The opportunities offered by international exchange programmes bring many challenges, experiences and memories. Erasmus+ students create and develop new connections in many parts of the world, but there are people who do not take this opportunity during their studies. After spending a year at the Portuguese Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores Gabrielė Šipailaitė, a student in the Office Administration studies programme, shares her impressions of the Institute, Portugal and plans to return there again.

Why did you decide to participate in the Erasmus+ exchange programme? Why did you choose Portugal?

When I was still at school, I thought about how interesting it would be to study abroad. My first Erasmus+ experience was Youth Exchanges in Croatia, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the programme. I loved it, so I have decided to sign up for two more Youth Exchanges programmes. That’s how I realised I’d like to participate in the Erasmus+ programme during my studies. During my second year at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, I took the opportunity to participate in an international exchange programme and study abroad. I chose Portugal because I knew what to expect, and the Southern European countries and their warmth, exoticism, culture and people fascinated me the most. I also met a Portuguese team during my previous international projects, from which one of the boys encouraged me to go there to study. At first, I was sceptical about it because of my bad English knowledge at the time, but when I got over my fears and realised there was no time to waste, I decided to apply for the Erasmus+ programme for one semester.

What did your studies look like?

I studied in Fafe, at the Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores. The teachers were brilliant and always helpful. The studies took place mainly in Portuguese because there were too few Erasmus+ students for teachers to give separate lectures in English. Some teachers did not speak English well, but they gave individual assignments or assigned us to a group where local students spoke English well. I think it made studies even more interesting. 

Did you travel alone?

At first, I planned to go with a friend from my study group, but he changed his mind, so I went alone. No Lithuanians were in the town where I lived, so I felt lonely at first, but it wasn’t hard to find friends because both local people and students were incredibly kind there, so as I made new friends, I kind of fell in love with the town of Fafe.

Did you have the opportunity to travel?

I travelled a lot and visited a significant part of Portugal, I was in the Algarve region, Lisbon, Coimbra, Sintra, Aveiro, Porto and many other cities. I also went to other countries: Spain, where I travelled a few times in the spring semester, and Italy.

How did you spend your free time?

I usually spent my free time with my friends: we would go to cafes during the day and to the bars in the evenings we would also organise gatherings in parks where we would grill food and play various games. We travelled a lot as well my friends and I used to go to the lake and to the sea, where I would go surfing.

Why did you decide to extend your participation in Erasmus+?

I decided to extend my studies because the time spent in the last months of the spring semester was wonderful, and I met a friend who had a slight impact on the extension of the Erasmus+ programme. I also saw a lot of new places, made new friends and decided I wanted to stay here for another semester.

Do you plan to go to Erasmus+ again?

Yes, I do because I have noticed a lack of involvement of local students at the university in the town of Fafe, so when Erasmus+ students arrive, they usually remain alone, without an international buddy. I feel obliged and keen to increase internationality there and perhaps make a difference. I plan on going to the same town for post-graduate training at the Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores International Studies Unit.

We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Erasmus+, gain unique international experience and expand your social circle. For more information on the possibilities for international exchanges, see here.