O testemunho no. 1 da Jessica (Spin)

 

I am Jessica (21), a volunteer from Liechtenstein. My excitement began a week before departure. My wish was to bring a little variety into my life, so I decided to do this project. I was very excited about what awaits me here in Lisbon at SPIN. I will stay here for six months and gain experience and knowledge.  Most of all I am looking forward to meet new people from different cultures/countries. It would be great to learn some Portuguese, even though I am not that good with languages.

When I arrived at our accommodation, I had to settle in a bit. But now with time I get used to the shared apartment life.

These six months give me the opportunity to reinvent myself and take time out from "real life". As I am a very reserved person, I would like to improve my social skills.

Lisbon is a stunning city, the houses are colourful and the people are very friendly. The paved streets are slippery and it's always going up and down. There are different parks but my favourite is the one with the chickens. The beaches are incredibly beautiful, but the water was freezing cold.

I have been to several vantage points from which the whole city could be seen. The red bridge is gigantic and reminds me of America. Next door is the Jesus Statue, just like in Rio.

I have also never seen such a beautiful botanical garden. We even got in for free.

I am excited about what awaits me and look forward to the next few months here in Portugal.

O testemunho no. 1 da Marta (Spin)

 

Hey! 

My name is Marta Alethe, I am from Estonia and currently doing my 8-month volunteer service at SPIN Association in Lisbon, Portugal.

I knew from the start of high school that I did not want to go to university right after graduating...I wanted something more. I have always been driven to see the world, experience new cultures. So this project is perfect for me!

When I got off the plane I was welcomed by hot portuguese weather. Coming from a cold country like Estonia it was pretty surprising to me that it would be this warm in October!  At the moment I have been in Portugal for just a week, but I already feel that this project was the right path for me. 

Portugal is super interesting, rich in culture and has many wonderful people. I am ready to take on this new challenge and am excited to see where this adventure takes me.

Bye!

O Testemunho final da Moka (Spin)

 

My most favorite word in Portuguese is Saudade. It is an untranslatable Portuguese term that signifies melancholic longing or yearning. As a  recurring theme in Portuguese and Brazilian literature, saudade refers to a sense of loneliness and incompleteness. 

My feelings about my 1 year in Portugal can be easily exemplified in this word. It’s not even about me going back to my home country in a matter of weeks and missing Portugal, but it is also about the amount of incredible and heartwarming memories I have made here that make me long for more of this country and its people every day. I feel proud of the work I have done with my association and the moments I shared with my colleagues and the participants of our projects. I also feel a significant amount of love and appreciation for every person who made my stay welcome and helped me understand this country and its die-hard language better.

 

The last few months have been full of new projects and experiences. My association hosted 2 youth exchanges and 1 training course where I learned new ideas and topics. During that time, I have contributed to working with my colleagues to brainstorm and prepare for the projects, and implementing the ideas and adjustments we come up with for every new project. In between I had my second training in the heavenly mountains of Serra da Estrela in a remote hostel that felt like the perfect escape from the city with other volunteers and facilitators from around Portugal. Everything has been exhilarating and joyous, and never really felt nerve-wracking. 

I think what I will miss the most about Spin is the intercultural lunches we had. It was an open space for people to sit down and learn about each other’s cuisines and life experiences according to their culture. We shared a lot of laughs and dandy moments during these lunches, and of course I had to show off my Egyptian culture by cooking Koshari, which is considered Egypt’s national dish and an absolute vegan carb bomb!

Time to say goodbye to Spin and the ever-charming city of Lisbon. I know it’s not the end because I will come back here next year, but I can’t help to predict that I will fall into the deep well of saudade while I am away from here. And, dear reader, if you are ever hesitant about coming to Portugal and working with Spin, this is your sign to fill out that application form now. What a privilege it will be, and what a privilege it has been for me. 

Até à próxima vez, meus amores 🌞