Studying abroad truly defies any expectations you put in place—both good and bad. My recent weekend trip to Portugal was a prime example because it was nothing like the vacation my friends and I were anticipating.
We had been waiting for this trip all semester long. Our program has taken us on several excursions to other cities in Spain but the capstone of the four trips was the final venture across the border to an overnight in Portugal. My friends and I weren’t exactly well prepared (our plans for bikini bods and perfect tans to show off didn’t quite pan out) but what threw us off the most was the weather forecast. I had unearthed my swimsuit and was picking out sundresses when one of my roommates announced it was going to be cold and rainy.
To say this was a buzz kill would be a huge understatement. I packed my bag with pants and long sleeves and even bought an anorak at Zara.
I like my study abroad program a lot but they strongly test my nerves when it comes to planning. We started off a half hour late only to stop at a rest stop an hour later, for 45 minutes. Back on the road, we drove two and a half more hours to Lagos, Portugal. It’s a beautiful and scenic city on the coast with sparkling blue water and sandy cliffs. However, we were not there to spend the weekend. We drove all the way out there, an hour past our true destination, so that we could take pictures. In weather that was fifty degrees, very windy, and occasionally drizzling. And any photo taken of me there I deem useless with three-hour-bus-ride-and-windy-cliff hair. Apparently the best view had to be taken in from below the cliffs, but my paralyzing fear of falling off a cliff prevented me from teetering down the narrow and practically vertical path down.
We were back on the bus to get lunch. I was highly excited by the prospects of food. However, there was only one restaurant in this boondock of Lagos they took us to and we had to cross the beach to get there. That was enjoyable but the food was not. Also, 150 students at one small restaurant added up to another time delay.
We were back on the bus for our hour drive to the hotel. Remarkably, the sun was out when we arrived in Portimao and we sprinted down to the beach to enjoy the final rays of sun (in jeans and sweaters, however, though there were some abitious people in swimsuits).
My expectations for dinner were relatively low but greatly surpassed by delicious food and a doting wait staff. (Free shots after dinner are always a plus.) We returned to our hotel to get ready for a night out. I felt like I had returned to my high school class trip days with the full on hall party we had going on in the hotel. Not to break with the theme, we were yelled at by our advisors for disrupting the other hotel guests.
The next morning, while assessing the damage that was nearly an episode of Real World: Sevilla, the skies opened up and released a quasi-hurricane. We could not go on our boat trip but were also checked out of our rooms. Our advisors told us to go feed ourselves and return back to see if the boat trip would happen.
Once we returned to the hotel we quickly learned it was cancelled (if the white caps and swirling winds weren’t any indication). We were back on the bus for the three-hour drive home (and another pit stop at a rest stop).
Our advisors felt horrible and kept apologizing for the weather. They said it is usually the students’ favorite trip. It wasn’t at all like my expectations, but between the friends I’ve made over here and the promise of Portuguese nightlife, the trip was fun and that is all that mattered.
Disclaimer: I do not know how on earth these photos came out so well. The clouds may have parted for a shot or two.