The university is very internationally orientated so there were a lot of other foreign students present. I learned a lot about the life and prospects of engineers in their own countries as well. I did not anticipate this before I left but this gave me an incredible insight. This also made me less shy to imagine moving abroad for work later on in my career or to work in an international environment within the Netherlands. This also left me with a very international network which I believe can help me in the future. 

Cultural Immersion 

Studying in Lisbon was also more then the local research labs. The city is diverse in so many ways and the culture is also vastly different from that in the Netherlands. It was a way to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself but also a nice way to reflect on the way of things in the Netherlands. 

First of all, a good example of this is the more relaxed living style. If you go through the city you can see people sitting on terraces and nobody seems in a hurry. The same vibe is translated to the culture within the university. People are more flexible with their time and also value the time in which you relax. This was frustrating at first coming from the TU Delft but I personally got used to it pretty quickly and enjoyed a lot. It was interesting to see how they managed this lifestyle without compromising on their work. 

Another important aspect is the continuous exposure to a different culture. Living in Portugal and spending a significant amount of time there compels you to fully engage. Although this was sometimes challenging, it pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new experiences. Interestingly, this immersion was a concept I hadn't initially focused on when coming to Portugal, but it undoubtedly became a valuable and insightful lesson. 

Free time & Adventures 

During my stay in Lisbon I also got the opportunity to go new places in Europe and explore new hobbies. 

Even though I had never surfed before in my life I joined the surfing club as a way of meeting people and learn the sport. Although I might not have become the best surfer it was a great way to meet people and to explore the coast. I also joined the Erasmus Students Network in Lisbon where I met even more exchange students to with whom I explored all that the city of Lisbon had to offer. 

I also got to see a lot of the Portuguese nature through hikes and camping trips not so far out of Lisbon. These where a nice way to escape the city and enjoy nature.