One thing about doing an ERASMUS year abroad is the amount of paperwork that you go through. Trees and Trees and trees worth of paper... forms that confirm you've arrived, sorted location, receipts, permits, attendance, registration... the list goes on. Yesterday I walked to the University for the first time, which was about a 15 minute walk, and I went at about 2 o'clock. Bad idea! It's hot here and I was just hopping from shadow to shadow to try and keep cool! Any way I go tot the university and started my registration. I arrive at 3 and noted that the office closed at half 4 so I thought I had plenty of time. The system in Portugal with nearly everything is taking tickets to determine whose turn it is next. It's in the supermarket when you want to buy meat, in the banks when you want to be seen and it was in registration too. I took my ticket and went to sit in the garden for my turn. An hour passed. Nothing. I started to think this was a bit odd. Another 50 mins passed and a German guy hopped down the steps and into the garden looking for us lost international students. It took 45 minutes to write down a little bit of information and take pictures and passports and things from us. Then we had to go to another office for a permit to live in Coimbra, which was about a 20 minute walk away near the river. Ping! Another ticket thing and another load of waiting and faffing and finally getting things done! Came home at 7 =) Felt like I'd achieved something though! Still have no idea when my classes start unfortunately since I have to meet with the head of languages to discuss what courses I am taking. This we have to arrange by e-mail and our classes start on Monday! I would panic... but there is seemingly so little information for students compared to England that I'm just going to relax and not get wound up by it in my English way! Also I spoke to a Portuguese student yesterday and she was none the wiser so at least I'm in company!
Today it took me 2 attempts and over 2 hours to find the supermarket! It was a bit of a nightmare to be honest, but my sense of direction is zero so it was my own fault! Therefore dear ERASMUS students... bring a map. I so wish I had one. I feel like a bit of an idiot for not bringing one really! The supermarkets in Portugal are quite good and have most of the things you find at home. The only thing I couldn't find today was heat protection spray for my hair but I'm sure they have it here somewhere! Here are the names of some of the supermarkets in Portugal:
Pingo Doce
Continente
Intermarché
Mini-Preco
And those are all I can think of at the minute but there are probably more and most towns have at least one of these. So don't worry, you won't starve. O and on the long walk home today I walked past a macaw parrot which shocked me a lot! Now I feel like I'm on a dessert island made of papers and more papers =)
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