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I honestly don't know how to start trying to describe how this exchange week was for me. I say trying because it is impossible to describe the feelings I've felt during this week and now that I'm back in Portugal, everyone asks how it was and I seriously can't explain, as they wouldn't understand because I can't find any words that are good enough to tell them about this week.
At first, when I heard that I would be participating on the project, I was super excited and I couldn't believe that I'd get to live this unique experience. But as I thought of it, I started having some doubts and concerns about everything. How the family would receive me, how every different habit would affect me, what if my English wasn't good enough to communicate with everyone or what if I didn't get along with them. All this questions got me stressed the couple weeks before the trip, but I have to admit, for once, that I was completely overthinking. As we got there and I saw my host family for the first time, I never thought of any of that anymore, because I could already tell that they would happily receive me and treat me as if I was one of their own children. And I was right. Since day 1, they were always very welcoming and worried about how I was feeling, and I really thank them for that. About the rest, I have nothing to point out. Everything was perfect. The city, with its beautiful buildings and architecture and an indescribable and young atmosphere, the teachers, who were always ready to help and that would tell us everything about the city, the other host families, who were all very nice and good friends to be around with, and of course the food, that although it was a lot, it was also really good.
As I already said, it is not easy to describe this week, but I would definitely say it was an unforgettable experience, that I would recommend to everyone, because even if you set your expectations really high, I can assure you that you'll be surprised. If I had to give a tip to anyone travelling with this project, it would probably be to not be afraid or apprehensive about the trip, just enjoy it and do whatever you feel like doing, because if you do so, this will be the best week of your life!

Luis Costa :)

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When I received an email from my English teacher saying that I was one of the students chosen to participate in this exchange week, I couldn't believe it! It sounded like a dream come true!

I must admit that this week in Belgium will always be something I'll never forget for the most different reasons, it was my first time traveling by plane, my first time in a foreign country, my first time spending a week far away from my family and so on. Leuven was the perfect city for this experience. My host family was amazing. I loved spending a week with them and I learned so much with them. I felt like I was at home! My host sister, Lotte, was the best company that I could ever have. This week we spent hours talking about all and nothing and it felt like we've known each other for ages! I'm sure that whenever I decide to visit Leuven again in the future, they will be there for me!
This week also helped me to feel a lot more confident while speaking English and I guess it also improved a lot. I know that I may not have said everything correctly, but the fact that my host family, or the Belgium teachers, could understand me made me feel fulfilled!

Lara Carvalho 💫

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The first time I heard about the Erasmus program it was in a English class. Of course, I had heard about Erasmus countless times, but I never thought it would be possible to embark on this experience. After reflecting, I realized that the only cons was not taking advantage of this experience.
At first I thought this exchange week would be just another experience, but I was so wrong! I wish I could´ve stayed longer in Belgium to experience more of this wonderful opportunity. When our teachers told us we would cry in the end of this experience I never imagined that happening! From the very first moment I met Juliette, my host sister, I just knew right away we had a special connection. We just clicked! Living with Juliette and her family was really amazing! The way they welcomed me into to their family made me feel part of the family. They are such an indescribable family! I´ll always hold close to my heart all the moments we spent together! Whenever they need me even in the good/bad moments I´ll be there.
All the people I met in Belgium were so wellcoming and kind. They were always ready to join us openminded and open hearted. I want to thank them for always making me feel confortable and enjoy this trip! I really loved meeting all of them! A big thank you to all of the Portuguese students and teachers that made this an unforgettable experience! To my teachers, Lígia and Cláudia, and to my dear colleagues...thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am so grateful for this week! I´ll never forget the moments we shared! If I could I would experience it all over again!
Erasmus is one of those adventures which can't be forgotten. We don't feel the same when we come back. Something in us changes during the exchange, and it feels like the person who returns isn't the same person who left on the journey in the first place. This was for sure the best experience of my life!

Love,
Ana Rita :))

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The first thing I want to be clarified here is that one week is such a short time for this experience! It’s unacceptable! I wanted to stay a little longer in Belgium!

Living with Matilda and her family was amazing! They are such a lovely family! For sure the best host family I could’ve asked for! All the conversations, all the laughs… I’ll never forget! I have my second family in Belgium! I was very lucky for stay with them!

The Belgian teachers and students were awesome! They were so nice for us, I really loved meeting them all! All Belgian people were always making us feel comfortable and enjoy the most this trip!

Of course I couldn’t write all this and not talk about the Portuguese people! The teachers always helping us and letting us do our crazy stuff! And for sure the people who did the crazy stuff! I am sure that without this group of beautiful people this week would not be the same! Teachers Ligia and Claudia, Nelson, Tomás, Inês, André, Ana Rita, Lara, Luís, Pedro… thank you!

I am so grateful for all this! I didn’t think this exchange week was going to become this important to me, I’ll never forget it and it has a place in my heart! Thank you for all the moments, jokes and laughs! I would do it all again! Maybe one thing different… try harder to control myself and not cry that much at the goodbye🥺 It was the hardest and worst part of the week!

Lara✨

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When the teachers told us we would cry in the end of this experience I couldn’t imagine that happening, after one week we wouldn’t be that attached to cry about leaving. It all changed very quickly, since the first conversation with my host sister, Nell, that I knew we would get along very well. She quickly became one of the best companies I had in my life, fun, full of energy, ready to any adventure, very open, every moment we had it felt like we knew each other for years. Not only my host sister but all the hosts were so wellcoming and open to any silly thing we, crazy portuguese people wanted to do, such as dancing in the streets, singing so loud the world was ours and so much more. Leuven became my favourite city, the beauty and the comfort it transmites made me realise this is where I wanna live, this is where I could belong, and having to leave it behind made the process ten times harder. The activities with new people all so invested in us having fun there, the teachers who did an amazon job in the organisation of this week, our tours to other citys with my friends, it all made this week the best of all. I only realised how much this all meant and the impact it had on me at the end, it all came down to some tears, endless memories, a hug and a goodbye. A thank you for our teachers, the teachers of leuven school, to all the people involved who participated, the hosts and of course, my beautiful portuguese people!

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I don’t know here or how to start at the beginning of this experience i didn’t thought that the experience would’ve been so memorable.
The people, the food, the city it was just perfect and everything combined was just like indescribable.
I will miss everyone but my mostly my host family’s that were the best persons because it’s not everyone who is ok with a foreign person living at their house but let me tell you this people were so warming that I thought Iwas in Portugal.
And to finish this i think all the tears were felt in a way that I would never forget.
I loved this experience

Tomás🇧🇪🤩

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Trying to make a long story short, this week was definitely the best in my life.
Couldn't have been luckier with my host family and with people I met there. Everyone were amazing, from the teachers, to the students and the whole groupe.
Facing a new whole world of adventures, this week provided me a endless number of experiences that changed me as a person, and incredible people that i hope i'll carry my whole life.
I have never imagined that, this few days would be able to have all this impacte in my life. And even after the teacher's warning, I would never predict that one day after leaving Belgium I would be so affected to leave it all behind.
And now I'm gonna cry just a little bit more :/
It was all amazing!

André :))

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Well, I really don´t know exactly how to start. In the beginning I thought this trip would be just a new experience. When the teachers told us that many students  cried after these exchange programmes I thought " They are crazy". But I was so completely wrong!!
And there are many reasons why I have changed my mind:
-My host family was amazing. They were so kind and dear... I will never forget them
- The Belgium people were just incredible, full of energy and always ready to make us smile

- I clearly improved my English

-I learnt so much about this new culture and about the work of the project itself
- I lost my wallet and as a miracle I found it just where I had left it...

Yes, there are so many reasons why I now think this week was so important for me.

When we really love something, we don´t follow our reason, we follow our feelings. This is what made me love Leuven. The connection with the Portuguese and Belgium people, the way a smile can break all the walls that separate us, how in a week we come to realize how happy our lives can be...

Today I know this experience has changed my life. My way of thinking, my sense of hapiness... Everything has changed.
Today, I know that we belong to something new.
Leuven, you will always be my love. Please never change!

Of course I have to thank the Erasmus+ project and the people who have participated in this exchange week : the teachers, Cláudia and Lígia, always ready to help us in every situation, the best portugueses students in the world- Lara S., André, Inês, Tomás, Luís, Pedro, Lara C. , Ana Rita and, last but not least, the Belgian teachers Annick and Caroline and the Belgians friends, who I will never forget.
We were all amazing in what I consider, without any doubt, the best week of my life.
I will always have you with me, in my memories and in my heart. 💖

PS: On Saturday morning and now I ended up shedding some tears

Until Forever
Nelson