From the very beginning of my college search, there was one important box that my future college needed to check. The opportunity to study abroad had remained unchecked throughout most of my college visits. Since I was also planning to compete in women’s lacrosse, many schools did not offer me the chance to study abroad because I was an athlete. After my tour of Denison, the empty study abroad box was finally checked. There, I would be able to play lacrosse and study abroad, all while continuing my education as a student-athlete.
Fast forward to the fall of 2024, when I pinned Lisbon, Portugal on a map during my first year at Denison. Looking through photos online, I quickly realized that this could be the place for me. The warmer climate, proximity to the beach, colorful buildings, and opportunity to complete classes for my two majors, global health and communication & media studies, all added to the appeal of studying abroad in Portugal. Follow along the blog to see all my adventures from this special experience. First up, a recap of my first month here!
Academics in Lisbon
I am currently taking classes at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, a university located in Lisbon. Attending classes in a different country has been an interesting adjustment from my typical routine at Denison. One thing unique to Católica is that study abroad students make up a small percentage of a mainly Portuguese student population, so my classes have been a mix of students from Portugal and study abroad students from all over the world. Being immersed in a classroom with students from diverse backgrounds has enriched my learning experience in such a unique way.
I am also here with teammates from the Denison Women’s Lacrosse Team — a photo of us is on the left! We’re living in the same building; cooking dinners together and hopping on the metro to class. Our student housing is about a 15-minute metro ride from our university in more of a residential area. Now that I am more than a month into my time abroad, I can say that I feel much more comfortable navigating our neighborhood, knowing where the grocery store is, where to find the best coffee near me, and where the gym is located (just a short walk away).
Traveling Beyond Lisbon!
One of my favorite parts about living in Lisbon has been being able to travel throughout Portugal! So far, I have been to Cascais, a smaller beach town, as well as Porto for the weekend. Cascais had a small-town feel, with beautiful cliffs to jump off of and refreshing water to swim in. It was about a 30-minute drive from our student housing, which made the day trip easy for our group!
Porto was also one of the highlights of my first month here, known for its historic streets and colorful buildings. We even participated in a tile-painting class as tiles are an important part of Portugal’s culture and history, 
decorating buildings, churches, and streets throughout the country.
Outside of Portugal, another highlight was traveling to Mallorca, Spain! Some of my lacrosse teammates and I decided to visit toward the end of the tourist season while the weather was still warm. We explored Palma and had the most amazing food, including sushi and traditional tapas. Being able to snorkel in the Mediterranean Sea with all my friends was also an unforgettable experience!
My Favorite Part: The Food!
I couldn’t write about my time in Lisbon without mentioning the food. Trying new restaurants and experiencing Portuguese cuisine have easily been some of my favorite parts of living here.
The food has allowed me to expand my palate by trying many of the traditional dishes and seafood that Portugal is known for. A standout dish so far has been the prawns, pictured over an arugula salad below!
A Few Adjustments That I Have Had to Make!
One adjustment I wasn’t fully prepared for was the language barrier. Before arriving in Lisbon, I expected English to be spoken more frequently, but I quickly realized that wasn’t always the case. Although it was challenging at first, it has pushed me to learn Portuguese through everyday interactions. Whether I’m grocery shopping, ordering at a restaurant, or picking up a coffee, I’ve slowly picked up new words and phrases.
While this was especially overwhelming in the first couple of weeks, being able to put together small phrases and have conversations has been a key part of my experience during this first month. I am excited to return home with an expanded Portuguese vocabulary to share with my family and friends, along with all the stories and memories from this special time abroad.
I am excited to share the rest of my experiences with you all at the end of the semester!