Erasmus Estágio... Warum?
Erasmus Placement Why?

Hallo! Well, I can say that participating on the Erasmus-placement program was one of my goals from my "TO DO LIST". Since my graduation I’ve always wanted to know another country, and this opportunity came during the Master course. What led me to proceed was mainly the need to know another culture, another language, gastronomy, another university. Erasmus was also the looking for new friendships, new environment, and the contact with people who, somehow, are different from those we found in Portugal, and was mostly for the personal experience and development.



Meine Erfahrung
My experience

I’ve started my adventure precisely on January 1st of 2013 (yes, right after the New Year). So I ventured with a combination of nostalgia, Christmas and New Year's Eve spirit and with some tears to the mix. But I LOVED the whole experience. And it couldn’t have a better beginning, right on the 1st day of the internship, I got lost on my way home! But I LOVED it, I got to know better that place while I walked almost 3km.

In the center of Stuttgart, I came across a beautiful, huge city, full of history and entertainment and ... full of snow! Despite the cold weather, even in the Winter there are many activities for everyone, especially the numerous indoor pools that recall reminiscent water parks with slides, saunas and outdoors pools at 37°C. This in addition to the ice rinks where you can practice some abilities and give some falls (speaks the voice of experience!). In Ban Cannstadtt, the city with the 2nd biggest train station after Stuttgart, every year takes place the Wasen (in May and October), a very well known popular fair and where the typical beer is served in giant mugs. I really regret that I don’t like beer! ... But I’ve tasted it. The bus, the sub-way (U-Bahn) and the train (Bahn) are all synchronized so that there is not much waiting time between them, and punctuality is something typical and highly valued in Germanic lands.

As for the gastronomy, of course that I’ve tasted the delicious rote würste (red sausages), the Bretzeln (heart-shaped bread) and several varieties of bread and traditional sweets (fruit pies). I also had the opportunity to visit Paris, the beautiful city of love, which I immensely loved. One of the features that I found the most is that the Germans say Hallo! when they pass by you, even without knowing you, and I can say that they surprised me positively. I think the majority of the Portuguese people think they are cold persons, but I found them very friendly, very polite, helpful and they know how to appreciate the good work done by others. Especially at the university where I interned, they have always helped me a lot and I can say I had a lot of support. As is often said: "Times change, wills change" and Germany is an increasingly multicultural country.

On a personal level, in Erasmus all of our skills are tried out and we learn how to deal with the unknown. I’ve learned to be more independent, organized, to make decisions by myself and decide what is the best or right thing to do. I learned to appreciate even more what I had in Portugal, my family and my friends, and I realized who really stays in our hearts and in whom we left a little of us. In few words, I can say it was a big step for a future, in whatever labor field, in whatever country it is, and with whoever it is. Erasmus is a mix of fun, nostalgia, work, barriers, difficulties and ... plenty of life.


Sagen Sie JA zu Erasmus Estágio!
Say YES to Erasmus!

YES! (no, it’s not for a marriage proposal, keep calm!). If you want to evolve yourself at every level, this is a great opportunity do to that. Take the risk, with opened eyes of course, but take that risk. It’s better to try than to regret of not having done it and think about how it could have been. Monetary issues may speak louder but it should be treated with as much value as the desire to go, everything can be overcome. I can say that the UP and FCUP helped me a lot and I greatly appreciate the effort and support shown. My family and friends support, strength and kind words were very important and I can say that I have inspired many people. And that’s the biggest, huge, enormous and proud reward that I can take from all of this adventure.

I hesitated, I spared, I chose to travel on trains, subways and buses having to get up before 6 am. But ... "everything is worth it when the soul is not small".

Common german expressions:

Hallo! Tschüss! (Goodbye) Sehr gut! (Very good/well) Entschuldigung (I’m sorry/Excuse me)