My exchange programme experience - the return by Fátima Maria N. Lopes da Cunha

USA --> Portugal

2024-11-27 09:11:25 UTC

Returning from my exchange programme has been an unforgettable experience. The months I spent there were transformative, filled with personal, cultural exploration, and new friendships. Experiencing a different way of life taught me valuable lessons about adaptability and communication. I discovered new perspectives, tasted foods, and learned to appreciate traditions different from my own. Saying goodbye was difficult, as I left behind people and places that now feel like a second home. However, I’m excited to bring back everything I’ve learned, from language skills to wider horizons, and apply them to my life, moving forward. I enjoyed my time spent in Texas.

André N⁰13

My return home :) África < Portugal Pedro Loureiro

2024-11-27 09:11:43 UTC

When I got home I felt more relieved because I already missed my computer and my room, which is where I spend most of my time (relaxing). I didn't feel sad because I don't like leaving the house too much, as it's the place where I feel most comfortable in the world. Tell me about your experience! ;)

Exchange program return

2024-11-27 09:13:05 UTC

It’s been a week since I came back home from my exchange program in Madrid. It felt good but a little bit weird because one year is still a long time; you can get really comfortable with the people that you stayed with and friends that you met and going back home and leaving all of them behind is weird of course. You want to go back home and see your “main” friends and see your actual family but you still get left with a weird feeling.However, I still talk to them through text and video calls so it’s not that bad.

Mateus

My return from Italy

2024-11-27 09:13:20 UTC

My return from Italy was...weird.

For the past six months I've been studying abroad and learning about the Italian culture and language. I was amazed by it and took many photos on the huge monuments like the Torre Di Pizza and The Colosseum of Rome. I had so much fun trying their food and walking around the streets of Italy.

I also met some friends and had my host family to help me since I first got there.

Upon returning, it was hard for me to leave it all behind. All my memories there will always be at the bottom of my heart.

I still keep in contact with my Italian friends and my host family by text messages and video calls, but it's not the same as a conversation face to face.

I wish I could go back soon some day to meet them personally.

It was also hard for me to adapt back to my old life.

Comparing Italy to Portugal, it's a totally different lifestyle and so having to adapt again was strange...

Even with all this sad news upon returning, I had a lot of fun there and I hope I can go back there some day.

Rodrigo

My exchange programme experience

2024-11-27 09:14:30 UTC

I came back from my exchange programme experience in London a week ago, and it's been a bit strange because I was used to the place I have been but at the same time it's been awesome getting back to Portugal again.

I didn't remember where the things were placed and it was really strange because I felt like I was on a strange place and it was like I had never lived here. My friends and family were really happy to see me and they received me so well, I missed them so much.

Now I also miss my host family, and I have been talking to them every day telling them how much I miss them and telling them how things have been around here.

I think it will take a lot of time for me to get used to be here again.

Carolina Carvalho

Ruben Alves , Exchange programme

2024-11-27 09:15:44 UTC

I left with dreams and expectations, but I return with stories, lessons, and a new perspective on the world.

I faced challenges, such as learning a new language and adapting to a new culture, which made me stronger and more confident.

I experienced unique moments, made friendships, and discovered the beauty in diversity.

It’s exciting to be back, but I've left a part of myself in the place that became my second home. The exchange wasn’t just a trip — it was a journey of self-discovery that I will carry with me forever.

Exchange program return

2024-11-27 09:18:12 UTC

It's been a week since I came from France after 2 months and what I miss most is the food and people´s good mood. It’ s strange to walk the streets and not hearing anyone speaking French. During those two months I had a lot of fun, the people were very friendly and welcoming.

Vanessa

My return

2024-11-27 09:18:18 UTC

Hi guys, I had a new experience, I went on exchange to Switzerland for a year, the best part was during the winter. My return was easy, I adapted to everything again, I was well received by my friends; however, I didn't remember what the weather was like here as Switzerland is quite cold and it snows a lot during the winter. It was an incredible experience!

Bárbara 10ºB

My exchange programme experience

2024-11-27 09:20:03 UTC

It’s been a week since I came back from my exchange programme in London.

I was there for two months, I really missed my family and friends even though iItalked to them every day.

When I came back everyone welcomed me very well.

Life there was very different as there was almost no sun, very different from here; and the food didn’t really please me either. All in all it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Sofia

Coming back home.

fatima_cunha — 2024-11-27 09:20:04 UTC

My return was something I didn´t expect to be such a mix of emotions as a conclusion to my adventure outside my home country. Making so many friends, learning so many things and getting the chance to become independent, it was truly a magical experience. However, putting an end to it is so devastating, as it had become my second home. At the same time, I'm relieved to be home and being with my familly and friends again; still, I don't think I will ever stop missing my time in Germany. And so, to counter that, I'm always communicating with my friends back there, be it video calling, sending pictures and just talking in general. This way I won't have to miss that period of my life so much.

Kamilla Silva

Back home

2024-12-01 13:01:22 UTC

I can't believe that I'm finally back home. Sometimes I wake up and think that I'm back at my host family house. Before I left, I didn't imagine that returning home could feel like this. Maybe you think that I'm not happy to see my family and friends but that isn't true. I'm really happy to finally be home. When I was there, I felt homesickness many times and it was my host family that helped me overcome that. Now I miss them. I will never forget the amazing time I spent with them, the new things that I learned and discovered and the new friends I made. But I'm afraid that my host family will forget me because I wasn't the first exchange student in their life. But Iwon't let that happen. I can keep in touch with my host family through whatsapp or by others ways. And also with my new friends.

-Stephanie Schoenmakers

My return

2024-12-01 23:52:41 UTC

Returning to Portugal after a year in Norway has been a mix of emotions. While I missed the calm and beauty of Norway, it feels great to be back home, surrounded by family, friends, and the familiar warmth of Portuguese culture. The transition has been smooth, and I’m excited to combine the best of both experiences into my life here.

Leonardo

Back to Nelas (João Antunes, 10ºA, N°10)

2024-12-02 10:53:54 UTC

After having spent one year in the U.S.A it was very strange to come back to Nelas. The small village with its quiet roads was very different from busy cities like San Fransisco or San José in California. It was a little disconcerting to be in places you have been before but they seem to be smaller and to experience deafening silence after being surrounded by noise for several months.

I was, however, dealing with reverse culture shock as well as longing for 7eleven and Amer canising as well as the casual aspect of cos American. It was weird how time had changed people to being friendly. But once settled in at home, nostalgia seemed to step in. The smell of food being prepared, the pleasantries of one’s culture and the company of people made one remember how and why one missed the place.The U.S.A had changed me in some ways but my place was in Nelas.

2024-12-02 10:55:30 UTC

Back home

Returning from my exchange program was a mix of joy and nostalgia. I was happy to be reunited with my family and friends, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the people, places, and routines I had grown so fond of abroad. The experience taught me so much—how to adapt to new situations, communicate across cultures, and embrace diversity.

Coming home, I realized how much I had changed. I felt more independent, confident, and open-minded. It hasn’t been easy adjusting back to my old life, but I see it as an opportunity to merge the lessons I learned abroad with my daily routine. The exchange program wasn’t just a chapter in my life—it was a turning point that reshaped my perspective on the world and my place in it.

Laura nº8

Back but different

2024-12-02 10:57:35 UTC

After an exchange programme in France for a year, I came back and everything seemed different. It was strange because when I got home I did things they weren't used to doing, for example, I went to bed at different times and woke up at different times because of the different time zones. The day I went back to school I had to get used to it again, as if I was in a completely different country.

Vasco Costa

My return from Switzerland

2024-12-02 10:58:27 UTC

The train slowed as it approached Nelas(senhorim), and I gazed out the window at the countryside that I hadn’t seen in months. Coming back from Switzerland felt surreal, as if I were stepping into a storybook where time had barely moved while my own world had shifted completely.

Walking through the village, I passed familiar landmarks—the old church, the small cafés, and the quiet streets that I knew so well. It was strange how everything looked exactly the same, yet I felt like a different person. The months I’d spent abroad, surrounded by towering mountains and bustling cities, had opened my mind to new ideas and experiences.

When I finally reached my house, I paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the front door that had always meant “home.” As it opened, my family greeted me with warm smiles and tight hugs, and the scent of a home-cooked meal filled the air.

Sitting around the table that evening, sharing stories and laughter, I realized that while Switzerland had given me incredible memories, Nelas(senhorim) would always be the place where I felt most myself. Coming home wasn’t just a return—it was a reunion with everything that made me who I am.

João Santos n4 10A

Returning Home

2024-12-02 10:58:37 UTC

I must say it doesn't really feel like I thought it would. To be completely honest I thought that when it was time to return back home where all my friends and family are, it would feel amazing and be a relief. But I miss my host family and the friends I've made back there and I can't help but think that now I have two homes and I will always miss one of them. This is a very contravertial feeling. I'm very confused I always thought that going on an exchange program would mean going there and experiencing new things afterwards. I would go back home and it would be just one of many experiences to remember but one part of me wanted to stay. I don't know what to say wether I'm in England where the Programe took place, or in Portugal I will always be happy.

Leonor Duarte 10°A

My return from Germany

2024-12-02 10:59:14 UTC

When I returned home from Germany, I felt a mix of emotions. There was joy in seeing my family and familiar places again, but also a sense of nostalgia for the life I had left behind. I felt excitement to share my experiences, but at the same time, a bit of sadness for saying goodbye to the friends and memories I made abroad. I hope one day I return because I love the culture, the people, and the unforgettable experiences I had there.

José Rafael N°7

My return home after a exchange programme

2024-12-02 10:59:32 UTC

Ever since I came back from Spain, it has been a wirlhwind of emotions.The moment I came back home and saw my family waiting for me, I felt a strong sense of happiness and nostalgia, it was very good to be back in my house, see my pet and see the rest of the things, it was very interesting to tell all my friend about my trip. I hope I can come back to Spain one day because it was a very interesting and fun experience; at the same time I felt sad because I had to say goodbye to the friends that I left there, but overall it was some good mix of feelings.

Simão 10°A

2024-12-02 10:59:33 UTC

I returned from an exchange programme to Canada a month ago. When I came back I kind of had a second cultural shock, only in my own country. The first shock was in the temperature that was very different since there in Canada the cold was horrible, while here it is much more pleasant (compared to there). I also had some complications with the language, since sometimes I changed English and Portuguese, which happened to put me in embarrassing situations. But all in all I'm happy to finally be home and be with my family and friends. The exchange programme was an incredible experience and I would repeat it if I had the chance.

Yumara Luena 10.A

Come back from an exchange program

2024-12-02 11:01:11 UTC

Hello! I arrived back from an exchange program in Greece a week ago, and since I arrived, I can't believe I am back home. It's like waking up from a dream. After two months immersed in a different country, culture, language and reality, returning home is a mix of emotions. Familiarity blends and places where I played when I was a child. After having left my country, my feelings are different, because I know it is an experience of a life time.

The return to my country involves physical and mental feelings. I came back with good feelings, and I stay connected with friends I made during the program, connected with messages and memories. I come back with new habits, a foreign language echoing in my mind, and a new different perspective of the world.

But the return also comes with challenges. The well-known "reverse culture shock" can take you by surprise.

This type of programs can be very good but at the same time it can be a very bad situation because you are away of your family. After all, an exchange program is not just a chapter It’s a start of a long Journey of tour life.

João Gouveia

Returning Home

2024-12-02 11:01:21 UTC

Returning home from an exchange program in Barcelona was a whirlwind of emotions. I felt joy and comfort at seeing my family again and being back in familiar surroundings, but there was a strong sense of nostalgia. Barcelona had become a second home, and leaving behind its vibrants streets, new friendships, and the independence I had gained wasn’t easy. As I walked through my house, everything felt the same, yet I knew I had changed. I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I had grown during my time abroad. While it was comforting to be home, part of me still longed for the experiences and the freedom I had discovered in Barcelona.

Maria Leonor

My come back

2024-12-02 11:01:25 UTC

I just came back from my academic programme in Italy and I'm feeling a rollercoaster of emotions! I'm extremely happy to see my family and friends again, to go back to my old life...but I can't deny that I will miss my host family a lot, they made me feel welcome and gave me the best experience possible! But I will definitely be in touch with them and with all the friends I made there! I'm also a bit nervous, because it's been a while that I haven't talk to my old friends face to face, and even though they might not have changed, I think I did.

I loved the experience I had there, learning Italian and making pasta with my host family! Honestly, I would love that my parents could have the chance to meet my host parents, I think they would get along pretty well!

But overall, I'm so excited to be back , and spill all the tea!!

Back home

2024-12-02 11:01:53 UTC

Going on an exchange programme was one of the best experiences of my life; at first, I felt a little lost, but with this adventure I learned to look at the world in a different way and understand other cultures. When I came back I felt happy, but at the same time I felt a little sad about leaving this experience behind.

Matilde Cabral N14 10A

To be back home

2024-12-02 11:03:27 UTC

Returning from an unforgettable trip to the United States often brings a mist of emotions. There’s a sense of gratitude for the experiences and memories created, coupled with nostalgia for the places, people, and moments that made this journey special. At the same time, it’s common to feel a longing for what was left behind and a renewed appreciation for home. Such a transformative trip might also inspire personal growth, new perspectives, or even a desire to return and explore further.

Margarida Branco 10º A

My comeback from Italy 🇮🇹

2024-12-02 11:04:31 UTC

My travel to Italy turned out to be incredible. I felt a big cultural shock due to the traditions and customs of the two countries.

I noticed the differences in relation to the atmosphere of cities. I'm in a hurricane, I felt it on my skin.

I noticed the differences in the food, in the relations between the people the atmosphere in the turistic points and the people .

I'm coming back to Portugal from Milan, Italy.

João Gabriel Abrantes. N°3. 10°A

Back home

2024-12-02 11:05:25 UTC

Coming back home after a long time in Austria was truly a storm of feelings. When I returned, everything felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, as if the world here had changed while I was away, or perhaps it was me who had changed. Yet, with all these strange sensations, there was also an overwhelming sense of comfort in being back.

I already miss the friends I made in Austria. I miss the views of the Alps, the cozy evenings with hot chocolate. At the same time, seeing my family and old friends again after a whole year is a feeling I can’t put into words. There’s a joy in being surrounded by the people who know me best, but it’s sad knowing I’ve left another piece of my heart behind. Austria will always hold a special place in my heart.

Ana Melo n1 10A

My return from Amsterdam!

2024-12-02 18:50:51 UTC

It was a wonderful experience, once in a life time for me. I am back after a whole month of new and amazing activities. When I first arrived at Amsterdam it felt weird for me to being away from my close friends and family at first, but the longer I stayed there, the more I started to love and learn new habits and try new food. Also, the longer I stayed in Amsterdam, the less I felt homesickness and my desire to return to Portugal became less and less. Overall, it was a great experience, except the day I came back home.

Dinis Costa Fernandes

nº3 10ºB

Back home

2024-12-03 18:34:01 UTC

Coming back from my exchange program was an unforgettable experience. I feel like a completely different person now—more mature and independent. Living in a new culture, learning a foreign language, and making friends from all over the world changed the way I see life. Of course, I missed home, but I returned with so many incredible stories and lessons that will stay with me forever. This journey didn’t just teach me about the world—it taught me a lot about myself too.

Matilde Aguieira

My exchange programme experience

2024-12-07 17:03:14 UTC

It was a mixture of emotions. I was happy but also sad. I was happy because I would be with my family again, but also sad because I was leaving my new friends and my host family behind. It was a good experience, I spent a good time with them. Now we make video calls and we text each other, they keep telling me how the things are there and I do the same. We are planning to see each other soon too. And that was my experience!

Inês 10°B N°4