From June 1st to 7th, our school had the most amazing job: we became the hosts for the final Erasmus+ student mobility! Our friends from Bulgaria, Hungary, France, North Macedonia, and Poland came to Porto, and for a whole week, our homes were filled with new languages, laughter, and fantastic energy.

The week started on Sunday when we finally got to meet our exchange partners at the airport. We were a little nervous, but mostly super excited! Taking them home to meet our families was the first big step. We wanted to make them feel welcome and show them what Portuguese hospitality is all about.

On Monday, it was our turn to shine. We gave them a guided tour of our school, showing them all our favorite spots. In the opening ceremony were performed traditional Portuguese dances and music led by Prof. Liliana Moreira, and we were so proud of our little colleagues. The welcome snack that follows in the courtyard was the perfect time to start breaking the ice and making new friends.

The activities were so much fun! We played icebreaker games with teacher Tiago Silva. In a creative workshop with teacher Susana Lima, we all worked together to create a huge mural called “My Voice, Our Wall” about what Positive Discipline means to us. It’s now hanging in our school, a colorful memory of our shared ideas.

One of our favorite sessions was the mindfulness workshop with Keap & Luísa Vasconcelos. It was so calming to just “Breathe, Feel, and Focus” together. It showed us that even with so many different languages, we can all feel peace and kindness in the same way.

We also loved showing off our beautiful city! We took our new friends to the World of Discoveries and on a walking tour through the steep, hidden streets of Ribeira and Fontaínhas . The views of the Douro River were stunning! Later in the week, the Six Bridges River Cruise was a highlight – seeing Porto from the water is something special. The cable car ride in Gaia and walking over the top of the Dom Luís I bridge was something we’ll never forget. We also visited the Porto City Hall on Friday. The festive dinner and certificate ceremony on Wednesday was a bittersweet night.

This week was more than just a trip; it was about connection. We weren’t just students from different countries; we became one big team. We learned that friendship doesn’t need perfect language skills—it just needs a smile, a willingness to play, and a shared adventure.

Saying goodbye on Saturday was really hard. There were a lot of hugs and even some tears. We are so grateful for this experience. We didn’t just show our guests Porto; we built a home for them here, full of friendship and joy.

Obrigado to everyone who made this possible. We made memories that will last a lifetime.