At university, I encountered many things that were initially unfamiliar to me. Even the daily routine was very different. The earliest module didn't start until 9:30 a.m., which I found very pleasant. In fact, lectures usually started 15-20 minutes later. Often, the classroom was still locked and we waited for the professor to unlock it. After that, he would usually take his time to grab a coffee in the cafeteria, chat with colleagues and other students, and then come to the lecture relaxed. There, he would commonly briefly talk to us about how we were doing and about life in general before starting with the content. Some lectures didn't start until the evening and ended around 10:30 p.m. At first, this was very unusual for me, but I got used to it over time.

The language of instruction was exclusively Portuguese - one of the main reasons why I found the lectures very exhausting. I had to concentrate particularly hard just to understand individual words. At the same time, there was a constant babble of voices around me that my head was trying to understand. This unconscious translating made it almost impossible to block out the many different conversations and concentrate on my work.

Since many students went straight home after classes, there was hardly any classic student life as I was used to in Germany. The language barrier made it even more difficult to make new contacts. It was precisely this point that often made me feel like a stranger and not part of the university community.

Unfortunately, the pleasant weather that greeted me on the day of my arrival did not last long. The entire month of March and half of April were cold and rainy. At first, I thought I had been too naive when packing: south = warm, so I don't need any thick clothes. But in conversations with the Portuguese, I learned that this weather was unusual for this time of year. In the evenings, temperatures dropped to almost zero degrees, and during the day they rose to just above ten degrees. During this time, I was very glad that I had decided to bring a thick jacket and scarf with me after all.

Due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the rain here was also much heavier than I was used to. When it started to rain, it was so heavy that even an umbrella was not enough. In addition, there was a strong wind, so the only refuge was a shop or a house entrance.

Many of the older houses in Portugal are also poorly insulated and do not have heating. As a result, my apartment got really cold. My roommates and I sat in the kitchen wearing thick jackets while we ate. At that point, I considered myself lucky that my room was on the sunny side of the building, so I could at least warm up a little when the sun was shining. The other Erasmus students had the same problem. One evening, we went to a shopping center, searched the stores for small portable heaters, and finally found what we were looking for. At the same time, we were able to take advantage of the winter sales. From then on, life in our apartment became much more comfortable.

Often, when I entered a supermarket, an intense fishy smell immediately hit my nose. Most larger supermarkets have their own fish section, where huge pieces of dried fish are displayed, among other things - the source of this smell.

Vegetarian products such as salads or sandwiches, on the other hand, were rare or non-existent. They were also often more expensive than the meat and fish options.

Shopping usually took more time because I found it exciting to discover all the products that are not available in Germany. In some supermarket chains, such as Aldi, I occasionally came across familiar products, which made me feel a little bit at home.

Especially at the beginning, I sometimes bought the wrong items because I had translated them incorrectly or imagined the contents to be different.

It was also convenient that shops in Portugal are open on Sundays - a real advantage, especially when traveling. In general, shops are open longer in the evening but open later in the morning. Some smaller shops also close at lunchtime for a siesta.

Another difference to Germany: In Portugal, there are no traditional drugstores, and many cosmetic products are significantly more expensive. That's why I had some products brought over from Germany later on.

I found the new daily rhythm very relaxed and pleasant, even though it took me a little while to get used to it at first. Occasionally, I would go shopping around 6 p.m., hoping that the biggest rush would be over. But as soon as I was on my way, I noticed how busy the streets still were. Of course, the Portuguese had just finished work and wanted to go shopping afterwards. Accordingly, the supermarkets were anything but empty.

I experienced something similar in my shared apartment. Since the Portuguese start their day later and work longer hours in the evening, mealtimes are also shifted. I often had dinner before my roommates came home from work, and they ate when I was already getting ready for bed.

I also noticed how much people enjoy their lives and take time for things. At lunchtime, many people sit in cafés for long breaks, and even on weekdays, you can meet family and friends in restaurants and street cafés in the early evening. Meanwhile, children play boisterously in the alleys, parks, or market squares, and no one is bothered by their loud voices.

One thing that particularly shocked me in Portugal was how widespread bullfighting still is there. I myself have never been to such an event, as I definitely did not want to support it, let alone watch it. However, some other Erasmus students went, and one student from my university regularly attends bullfights. So I got an impression of it through photos and videos.

In a conversation with the student, she explained to me that bullfighting has a long tradition in Portugal and that some people would lose their jobs if it were banned. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to understand: the animals are under enormous stress and their horns are rounded, making it harder for them to defend themselves. They are also injured, for example by having their tails pulled or by barbed spears being thrust into their backs.

For me, this was a particularly intense experience of foreignness, during which I realized how different cultural traditions can be and how deeply rooted they are. At the same time, I found myself in an inner conflict. On the one hand, I wanted to respect the culture, but on the other hand, it contradicted my own moral convictions.