This blog is made by Karlijn van Duivendijk. I'm making
this blog because I was in the exchange Uden-Sobreda 2012-2013.
We went to Sobreda in the begin of November 2012. The Dutch group was very excited and a little bit nervous because we didn't know how it was going to be and how our family would be.
The Portuguese Teachers picked us up at the airport of Lisbon and we went to the school to
meet the Portuguese students. It was a little bit weird to talk English because normally I never do that. But after a few minutes it became 'normal'.
When we arrived at the school we have drunk and eat some typical Portuguese food and after that we went with our exchange student to their house to meet the family. My exchange student was Salvador, a nice person!
For me it was nice to meet the family because they were so sweet to me. After the meeting, they have taken me to Almada, a mall. We have eaten there and I have shopped with the sister of Salvador, Teresa, and two friends of her. I really enjoyed it, I was feeling like I was home. After Almada we went to a bar where the whole exchange group would be. There was also an exchange group from Belgium, the brother of Salvador was having an exchange project with Belgium. It was a nice night, but the Portuguese and Dutch group weren't talking much with each other because everybody was a little bit shy.
The first day I had to get up at 7 o'clock. They were expecting us at school at half past eight. That day we made a boat-trip with the Portuguese students and teachers to see dolphins. Before we went on the boat, we eat something typical from Portugal, a little pie. It was delicious. After that we went to the boat, I was totally in love with Portugal because the beautiful nature and the great weather (sun!). We didn't see the dolphins because it was early in the morning, that was sad because I would love to see dolphins. The boat was called 'Pego do Altar' and is made in 1943. First the boat was used to transport Salt (the boat could handle many kilo's) and at this time it's used for cruises.
After the boat-trip we went to a beach to play games, we didn't play it because the whole Dutch group was taking photos of the beautiful place!
In the night we went to 'Costa In' at Costa da Caparica. 'Costa In' is a beach bar. It was a great night because the group started to talk more with each other.
The second day we went to Lisbon without the Portuguese students, because they had to follow their classes. In Lisbon we saw amazing things like the Belem Tower, the first plane that crossed the Atlantic ocean and Padrão dos Descobrimentos. We also saw a elevator that made is in 1898.
For me was the most interesting thing from Lisbon the monastery 'Mosteiro dos Jerónimos' in the district Belém. I think it's a beautiful building.
We saw a lot of things but we also eat (again) something typical Portuguese: 'Pastei de Belem', the whole Dutch group liked it, it was so delicious!
In Lisbon we saw a lot of poor people, they were looking so sad. I asked the teachers about them and they told me that many times it's just acting to get money..
It was a long day and when I came home my feet were hurting. But in the night we went to 'Costa In' again. It was a very cool night and every day it became nicer with the group.
The third day (Saturday) we had time to rest. So I was sleeping until 11 o'clock, I needed that because I was very tired.
At 2 o'clock they expected us at the beach Costa da Caparica for a surf lesson. I really liked it but it was so hard (too difficult for me haha). After the surf lesson we went home to shower and I had some time with the family. After a few hours we went again to Costa In (Costa da Caparica) because we would having dinner there with the group. After the dinner we had again a party in Costa in (the same bar) and the teacher were also there. It was a great day.
Sunday, family day. The parents of my exchange partner had the plan to go to a city, but the Belgium guy of the brother of Salvador was sick. So we stayed at home and slept for a long time. We also went to the house of their grandparents to having our lunch. I really liked the lunch. The grandparents of Salvador live in a farm with beautiful horses. I love horses so it was cool to see that.
In the night we eat at home. It was nice to be with the family. Because it was Sunday (family day) we didn't go to Costa In. But we met with the whole group in Almada, the mall. The plan was to go to the cinema in the mall. But when we were there, we didn't go because some people didn't want to go.
Monday, last day.
In the morning we went to a museum of a boat. 'Fragata D. Fernando II e Glória', the last sail-boat of Portugal. The museum isn't the real boat because the real boat burned. The boat transported chickens and pigs.
I didn't see the whole boat because I was feeling sick so I stayed next to the boat in the sun.
After the visit to the boat we went to the school to practise some songs, because we were going to a retirement to sing for the old people (volunteering).
It was nice to see how happy the people became of the songs we played. And it was cosy to sing with the group. Some people of the Portuguese people went with us to the retirement, but the most people had to go to their classes.
In the night we went to school, to having dinner with all the families. Every family made some food so there was enough for everybody. We sang with the group. After the dinner we went (AGAIN) to Costa In. It was a very nice night. We made a lot of photos and the whole group was happy.
Tuesday, the day of saying goodbye.
In the morning the Dutch people took their bags to the school and we had to make some work for Maths. After that we went outside to the bus. It was hard to say goodbye because the people were so nice and I was sure I was going to miss them. But I realized that I had a great time and we would see them again in Holland!
It was a great time and when I came home, I was already waiting for January 28 (the day that the Portuguese people would come to Holland).
