Name: Lucas Mateus Gomes Martins; Degree: Economic Sciences; Destination: Portugal; University: University of Coimbra; Period: 02/2016 until 07/2016; Type of Mobility: Universia Santander.
"I would like to start my report with thanking Prof. Dr. Eliane Segati and Paulo Sergio who supported all my travel. In August 2015 I received the call from the Center of International Relations of UENP, telling me that I got to be selected from all students who entered the selection process of the Ibero-American Scholarship by Santander Universidades. At the end of January I left to Portugal with passport and visa in my hands. I was hosted in a building called Yellow House in Coimbra rented by Erasmus students from Brazil, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Poland and Luxembourg.
I studied at FEUC – Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, where I attended classes of English Language, Monetary and Financial Economics, Inequality and Social Movements and International Organizations. This exchange has been the best academic and personal experience of my life. I obtained a new aspect of different cultures, I learnt more of respect and responsibility, about ideas not equal with mine, I realized how huge and important Brazil in European’s eyes’ is, the study materials provided me with contents I never thought that I would learn about and I got the chance to see ancient, historic cities in Portugal.
Portugal is an amazing country, full of historical monuments, beautiful cities and beaches, great music, excellent cuisine. I am really grateful for everything, for Coimbra, its university, UENP, for my parents, to support me financially, accompanied me in lonely moments, because all this made it possible to meet amazing people, people with whom I spent together my entire exchange period, who helped me in difficulties, knocking on my door to ask how I felt, who made me cry when we had to say goodbye and who learnt to understand the value of a hug, what it means for us Brazilians, even if it was unknown in their own culture.
After visiting Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, I did not share any more the idea of cold, introverted Europeans. I actually fell in love with them, the way they live, face problems…I returned with such happiness to Brazil, that whenever people ask me how my travel was, a smile appears on my face. I spent incredible weeks with students from all over the world and this way I became also more patriotic loving at the same time many other countries. I gained a lot of knowledge for my professional career as an economist and I made many friends, travelled, studied a lot, spending hours in the library of Coimbra, and enjoyed the life there. I am very grateful for UENP, UC, Santander and my family."