Hello there! We are Agata Dzikowska and Lena Pilarek – 3rd-year students of Foreign Languages in Media and Business at the University of Applied Sciences in Konin. We recently took part in a short-term Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The trip was organized from November 24th to 28th by our partner university in Portugal – the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB). Our project, themed „Emotional Education,” was an amazing finale to two months of online meetings. Thanks to them, we knew exactly what to expect upon arrival, making it much easier to find our feet in a new country. 

🌍✈️ First Steps in Portugal 

Our adventure began with landing in Porto. Before heading further, we had a moment for a quick walk to catch the city’s vibe. Then we hopped on a bus to Bragança – a quiet, charming town hidden in the mountains of northern Portugal. It immediately caught our eye with its great, laid-back student atmosphere.

🌍✈️ Learning Without Boredom 

📌 The university classes hit the bullseye because there was no room for stiff, boring lectures. So, what exactly did we do? 

📌 We listened to the traditional academic TUNA orchestra (it was a truly great, musical start!). 

📌 We had classes in a museum, learning how to weave art into education. 

📌 We broke our own barriers during physical exercises and dance classes. Sounds unusual? These workshops showed us how to express emotions without words, which is incredibly useful in the world of media and business. 

📌 We participated in a two-day academic conference, simply exchanging ideas with people from all over the world. 

🌍✈️ The Ocean, Pastel de Nata, and the Erasmus Bug 

Of course, there was also plenty of time for integration, sightseeing, and taking tons of photos. (A huge shoutout to the university for providing free lunches in the canteen – our student wallets really appreciated that!). Speaking of food – we have a little recommendation for you! When in Portugal, you absolutely must try pastel de nata, their traditional sweet treat. These little tarts are so addictive that it’s hard to stop at just one! 

At the very end, right before returning home, we went on a one-day trip to Porto with one specific goal: to finally see the ocean in person. Walking along the wide beach, watching the huge waves of the Atlantic with the wind in our hair – it was simply the perfect ending to the trip. 

We are coming back with new skills and plenty of beautiful memories. The Portuguese energy and the openness of the people are incredibly addictive. We already catch ourselves quietly browsing through more student exchange offers because we’ve clearly caught the Erasmus bug. If you ever get the chance to participate in such a program, pack your bags without hesitation. It’s the adventure of a lifetime! 

And you? Which country would you most like to visit for your Erasmus exchange? 

HEADER PHOTO: Photo by Jérémy Glineur taken from LINK

🌍✈️  2025/2026 ©  Lena Pilarek  i Agata Dzikowska 3 rok,  Języki obce w mediach i biznesie,   Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Koninie