from the very first second that I will love this place (never underestimate the power of woman’s intuition :). As it turned out in the future I was not wrong.

Next week, we travelled around north and middle Portugal visiting most important cities and places. Then, we went South to spend time lying on the beautiful beaches of Algarve.

After those two weeks I was amazed. I knew I have to come back there. I knew that if I ever go for Erasmus it will be only Portugal. I made it happen after two years.

I didn’t care that I my knowledge of the language was none, I didn’t care so much that my university doesn’t cooperate with University of Coimbra- the place I wanted so much to attend– instead I put Lisbon in a first place and Faro in the second in my application form. After that I didn’t care I wasn’t accepted to Lisbon because there were so many people who wanted to go there. I got to Faro – small city I knew nothing about. I didn’t care that at the University I couldn’t find one equivalent subject so I knew I will have to - when back in Poland - extend my studies for one more year, I didn’t care that from my University I was the only one going there in that semester… The most important was that I get the chance to spend, to live and study for 5 months in Portugal – the country I wanted to get to know better.

So as about my first visit in Portugal I can say that country enchanted me, made me curious about it - after second, longer visit when I get a opportunity to get to know it little better I can with full responsibility say that I fell in love in Portugal.

And about the Erasmus experience itself. After finishing studies at Algarve University I went for a little trip around Portugal and visited Coimbra again after two years. When I got there I was thinking about my first visit in this place and about those 2 years that have passed and about how I changed, what I have learnt…

Now, because its already more than two months since I left Portugal, I can say that those 6 months of living in another country, meeting whole bunch of amazing people and exploring places learnt me a lot more than two years of regular student life in Poland.

So if you have this opportunity, but still cannot decide if go or not to go – don’t think about it anymore - go for Erasmus :)

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