Hoje, uma coisa diferente, um brinquedo e um chocolate. Há dias, quando fizémos uma jantarada portuga para a malta do ESN, lá para o final quando estávamos a ver a fotografias e a tentar digerir as toneladas de comida nos respectivos estômagos, os tipos pediram ao grupo lusitano que escrevesse um artigo que sairia numa revista qualquer. Na altura, confesso que não percebi nada de que revista se tratava e a que propósito era. Claro que dissémos que sim e foi a mim que foi passada a batata quente de meter mãos ao trabalho porque escrevo blogues e mais não sei quê.

O texto é o que se segue, peço desculpa por não ser na língua do Poeta mas estes marmelos aqui só dominam inglês. Mas o mais importante é que, fiquei depois a saber porque indaguei, só foi solicitado um texto ao nosso grupo... mais nenhum Erasmus vai aparecer em qualquer um dos 400 exemplares da revista “The Babble”, criada pelo ESN, e a ser distribuída na Guesthouse só para os alunos Erasmus. E o texto vai ser acompanhado de fotografias, escolhidas por eles dentre a nossa selecção.

Os Tugas dominam mesmo isto....



ESN`s introduction week – the Portuguese view

“Just make sure you don`t say anything bad about us”, they said in between smiles (or should I say asked…) as they wrapped up the conversation about writing a text. Luckily for me, they did not force me to swear I wouldn`t.
At a glance, I liked the idea of writing something for a magazine. But then my problems began. Where to start off? What to say? Whom to mention? Which stories to tell? All of a sudden, I felt panicky. The responsibility hit me like a freight train. I started having nightmares. And then, when I thought I would not be able to execute this task, the idea of simply posing a question just occurred to me.
What did I get from the introduction week?
Such a broad question deserves a big answer. Let us see if I can cope with that.
First of all, practical issues about what our lives are going to be in the next few months, at least, if you will only stay in Maastricht until December, like myself. Getting to know where the faculty and the library are, getting to know a little more about the city and the places to hang out, listening to Dennis` version of Pica`s story. All that and other useful tips.
Then there is the travelling side. I know that it is a more cultural and intellectual side, not so exciting as other activities, but, nevertheless, it was interesting to go to Utrecht, to Valkenburg and to the Caves.
Finally, last but not the least, the parties… Beer downing competitions (the portuguese team is still waiting for a resit…), the Pub Crawl, the Final Party. And, of course, even though it is not actually a part of the introduction week, the international drink at the Twee Heeren every Tuesday night. Dancing, drinking, having fun.
The bottom line is that this week was great fun, very amusing and, above all, it did a pretty good in getting us acquainted to places and to other fellow Erasmus. And this, I guess, was its main purpose, achieved in perfection.
That`s why we, the portuguese, think ESN shouldn`t stand for “Erasmus Student Network”. And why is that, you may ask, looking puzzled and thinking that we must be mad. For what it accomplishes, great atmosphere, lots of fun, it really should… wait, should is not the word… it really is “Erasmus (is) Sooooooo Nice”. Because that`s what ESN helps to create for us. With a lot of effort and quite a few sleepless nights, of course.

Muito obrigado por tudo.

P.S. – See, you didn`t have to ask me not to say bad things about you guys. That would be lying. And lying, as all portuguese mothers teach their sons, is the opposite from Erasmus… it`s not nice…



Daniel Carvalho, on behalf of the eight other Erasmus students from Portugal (Ana Figueiredo, Filipa Gallis, Gonçalo Marques, João Gravito, Luís Domingues, Miguel Vasconcelos, Nuno Martins, Sandra Loureiro)