First impressions about Lisbon

Olá da boa Lisboa! Hello from Lisbon!

I am already in Lisbon for two weeks, but never find the time to write, I am just too busy. Of course, that’s Erasmus Life!

Arrival:

I just wanted to tell you about my first impression about this new part of my life. At least, it is my first time in Portugal and therefore, also in Lisbon. But, luckily, it is not my first time that I spent a longer time abroad and that is why everything is already easier and less scary. Saturday the 3rd September, I left Germany with 23 kilogram of baggage and 7 kilogram hand luggage - yes, this is what you need for one semester abroad, especially if you get both major seasons – and started my journey to lovely Portugal. I landed at about two o’clock in the afternoon at the airport of Humberto Delgada in Lisbon and was welcomed with 30 degrees and sunshine. I took a Taxi - a lot too expensive, which I knew, but I couldn't do anything. So my tip for you, inform yourself and then talk about the price beforehand with the driver: 15 euro for a 10 minutes drive in Lisbon is definitely too much - to my new apartment, where I met the sister-in-law of my landlady. She gave me the keys and showed me the apartment, explaining everything important. She spoke very fast in Portuguese and just after some sentences asked me: “But, you do speak Portuguese, do you? ” and I answered her that I did, but not so fast and that understanding was a lot easier than talking. She was very kind, but after a few minutes already left me alone.

I live in a shared flat with four Portuguese people, two guys and two girls. As university still hadn’t begun, only one of them was at the flat, when I arrived. He was very kind and explained me where I could go for my grocery shopping, but then also left to visit his family. So, I was completely alone and in the first moment a bit startled, didn’t know what to do and really hadn’t expected that. I had been sure to meet someone, who would help me get along and start my life there, but of course hadn’t thought about that I could be alone.

The apartment:

So, I started packing out my stuff and sorting it into my room and private spaces. The apartment is nice and big. We have a kitchen with a small table, a gas herd and everyone has his own shelf for food. Furthermore, there is a living and eating room with couch and television. In this room, is also a little balcony, but it goes to the road and the northern side of the house. I share a bathroom with another girl, one has one for her own, and the guys share another one. My room is full of light, comfortable and has a bed, a small wardrobe, shelf, desk and everything I need. My landlady had already bought towels, pillow, covers and sheets for me, so that I wouldn’t have to go and buy it on my first day.

I still had to go grocery shopping. Already there, I discovered parts of the Portuguese culture: in the supermarket there were many shelves of coffee and at first I couldn’t find tea. Only after a long search, I found two different sorts. At least something. I found everything else and the Portuguese people are so kind and willing to help. Having returned home, I wanted to put everything in the fridge, but changed my mind and started cleaning it beforehand. I suppose that during the summer, the others have rarely or not at all been in the flat and forgot some vegetables in the fridge, which had started to rot. I cleaned everything and it also stayed clean afterwards. The only disadvantage of the apartment is the noise of the airplanes, which I can hear very loud in my room. Apparently, this is true for most of the city as the airport is so close. I will just have to get used to it.

My bathroom.

My room.

My room.

View from my room and balcony.

Kitchen.

View from the kitchen.

Living room.

View to the park.

First organisational stuff:

As I am already very experienced in starting my life abroad, I went directly on the first day to make my metro card, which is called Lisboa Viva Verde and can be ordered to arrive in ten days, where you have to pay five euro, or in some stations you can get the urgent one, which costs 12 Euro and will arrive the next day. That is what I did. Only filling in the form, was a bit complicated as they need a lot of information as tax number and social assurance number. I managed everything in Portuguese and was very proud of myself. I also got a SIM card of the NOS company. The tariff is one of the three options of the WTF card. I took the lowest one, which costs 8 euro something per month and gives you free use of social networks, 500MB internet on top as well as free SMS and 500 minutes of calling within the country. I also got a member of ESN – the international Erasmus Student Network, which is present in many cities around the world- and a few weeks later also the organisation Erasmus Life Lisboa – ELL, which is the regional organisation – which is the best way to get to know new people.

First days and making friends:

That, for example, was not a problem at all. The first night, I met with the Austrian girls that I had met on the plane. They were only there for one week of holidays, but it doesn’t matter, we had a good time. Directly the next day, I went on an Erasmus event, which was a trip to Belém, and got to know many nice people. We started meeting regularly, did a lot of things together and together suffered under the 40 degrees in the first week. Me, as a German, I am not used to that, but even the Spanish, Greeks and Moroccans were complaining. I even got a sunburn at the beach, even though I had put sun protection 50 on my skin. Now, it already cooled down and we have pleasant 25-35 degrees, which is a lot better.

I really like the city. Ok, there are only four lines of metro and you cannot get everywhere with it, but then you just take the train, bus – but with the busses I have the impression that they arrive like they want – or just walk. Lisbon is not so big and you can reach a lot of places of interest on foot. You just shouldn’t be in a hurry or start a lot earlier. To get to the city centre, I have to take the metro as I live further outside, but once there, I walk a lot. Lisbon is a beautiful city and offers a lot to see and do, but I will write more about that another time.

University:

From the beginning, I was very surprised and impressed about how much help we received from our hosting university. They sent e-mails about all the courses and living options and even asked several times, if everything was sorted out. Also at arrival, there were no complications and everyone was super friendly. No problems with the Learning Agreement, the Certificate of Attendance or our timetables. We can participate in the courses, whichever we want. It is not safe yet, but probably I will take three or four classes, which will be two times a week. The professors are friendly and have a nice way of teaching. They also pay a lot of attention to the Erasmus students and try to integrate them in the lessons. The university already started at the 8th of September, but I will also tell more about that in another post.

Until then: até logo! See you soon!

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