On Monday, which was the first day of the Erasmus+ program, we accompanied our host students to their school, where we were warmly welcomed. Each participating school gave a short presentation about themselves, allowing us to learn more about the different countries and cultures involved. One Portuguese students also performed a small musical piece, which added a special touch to the welcome event.
Afterwards, students from the school „Raul Proença“ gave us a guided tour of the campus. This was followed by a photo competition that led us through the streets of Caldas da Rainha, giving us our first impression of the city and helping us get oriented.
For lunch, we ate in the school cafeteria. In the afternoon, we attended a short dance workshop where students from each country performed a traditional dance. Later, we enjoyed a relaxing picnic in the park. Even at this early stage, during the free time and picnic, we could already sense that this week would be something special—and that we would form strong friendships.
That same day, we also had the opportunity to meet our host families and get to know the other participants for the very first time.
On Tuesday, we went canoeing on the Lagoa de Óbidos, which was a great experience. We paddled from one side of the lagoon to the other and briefly stopped at the shore, where we tried a plant called Salicornia, a type of red algae used in cooking as a salt substitute. On our way back, we had a fun—and exhausting—canoe race across the water.
On Wednesday, we began the day with a drive to Óbidos, a historic town where we took part in a guided tour. We were amazed at how old and well-preserved the buildings were. After the tour, we had some free time to explore the town and buy souvenirs for our families and friends.
Our next stop was the beach, where we did some beach cleaning. We learned about the negative impact of litter on marine life and the importance of protecting our oceans. Once we finished cleaning, we had more free time to eat, relax, and enjoy the water.
On Thursday afternoon, we visited the Oceanário de Lisboa and took part in a guided tour. We saw many fascinating marine animals up close, including sharks, seahorses, and rays. One particularly exciting moment was when we got to touch real shark skin and learn about marine species from all over the world.
A highlight of the visit was a stunning light show that illustrated the ocean’s life cycle. Afterwards, we explored different types of coral and learned about the serious issue of coral bleaching and the threat it poses to marine ecosystems.
Our guide also shared a surprising fact: one of the small otters at the Oceanário eats seven kilograms of seafood per day—more than all the sharks there eat in an entire week. This opened our eyes to how often animals like sharks are misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, sharks eat far less than people think, while otters, for example, have much larger appetites.
The tour was both fascinating and eye-opening. It reminded us how important it is to challenge stereotypes about animals and to protect the ocean from harm caused by misinformation and careless human behavior.
Friday marked the end of our Erasmus+ project. We came together to plant a tree in front of the Raul Proença school, symbolizing the connections we had built during the week. Then we worked in groups to create a book that documented our experiences with photos and texts.
After receiving our certificates of participation, we said goodbye to our Lithuanian friends. In the afternoon, we all went to the beach one last time to enjoy our final moments together as a group. It was a perfect ending to an unforgettable week.
