A new experience in Derry!

Name Eliana Matos

Country of origin of the beneficiary Portugal

Country in which s/he realized the mobility project Northern Ireland

Type of mobility (professional, education, volunteering, non formal training/adult training, youth exchanges). Erasmus +

 

I decide to take part of this experience, because I love travelling and I love English. So I wrote a motivation letter to my school, and then I was chosen to participate in this program. It isn’t my first time on this type of program.

I wanted to participate in this mobility to first of all, improve my English. Then, meet new people and learn new methods of work. And this experience is very important for me, because with this on my cv, I have more chances to get a job in my country.

I really love this experience and I really want to stay here because I love the people, they are really friendly. But, unfortunately I have to go home because I didn’t get a job on my work placement. However, I hope that one day I’ll come back to Derry to visit my friends.

Many people ask me “And what about your family?”…well, I have got family. But I want to be independent. And I think that they want the best for me.

This mobility allowed me to be more independent and confident and as well to deal with very different people, at the personal point of view.

From a professional point of view I learnt how to archive and different ways of working. I did what I love to do, I met new people from other countries, and it was really nice meet them because I could learn about new cultures, different ways of thinking and new words. Now I can teach this to my family and friends.

 

I already feel like a European citizen, because as I said it wasn’t my first time on this type of project. In Europe we can travel to other countries with no problem, and we are very welcome because it’s common to have different people in all the countries. However, some things are totally different from Portugal. This mobility allowed me to make new friends.  And now I can go to their country and visit them.

Yes, I think that some people need to participle in this experience to grow up and open their minds. Some people think “I can’t go, because of my boyfriend or girlfriend or family”, Yes you can. Because at the end of the mobility you will feel proud of what you did and you will feel more independent and more confident.