How do you study abroad? Universidade do Algarve
Tamara Forrová, a second year psychology student at the Faculty of Arts at UCM in Trnava, spent one semester in Portugal as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
As she says, she wanted to enjoy the summer and learn a new language. "I decided to skip the winter season and enjoy a longer summer. I was also motivated to learn Portuguese and I wanted to experience how it works at another school," she explains her reasons. She adds that she also wanted to test her own comfort limits.
New subjects, teaching methods and surprising solitude
Being in Portugal gave her a new way to think about learning. "It gave me a different perspective on how you can learn and teach something new," Tamara describes. At the Universidade do Algarve, she had subjects she would never have access to at home, and it was this diversity that she enjoyed the most. She tried new teaching methods and different academic environments, which inspired her to be more open-minded and curious.
For her, Erasmus was not just about school. "In terms of personal development, it gave me a sense of absolute freedom, a sense of confidence in myself, that I know how to be myself and I know how to handle it," she describes. She also says that it was only abroad that she realised how small is the reality we live every day at home. But she wasn't prepared for absolutely everything. She was particularly surprised by the loneliness that came in the first days of her stay. "All I longed for was someone to hold me, to hear my family's voice. But it was all a momentary feeling," she says today, with some distance.
She can't let go of the location and proximity to the ocean
Her fondest memories are associated with the people. After the first few weeks, a strong community formed on the site. "We met in bars, in shops, cooked dinners, we felt like we were living in a different reality - a beautiful one." It is these shared moments, spontaneous encounters and sense of belonging that she believes make Erasmus unforgettable.
Tamara recommends Universidade do Algarve in Faro for several reasons. "Mainly because of the location," she says with a smile. The Algarve is known for its sunny weather, ocean and friendly atmosphere. It is the southernmost region of Portugal. Moreover, she adds that the master's students had really good English classes, which she says makes the mobility even more valuable.
