Simão Pedro Resende de Oliveira
Testimony!
As I write these words my Erasmus is about to end. It seems like it was yesterday that I decided, after a 10 minutes reflection period, to pack my stuff and head to Tallinn.
“Why Tallinn?”, people have asked me. I guess it’s hard to understand why you should leave sunny Portugal to go to cold and snowy Tallinn. For me, it was about challenging myself, and getting to know a very different culture and different lifestyle.
And so, I discovered a new language that I learned to love, had a cultural shock that I’ll never forget and that helped me grow immensely. And I met people that I’ll never forget, as long as I live. The whole experience broke stereotypes and helped me have a broader vision of the world.
And about Tallinn itself, it will remain as the scenario of five great months of my life, filled with exciting new experiences and a bunch of new friends. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. And as I face the rest of my life, I’m sure Tallinn and Estonia will be unforgettable, as well as the Erasmus period.
Some things in particular will remain forever: the first time I experienced snow; the snow fights; the nights spent with friends; the trips inside and outside Estonia; and so much more.
I’ll always be thankful to the people that helped me settle down in Tallinn, and solving any problems that appeared: everyone in IT Kolledž, in Sisekaitseakadeemia and all my friends, wherever in the world they come from. I’m sure we’ll meet again, sometime, somewhere, somehow.