From north to south of the country, this month has begun the experience that allows young people to know the world without leaving home: living with a foreign colleague.
The beginning of the school year also marks the arrival of dozens of foreign students to the country to perform exchanges. Portuguese families welcome students for a semester, in a change of cultures that has been happening for several years.
Sander Rise came from Denmark to spend a semester with the Abreu family in Leiria.
“Because of time and culture. Here I really like playing soccer, playing in the philharmonic, I really like friends and my family,” he says.
A few more months and probably returned the house to know how to speak Portuguese fluently, after an adaptation that was not always easy.
“I didn’t know anyone and had to find new friends. And the tongue and school because it’s so different from what we have in Denmark. It was all so hard.”
Sander returned to Denmark in late June after creating new Portuguese traditions.
At 16, Dominica Munoz also chose Portugal to spend a year away from his own country. It will be with a family from Marco de Canaveses and has even had the opportunity to know them at a distance.
“All my family made an exchange and caught my attention Portugal because I like language and culture (…)” I am very thrilled because I spoke to my family of welcoming and felt super welcome. I feel that this experience will change me a lot as a person, I’m very happy. “
A few days after the beginning of classes, 50 students from all over the world, between tenth and tenth year, arrived at Lisbon airport.
There are some difficulties in schools without linguistic mediators. Students eventually need the support of those around them.
