There were definitely a lot of uncertainties going into a study abroad while the world is in such a chaotic state due to the ongoing pandemic, but I am so glad I gave it a chance. Portugal was never really one of those countries on my radar, but I have loved every minute of it. The vast cultural shift between the way Americans and people here live was evident from the moment we stepped off the plane. They are quieter, ask less questions, calmer, and more economically friendly. There are also so many people that live in Lisbon speaking different languages, which is obviously something that is evident in much of Europe.
I had expected much of Portugal to be rural, small towns, but the city of Lisbon quickly changed that perception. It is a city much like those you would see in the United States, but also different in so many ways. First of all, the roads are hectic to an American observer with lanes criss crossing each way and cars zipping through small alleyways. The people of Portugal also use their roads in a more efficient way in that the trams, buses, and cars all drive on the same place. There are also specific streets designated for walking which are strangely often wider than the streets the cars drive on and house stores, restaurants, and many pastry shops. Despite the actual layout of the city, the architecture is that like could never be seen in the United States. There is so much history and so many stories to be told about each building, statue, and landmark along the way.
We have also taken some excursions out of Lisbon to see cities such as Sintra and?Cascais as well as company tours to both a Cork and an Olive Oil farm. In these trips, we got to see less of the city life and quickly realized how much more dedicated to sustainability Portugal is compared to the profitability mindset of the average American. I?can?t wait to see what all Portugal has left in store for me and my group in both Lisbon and Porto next week!