Marlies G: Not the first week I expected

Our adventure in Lisbon didn’t exactly start as planned. Right from the beginning, things got complicated: our flight had technical issues, which led to over two hours of delay. It was exhausting, to say the least. But because of our late departure, I got to celebrate my 18th birthday twice, once in Austrian time and once in Portuguese time. Despite everything, celebrating my birthday with my two best friends and a bunch of other people, while in the air was just unforgettable. They all sang for me and we even got champagne and snacks.

Unfortunately, the rough start didn’t end there. My first week in Lisbon was honestly quite tough, mainly because of work. The job I was placed in turned out to be a huge disappointment. No one at the workplace spoke English, which made communication almost impossible. The manager was unfriendly and rude, and I was given tasks that weren’t part of my role at all. I felt like I wasn’t being treated well, and to make matters worse, the agency that organized the placement didn’t seem interested in helping at first.

Thankfully, things have started to turn around. I now have a new job at a chillout hostel, and the atmosphere there is so much better. The people are super friendly and chill, the vibe is relaxed and I love the work.

Even though my work week was exhausting and definitely not what I expected when I first signed up for this experience, the little free time I had with my friends made up for it. We’ve been exploring the city, hanging out at the beach, and enjoying the small moments that make this kind of trip unforgettable.

It’s been a challenging start, but I’m hopeful that things can only get better from here. I’m really curious to see what the next few weeks will bring and I’m ready for whatever comes next.