London Calling

Even if you try to dream about it, you will never be able to feel it... untill you get there!

Cab talking

"Did you have a long day?” “Yes i did” “Where are you from?” “Portugal” “Oh, Portugal!!!” “And you?” “India” “Pakistan” “From Curdistan” “Poland” “I am english” (...) I never met so many different nationalities in such a short period of time. Never had so many conversations after midnight about culture, languages, travels, colonisation… Indeed, I came here to study intercultural communication. And if I am experiencing how is to adapt ourselves to a new context, discover new places, get used to another language, learn a different job, make new friends… I am also communicating all the time with culture. Multi-contexts surround me, everyday. They teach me new words and they show me boundaries of socialization. They help me in personal skills' development and they bring me frustation. They fill me up with knowledge and pleasure and they take away my confort zone. Everyday is a new challenge... as everynight I get on the cab... and I get out... "My home is here, on the right... number 25... thank you and have a good evening!"

Home

Portuguesices

Há dias em que saio da cama às 5h30 da manhã. Ao pequeno-almoço como os belos dos Oaks, agarro na bicicleta e toca a pedalar até ao city centre! Entro no trabalho com o Good Morning na ponta da língua e passo o dia a dizer yes, no, ok, how can i help you, I need a coffe…! Há dias em que faço compras no Tesco… outros no Sainsbury… Chego a casa e a minha roomate diz-me como sempre “I’m so tired today”… deito-me cedo… muito antes do relógio chegar ao número 12. No entanto, há certos rituais dos quais não prescindo. Pequenos detalhes que me… aconchegam. Tais como um belo pão com manteiga acompanhado de um galão (feito com café expresso) ... Um refogado (ou estrugido como mais recentemente aprendi) a espalhar os cheiros do azeite, da cebola e do alho pelo casa… ou Jantar a Horas de Jantar! (que na minha casa o ritual foi sempre fielmente mantido às 20h) …Enfim... Portuguesices...!

One day...

... I’ll be studying abroad. ... I’ll be doing a Master Degree In Intercultural Communication. ... I’ll be living by myself, paying a rent, buying food, going to work... ... I’ll start all over again, I will meet new people, probably make new friends and discover a new city... ... I’ll miss so much my home, my family and friends! One day I'll look back and say that everything worth it. Today is the day!

Cambridge. August the 14th. 3 weeks. When you have everything to feel great, it doesn’t mean you are! However, it also doesn’t mean you are not going to feel better afterwards. Being in this Harry Potter style University City, full of bikes, tourists, alongside a river, and invaded by multiculturalism is, so far, crazy! Crazy, hard and scary… but also a challenge and a dream came true! But if being out of our comfort zone is quite frightful… feeling stronger, wiser, open minded and fulfilled are also goals I want to achieve in the next few months. And besides initial panic, loneliness, cultural shock and weather adaptation, it worth it! And I will find my comfy place here for a while! It's time to catch the flower!

What is your Road?