Orientation in Lovely Lisbon

Bom dia de linda Lisboa! After long travels from all over the United States, our entire group of 25 has arrived to Lisbon and is currently embarking on their second full day of the program! 

Our first few days have been exciting, educational, and full of lots of bonding. Our students arrived on two separate flights this Sunday. Some came direct from Newark, and some adventured from JFK to Paris before our final destination. Tired from the trip but eager to get the program started, the group spent Sunday evening exploring the beautiful dormitory, getting to know each other with lots of games and orientation, and walking around the neighborhood. They have already learned that they have the great fortune of being located right by one of Portugal's biggest shopping malls and the Estádio de Luz, the beautiful soccer stadium of Lisbon's (best) team, Benfica! 

On our first full day on-location, we were debriefed on CIEE's COVID-19 mitigation stategies, which includes a 5-day period of "soft isolation" to ensure we don't bring the virus into our host community. During this period, students are split into two pods, and we are spending lots of time building a strong community and group dynamic. Students also met their Portuguese teachers and had their first survival Portuguese class in a nearby park-- they returned to the dorms with many new phrases under their belt, and eager to say "Olá!" to the any local they passed by. 

Our second day is beginning with the students meeting their wonderful instructor, Bruno, in their first political science classes. They shared their motivations to come to the CIEE World Government program: we heard about interests in the United Nations, travel journalism, environmental issues, and refugee policies. Students also talked about their first impressions of Lisbon. Many referenced the sunny weather, the colorful buildings, and the friendly locals. 

In their free time, students have enjoyed bonding games on the terrace, delicious meals delivered twice a day, and walks to explore appreciate local architecture. Oh, and did I mention the coffee? Students found that coffee vending machines are a thing in Portugal, and have already decided that they love Portuguese coffee. 

Tomorrow is our last day of "soft isolation" and students are eager to get out and explore the city on Thursday, when they will head to campus and tour the Estádio de Luz. We are so excited for what is to come, and truly immersing ourselves in the local Portuguese culture!