From Porto/Portugal to Koblenz

Hello, my name is Duarte and I’m from Porto, Portugal. The title alone reveals how I evaluate my experience as an Erasmus student in Koblenz.

The famous thumb located in the Ludwig Museum in the Altstadt by the river, represents a gesture that I used many times during my experience, as a form of appreciation or to order a beer. Apart from beer, German culture has many things to offer, such as its food especially bratwurst and currywurst, not to mention the quantity and variety of kebabs I have eaten over the past months, a food that symbolizes the multiculturalism of the city and that always fills our stomach with comfort, except if it is too spicy as I once made the mistake of ordering.The buildings and monuments of the old town are also worth seeing, I was lucky enough to live right in the centre of town in a nineteenth century building. Every time I left the house I was grateful to have those wonderful views so close, not to mention the river fifty meters away by which I had great walks with my friends.

Beyond the hustle and bustle of the touristy old town, Koblenz gave me great experiences and memories in nature, being a city lad, living in contact with nature during these months made me reconnect with it. My social life during these months was very intense, and undoubtedly the best thing I take away from here were the friendships I made and the people from all over the world I met. This intercultural exchange has enriched me a lot and opened my mind about other cultures. From the feedback I got from several people, I think Koblenz is an underrated city, although not so popular it has a unique richness and offers quality of life. The Hochshule Koblenz RheinMosel Campus also made a positive impression on me because of its modern infrastructure, good teachers, delicious and cheap food, and the university parties.

I will carry the people who have marked me and the memories from the amazing moments I’ve had here forever in my heart.