French girl discovering Portugal

My name is Mathilde and I am currently a student at the University of Aveiro, in Portugal.

After having obtained my BAC (French Baccalaureate, a qualification equivalent to UK A-level's) in the South-West of France, I wanted to have a unique experience and left to study Languages and Business Relations in Aveiro, which is not far from Porto. Despite my Portuguese origins, I had a lot of trouble integrating at the start, but the Portuguese people are incredibly open and the teachers are very likeable and rigorous.

From my arrival, I noticed and felt the difference between being on holiday, compared to really living in a country. They live exactly like we do in France, and they don't eat lots of cod and the Portuguese women do not have moustaches.

Being far from my family was very hard for a while, and it still is, but strangely, you get attached to the country and feel like it's home. As soon as you have to leave, you get to experience what the Portuguese call "saudade" (longing/nostalgia).

The Portuguese love partying and beer, but they are also workaholics who like excellence. They are very peaceful people, so much so that it can become irritating for us French who are always in a hurry.

I recommend Portugal as a destination, it's the opposite to whatever you might think about it. It's actually a modern, very dynamic country which tries to give tourists information about its history and culture. It's a very different country to the rest of Europe, a country where you feel like part of a family and where you feel like young people are put first.

I also recommend Aveiro, it's a magnificent city. The "Little Venice of Portugal" is set against a river, where tourists can take a gondola ride, and by the sea, where surfers are bursting out from the waves. It's practical there because cars are useless, as bars, clubs, the shopping centre, the restaurants and the University are in walking distance and not too much effort to get to. Aveiro is a progressive city, a good place to live and not far from other big cities (like Porto, Viseu, Lisbon, Guarda, Braga... ).

There is a lot more I would like to say... but, for me, the adventure is going to soon end, because in September, I will leave to finish my degree in Spain.

Photo gallery