Pupils are currently visiting our twin town Leiria. The exchange was again organized by the town twinning association Rheie. #
Johanna Rieken describes her impressions
Bom dia, eu sou a Johanna. The proud intermediate result of three days in Portugal, in Leiria to be more precise. The city where we arrive on Monday night in the glow of advertising lights and street lamps is about 2 hours away from Lisbon. It is a lively city with a small central core surrounded by several small villages that hold their own little beauties. It’s a place to explore, preferably with a local like Marta.
I meet her and her mother on Monday, it is late, we are just getting off the bus and wonder about the pleasant temperatures. She is already waiting for me with the other exchange students.
We greet each other, a little bumpy, I think, do I give her a kiss or do I shake her hand? She notices my uncertainty. We hug and get into the small car to drive to her home. It is, like many of the houses in Leiria located on a small hill. I think it’s beautiful, there’s something about it. To me it seems like a cozy vacation home.
Marta shows me her vacation home, where she lives all year round. The living room, the kitchen and finally my room. When the wooden door opens in front of me, a magnificent picture of Mother Mary greets me. And also on the little cupboard on the wall is a statue of her with a rosary. I ask directly, “are you religious?”. A question that is actually superfluous at the sight. But she answers: “No, not really, my grandmother is very religious and she comes here sometimes to visit, this is her room when she is here”.
Later, Marta tells me that she doesn’t believe in any God, yet there is a rosary hanging on her bed. It reminds her of her grandparents. They were, unlike Marta’s generation, very religious. The culture seems to be changing.
Marta is more interested in soccer, just like me. There is a game on TV when I arrive. We eat together and watch the game. The family has cooked vegetarian food especially for me, there is soup with beans.
The next day we start early.