We are at the end of our journey my friend, we did amazing things;
We saw so much;
We made those connections that actually matter in our lives;
Adventure has come to an end, and I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life.
This sounds like a goodbye, and unfortunately this time, it is. I still have time to spend with you, let me tell you about my last months, what I did and what I know.
My last months in Portugal have been cold, rainy, as even the office got slower, as a bear in hibernation, what saved us from this sleepy mood? Spin gave us volunteers a chance to do something new, to change up our routines, a training course called “Active hope”. How can I describe the training course to you? You gather with all your co-volunteers and the whole day you can speak from your heart, get in touch with your emotions and see how you can change up your thinking patterns, in this world full of negativity and problems. Through a month of interactive sessions, learning new techniques, viewing the world through the glasses of gratitude, they gave us tools to build the best version of ourselves. It brought us, volunteers, closer to each other and made us realize how different or even how similar our views of the world are.
Even the strongest soldiers and hard-workers need a break, so did I. Madeira was magical, with its warm weather and stunning landscapes. It was already November, and I could walk around in shorts and swim in warm ocean waters - was it a dream or a reality?
Seeing the mountains of Pico do Arieiro, growing an obsession with geckos and lizards and swimming in natural pools filled me with happiness and energy. I knew that these moments would sustain me in the challenges that lay ahead.
It was my first Christmas without snow, I felt immense homesickness, but once the sunlight in the middle of December hit me I thought, okay, I could get used to this. I still believe that Christmas without snow is not really authentic, but spending it with people you love and care about is all that matters.
It was also my first time coordinating an event. With the help of my co-volunteers and staff, we made an event to promote sustainability, recycling, reusing and building connections. It was time for Swap Market! It was as easy as it sounded, bring stuff, swap for something new… well new for you. As my departure came closer and closer, I found a problem - I have too much stuff, and instead of just throwing it away or giving it to charity, I thought why not make it into something different and host an event.
Since the first swap market was successful, we also gave a chance for neighborhood kids to take part of it. So we implemented it at Bola p´re frente. And needless to say, it brought happiness and excitement to children and teenagers (And I got the chance to give some of my heavy baggage away).
I still have two weeks of my volunteering, And I still feel like I haven't seen everything, so As I am speaking to you my dear reader, I am preparing for Porto, seeing Lisbon's breathtaking beaches one last time, swimming in the salty ocean waters and spending time with my closest friends. All I have to add is to thank you for being with me during this crazy journey, and I will always carry you in my heart Lisbon.
Hanna is out.
