The first two months into
my Lisbon and ESC experience have brought a lot change to my life. I have
left my very demanding and deadline-oriented job in a multinational in my home
country not too long before starting my volunteering year in Portugal. The work
pace changed, and the tasks have varied. After getting to know the organisation
I'm volunteering at and its strong connection to the neighbourhood I work in, I
started taking part in permaculture/urban agriculture workshops with children
from the schools around, art workshops at the community centre, held a number
of meetings in Portuguese about future projects and have helped organise our
working space for various events.
The experience also came
with a new living arrangement which brought me a new roommate and a number of
hostel, and later, flat mates, who became my meal cooking supervisors, flea
market companions and travel buddies. Similarly, the on arrival training for
volunteers at the start of their projects connected me with other friends to
keep in touch with and visit.
It's a challenge which
undoubtedly will take you out of your confort zone and make you face obstacles
for which otherwise you wouldn't have prepared. I remember feeling the
frustration of not speaking the language at the level I wanted to (still do),
and how much of an impediment it brings to daily life; likewise, navigating a
new health system with all its bureaucracy whilst in unfortunate circumstances
reinforces how much of a privilege familiarity and citizenship status are.
Lastly, even away from
friends and family, I oftentimes felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity
I've been given. I've felt inspired by and enjoyed my work, I went on
hikes/trips with people who shared my joy for nature, I've joined some groups
which work for the same causes I would support at home, participated in
manifestations, and have queued up my reading list, which I plan to go through
with my library card.
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