Our teachers Lurdes and Fernanada and have done their best to make a varied program. Unfortunately it was too slippery for the donkeys to carry us around, so we only could cuddle them. And we had some minor setbacks: Helen got sick and had to stay in the hotel for 24 hours. Pleun's wallet got stolen, and the visit of the phanton of every exchange mr. A (alcohol) caused some problems.
Once we got back at school we could overview this exchange and make some comparisons with other exchanges. These young students did their best to make the exchange to a succes socially. They liked being together even in the smallest hours of the day. They behaved as we hoped they would in the families. They succeded in volunteering for the 'Make a Wish' foundation by selling paper stars, and making collorfull paintings (they collected over 350 euros), and they made a start by writing their reports.
We want to present tree of them on this blog for the moment: Fianne, Pleun en Rene.
Fianne Willems Diary, girl
Saturday, 10 December 2011, Day 1 Arriving day
Today we went to Portugal. We arrived around 3 o’clock in Portuguese time. When we went with the bus to the school, the exchange partners were waiting for us. Everybody was very exciting and scary, because had never seen before their partners. Everybody went with their partner to their home. I met her family and then I put all my clothes from my bag in the closet. I had some time for myself. Later that evening we went to a Portuguese restaurant, around 8 o’clock. We eat with the whole group. After we went to a bar called, Knock Out Club. It was a bar with a band. My partner, Emelie, and I went home at 1 o’clock. When we were home, we slept until 11 o’clock in the morning.
When I first saw my partner, I didn’t know what to think. But she and her family were very kind. I didn’t like the food in the restaurant. I had only eaten some French fries. In the bar I had fun, but I didn’t like the music and there were only (apart from our group) old people. I was very tired, so I liked it when I was finally in my bed where I could sleep.
Sunday, 11 December 2011, Day 2 Family day
Today I could sleep for a long time, until 11 o’clock. Than Emelie woke me up, because I had to see more of Portugal. We went to the restaurant of her dad, there we had breakfast. I gave my presents for them. Then we went to ‘ Cristo-Rei’. There was a very nice view. Next the family brought Emelie and me to Lisbon, where we meet a part of the group. We had eaten McDonalds. Later Emelie wanted to go play tennis with João, Eric, Pedro, Puck, Bruno, Kirsten, Catherina and Suusje. So we went back to her house to change clothes and then we went to the tennis complex. I eat there something and we played tennis. At I think 7 o’clock we went back to the house of Emelies sister (the place we sleep). We changed clothes and we went to the house of Emelies parents for the dinner. That evening we didn’t go out, because Emelie the parents of Emelie were server. So we went to bed around 10 – 11 o’clock.
I really liked the view when we were at Cristo-Rei. The Mac was also good, but I didn’t eat there, because I wasn’t hungry. I think I liked it more when we had stayed in Lisbon, because I really wanted to shop. But the tennis was also nice. The dinner was very cozy with her family. We talked a lot and I really liked it. I didn’t mind that we didn’t go out, because Toon and his partner also didn’t go out.
Monday, 12 December 2011, Day 3 Palace day
Today we went to a palace, we had an assignment there. Nobody did the assignment. But it was a nice place. There were a lot of caves. We also went in the village near the palace, we drank there something and it was cozy. Later that day we went to the most west point of Europe. There was a very nice view over the sea. Later we went home and we changed clothes and went to the house of Emelies parents for dinner. After we went to ‘Ak Bar’ around half past nine. It was a Arabic bar with water pipe. After that we went home. We went home around 11 o’clock.
I didn’t like the palace and the village near to the palace. The palace was nice, but I didn’t like the assignment and it did last a little too long I think. The view was very nice, I really liked it there and it was there nice quiet. I didn’t really like the food, because I didn’t like the meat. But I liked the potatoes. In the Ak bar was it nice, you could chill very good. Lay and talk a bit with everyone. But I don’t like smoking and things, so I didn’t like the water pipe.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011, Day 4 Bread day
Today it was Luc’s birthday. We’ve made bread and the Portuguese had to go to school. After making the bread, we went to the sea. We drank there something and then we went to the village. Toon, Puck, Kirsten, Rene and I found a little sweet shop, where we bought some candy. After we went home, we had a presentation at school about Wednesday. We had to sell paper stars for the foundation ‘Make a Wish’, so the teachers told us about the organization. After that I went to the house of Emelies parents for dinner. We had salmon. In the evening we went to Menecas bar. It was a water pipe bar, but it was also a bar for shots. At 23.15 Emelie and I went home.
Making the bread was fun, but I think it was a shame that we didn’t go donkey riding. I think I would like that better. The sea and the village near the sea was nice, but it was very cold there. The presentation didn’t make sense to me, because I already knew the foundation. I liked the salmon, but it was to fresh, because in Holland I never eat fresh salmon. I had to put the bones out of the fish. I didn’t like the Menecas bar much, because I just don’t like water pipe and I don’t like much alcohol.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011, Day 5 Lisbon day
Today we went to a science museum, like Nemo in Amsterdam. After the museum we went to Lisbon downtown. Some of the people were going to sell stars and some were painting for the foundation Make a Wish. Toon and I went to paint. Our painting wasn’t sold. After painting we went to the shops and I bought some clothes. At 5 o’clock we went home. We eat at Emelies sisters house, we eat pizza. After I get some sleep, because I was very tired. At half past eleven we went to the club ‘Dreams’. At half past one Emelie and I went home.
The museum was fun, but it wasn’t my thing. I liked it more when we were in Lisbon. The painting was funny and the shopping was the best. I really like shopping, so that was very nice. When we went to the club I didn’t liked it. But when I was there it was so much fun. It was the nicest evening and the nicest place we’ve been to. It was so cool. A shame Toon had to go at half past twelve and a shame that I had to go at half pas one. But the next day I was glad that I wasn’t so tired as the others who stayed much longer.
Thursday, 15 December 2011, Day 6 Shopping sport day
Today it was Emelies birthday. In the morning I gave my present and then we went to school. We went to Almada to see a garden with a very nice view of the river and Lisbon. After that we went to a shopping mall. We hadn’t had much time, so we went back to school at half past one. Then we went to a café for lunch. Next we went to the gym. People were dancing, playing tennis and football. I didn’t sport, because I don’t like football and dancing. I like to watch football. At half past 5 I was home at the house from Emelies sister. I had a shower and I packed my things. Next we went back to school for dinner. Emelie and I didn’t go out after the dinner.
I didn’t like the shopping very much, because we had to hurry up the whole time. The lunch was very good this time. And the sporting was nice, it was fun. Only the teachers and the people had to argue to whole time. That was a shame. It was nice that we had dinner with everyone. But I didn’t like the food, because it was so different from what I was use to eat in Holland. But I had pain in my stomach, so I didn’t need very much food. I didn’t like that the whole group was going to Menecas apart from us. I was very sad about that, but Emelie couldn’t do something about it, I understand it. At home I talked with Emelie, and I think we really became friends!
Friday, 16 December 2011, Day 7 Home sweet home
Today we went to school for making assignments. I have made this diary and we have worked on our Lip Dub. Now we’re going home..
I really liked this week and I really like Emelie. Maybe I will go back here someday!
René Verstegen boy.
Day 1
When we went out of the bus and the Portuguese people come to us I recognized Nuno from his picture on facebook. We shake the hands he tells who his friends of the group are. In the beginning it was hard to talk English but after a while in his house it becomes easier. We first meet his mother who drives us to Nuno’s house. He lives there with his father. After pick out the luggage we talk about difference things and we play a game. We could understand each other what we are saying in English. Sometimes we didn’t know a word in English. But to describe the word we could understand almost everything what we want to say.
At the evening go went to dinner in a restaurant with the whole group. The food we get wasn’t very different from here. We ate potato’s wich rist. While eating we talked a lot with the Portuguese people.
After the dinner we went to a pub. This was about ten o’clock. At twelve o’clock there was a live band. They made nice music and it was fun to listen.
Day 2
On Sunday it was the family day. We didn’t do really something with the family, but we went to Lissabon. We had to go by boat. When we were in Lissabon we went first to a few monuments and a church called Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. After that we ate by McDonalds. We went to Chiado, a place with many stores. Here we walked around for the rest of the afternoon. We talked a lot and I learn to know a lot of Portuguese people. In the beginning it doesn’t go easy, but after a while we could talk very easy.
At the evening we went to dinner with Nuno and his father in a restaurant. We ate lasagna. His father can talk English very well, so we talk whole the time English and they didn’t talk Portuguese. It was very nice because we had enough things to talk about. He tells about football, he plays by himself and he watches a lot. He tells wich players and clubs are his favorites and explained there are three big clubs in Portugal. Nuno wasn’t for the same club as he is. The food we ate was very nice and it was fun to talk.
Day 3
We went to an old garden in Sintra. The name of this garden called Quinta da Regaleira. There are much mountains and we climb on it. In the beginning this activity was nice but after a while it became a little bit boring. At the evening the father of Nuno had to do something for his work so he couldn’t ate with us. We take a big pizza and after the dinner we play a little on his playstation.
In the evening we went to another bar. There was music and some water pipes we try. We go back to home by bus.
Day 4
At this day we go without the Portuguese people to a place where we have to bake broad. I found it a little bit boring. We had also to look at a windmill. That was a little bit strange, because Holland is famous about his windmills. After that we go to look to a few donkeys. In the evening we had a presentation at the school from the Portuguese people. They tell us what we shall do the next day for the foundation make a wish. We also practice the lip-dup and let the song ‘ik neem je mee’ hear to the Portuguese partners.
Day 5
On the morning we went with the metro to a Technology museum. There are a lot of funny experiments wich you could try. In the afternoon we had to sell Christmas stars for the foundation make a wish. Wich the money the foundation will make a wish from a sick child come true. This community service was sometimes hard to do because we can’t speak Portuguese. We had to speak in English to the people on the street, so we could not talk with everyone we want.
At the evening we went to R S Dreams. This is a discothèque. It was very nice and there was good music.
Day 6
On the 6th day we have been to Old Almada. This was a town where we look something to the building. It wasn’t something special. In the afternoon we have sported at the school. We played football. When it was evening we go back to the school to eat something. We talk with the partners and meat their parents. Also we make outside a picture of whole the group. The communication was the same as on the other days. If you can a little English, you can describe a word when you don’t know the word exactly. After the dinner we go to Manecas Bar.
Day 7
I wake up at 7.40 to pack my luggage. Nuno’s father gives me a bottle of wine. Then we have to go to the school to write the individual task. We go by car because I had to take my luggage with me.
My exchange in Sobreda Pleun Franssen, girl
Saturday 10-12-11:
When we arrived in Portugal we took the bus with the whole group. My exchange partner and his grandparents picked me up at school and we went to his house. He showed me his house, and I met his mother and her boyfriend, and his little sister. Then we went to a friend of him, because he wanted to meet me. After that we went to a church, and later to the beach. The whole group was at the beach. We walked with the whole group down the streets. We went to a bar, and then we went home. In the evening we were at a restaurant with everyone. After that we went to a bar. But the Dutch people were very tired, so it was not very nice.
Sunday 11-12-11:
Sunday was the family day. We went to his grandparents, with his mother, sister and the boyfriend of his mother. He showed me the house of his grandparents, it was very nice and bigger than the other houses in Sobreda. His grandmother prepared a big meal for us. There was a lot of meat, it was very different for me. There were some strange food, like a ear of a pig. After the meal he showed me the surrounding. Then we went to Lisbon, and there were Sofieke and Jose. Our parents showed us a few things, like buildings etc. Later we went to a shopping hale with my family, and the family of Sofieke. We had our dinner together in an Italien restaurant. When we finished we went to a bar called ´Marokko bar´. We were at home at midnight.
Monday 12-12-11:
Today we had to wake up at 7.00. We went to school with the bus. When everyone arrived we took the bus to a city where we had spare time. Me and my friend went to a lunch café. When everyone was back we walked to a nature resort. We walked around there. It was very nice to see. There was a lot of green, water and nice buildings. We took a lot of pictures there, so it was fun. Then we went back to the bus, and we went to the most west side of Europe. The view was very nice. Then we went back to house. We ate at home and then we went to a bar in the place Almada.
Tuesday 13-12-11:
In the morning we had to stand up at 7.00. We went to school with a friend of Rui, with the car. At school we had to wait very long for the bus. It was the planning that we are going to ride a donkey. But it was dangerous because of the weather. So instead of driving the donkey we went to a place, were we made some typical Portuguese bread. When the bread was laying in the oven we walked to a windmill, and the woman showed us the windmill from the inside. She told us everything about the windmill. When the bread was ready we took it for home. After that we went to the beach for drinking something and looking around. It was really nice and the weather was very good. We had our spare time, so we walked a little bit to see the beautiful view. After that we went back to home. We took a shower and I made myself ready for the evening. When we finished our dinner, we went to a bar. We celebrated the birthday of Luc. It was a really nice evening, we all had a lot of fun.
Wednesday 14-12-11:
As usual we stand up at 7.00. We made ourselves ready. We took the bus to the boat. There was everyone waiting. We took the boat to Lisbon, and after that we took the metro. Then we went to museum, it was a nice museum. There were a lot of funny and weird things. We played with the things in the museum. After that we walked to the metro. We went to a place, where we made our paintings and where we sold the Christmas stars for a good foundation, Make a wish. It was very nice to do, and we raised a lot of money. After that we had our spare time, and me and Sofieke took our money and we started to shop. We buy some nice clothes, but we hadn´t so much time. Then we went to the boat, and the parents picked us up. We went back to home, and we made ourselves ready for the evening. When we were ready we went to Rafa´s place with some people. Then we went to a really nice disco. We all had so much fun, we danced the whole night. But when we wanted to go, I was looking for my wallet. I couldn´t found it. It was stolen. I was pissed off and sad. Everyone was helping me , so that was very kind of them! There was fifty euro´s in my wallet, and important cards. My ID was the most important, because when I haven´t my ID, I can´t go back to the Netherlands. With the father of Jose and the others, we went to the police station. Then we went back to home, it was really late. So I slept 2 hours.
Thursday 15-12-11:
When we woke up, I was so tired. All the Dutch people, and three of the Portuguese group went to a shopping hale. We had our spare time. But before that, we went to see a garden. That was really boring because everyone was so tired, and we had to walk a lot. After this we went to the shopping center, but we didn´t buy anything, because of the night before. Then we took the bus, and we went back to the school for the sport activity. You could choose for dancing, soccer and volleyball. I choose dancing but I stopped quickly because I didn´t like it. I looked at the boys who played soccer. Then me and Karel and the Portuguese teacher went to the police again. Because we have to organize things, so that I can go back to the Netherlands. That was all done. Then we went back to home and we made ourselves ready for the dinner. We went to school where we ate all together. The parents prepared the food, and they ate with us. After that me and Rui went back to home, because we were so tired.
Friday 16-12-11:
Today is the day that we are going back to Holland. In the morning I woke up and packed my bags. Then we went to school. And now we are working at the assignments. After this it´s the goodbye. Then we go back to the airport, and take the airplane to Holland. We will be in Holland around the evening. Then we must wait for the bags, and if everyone has their bag we will take the train back to Den Bosch. In Den Bosch our parents will be there. Then we go back to Uden.
The exchange was really nice. I had a great time in Portugal. It was so great with the whole group, because everyone was so nice and kind. The family of my partner took good care for me, so I am really thankful for that. We had a lot of fun and I learned how it is to be in a different country, with different food and different habits. But sometimes I missed my family, my friends and my house. Because it´s so different here, with the food and the small houses. I´m glad to go home now, but I will miss everyone here. It was a great time! I´m looking forward when they come to Holland and have a great time in Holland.
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