My Experience

1_ When I decided to apply for an exchange place in Portugal, I knew very little about the
country although I had been studying Portuguese at Southampton University for a year. I had met
Portuguese students who were on similar exchange programmes and had naturally talked about
differences between England and Portugal, but I cannot say that I was fully prepared. I knew a bit
about Portuguese literature, had seen the group Madredeus in concert and had eaten Portuguese food,
which I had enjoyed very much, but that was that.
2_ As soon as I arrived, I noticed things were a bit different – there were people smoking
while they were waiting for their luggage, ignoring the non-smoking signs, which is something that
would never happen at home. Then something interesting happened. The Portuguese friend who picked
me up took me to a terrace for a “bica” and asked me whether I was hungry and wanted something to
eat. I looked at my watch – 4 p.m. I started thinking: “When did I have lunch?” Then I realised that
the Portuguese don’t live by the minute. Take your time is their motto, especially when it concerns
food. I had never seen business people having a three-course lunch with wine before! At home we take
a 30-minute lunch break and eat a sandwich or something light.
3_ Also social contacts seem to be very important. At the University in Lisbon one cannot talk
without stopping every ten metres to have a chat with Mr. and Ms. so and so. Sitting on the “esplanada”
all afternoon, talking a lot and saying nothing also seems to be a national sport. Students here love to
complain about the bad food in the canteen, the cuts in the government budget for education or the
fees they pay. But I see very few taking part-time jobs or working during the summer holidays as so
many British students have to do.
4_ I was also surprised by the way classes are run. Students miss so many classes and are
allowed to arrive late, whereas in my University we all have to be in class when the class starts, and if
we are more than 5 minutes late we are not allowed in. Also, professors sometimes just don’t show up.
This would be impossible in my University without giving notice in advance. On the other hand classes
are a one-way thing. The lecturers speak and the students listen and take notes. There is hardly any
discussion or interaction. At home students are encouraged to have strong opinions and to show them
in class.
5_ I shall be staying in Portugal for a whole semester, and will be going home just after the
end of the exams. I am not saying I am not having a good time – don’t get that idea; I have enjoyed the
weather, made new friends, and learned a lot since I arrived. It just takes a while to get used to
different ways of doing things.

2 –Match each of the headings with the paragraph that deals with these ideas.

A – Cultural differences 1 – Paragraph 1

B – Studying in Portugal 2 – Paragraph 2
C – Expectations 3 – Paragraph 3
D – Positive aspects 4 – Paragraph 4
E – Student social life 5 – Paragraph 5

3 – Answer these questions:

A – What was Monica’s experience of Portugal before she arrived?

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B – What surprised her as soon as she arrived?

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C – Monica says that Portuguese people’s motto is “Take your time…” Explain why.
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D – She is very critical of some attitudes of both students and professors in Portuguese Universities.
What does she dislike?
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E – From what she says, do you think she is having a good or a bad experience? Justify your answer.
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Match the words/expressions on the left to their synonym on the right:

A – a vulgar joke 1 - place where you can borrow books

B – a personal journal 2 - member of a family
C – a very good library 3 - march of protest
D – an ordinary Sunday 4 - diary
E – a sensible girl 5 - rude
F – a sympathetic teacher 6 - reasonable
G – a very close relative 7 - normal
H – a student demonstration 8 - understanding

2 –Go through the following list of nouns and decide which collocate with each verb.

a parcel a cheque an exam a conference the initiative

an uniform progress a view a business a film
a promise a problem the train money a cold

A – to watch
B – to break
C – to solve
D – to make
E – to run
F – to catch
G – to wrap
H – to cash
I – to borrow
J – to catch
K – to attend
L – to express
M – to wear
N – to take
O – to pass