O testemunho da Cristina

E de repente chegou Julho. Este é o ultimo mês do meu voluntariado. Estou a fazer mêmoria e lembrando parece me incrível que tenhan passado  nove meses desde que cheguei a Lisboa em Novembro do ano passado. 

Tantas coisas aconteceram, tantos momentos vividos, tanta novas pessoas e tantas experiências de aprendizagem positivo que nao posso valorizá lo de outra maneira que como um período muito satisfatório da minha vida em que estou a aprender muito de outras pessoas e elas estão a aprender de mim.

Cheguei a Lisboa un bocado perdida, sem conhecer a língua, e agora parece me mentira que estou a escrever isto sem quase usar um diccionario, estou orgulhosa de mim por ter relações con outras pessoas de fala portuguêsa tanto no meu trabalho como fora dele.

De Lisboa como cidade posso dizer muitas coisas boas, tem umas paisagems fantásticas para passear e admirar as panorâmicas, á gastronomia é muito variada e geralmente deliciosa, é uma cidade multicultural e por isso há sempre ofertas para todos os públicos. Também tem muito ambente noturno e diurno, especialmente agora no verão, grandes festas como Santo Antônio que duram um mês inteiro, e días muito importantes como o 25 de Abril. É claro que também há coisas menos boas mas agora que estou a fazer balanço, não vale a pena mencioná las.

Em segundo lugar, de o meu trabalho, á associação onde vivo os días todos durante sete horas, também fico com as coisas boas, as atividades que corrieron bem, os risos com os colegas e os utentes, o “bom dia”, “até amanhã” , “bom fin de semana” e “ bom feriado” tão precisos, o apredizgem de muitas competências e responsabilidades e também com os momentos maus o menos bons, como as agonias diante de uma atividade que nao sai bem, a morte de utentes, os momentos de decisão e tantas outras coisas que fazem aprender e avançar na vida.

Por enquanto eu fico nesta cidade maravilhosa ¿até quando? Só o tempo dirá, eu só sei que quero continuar a sumar grandes momentos e aprender coisas novas todos os días.

O testemunho do Michał

 I was waiting with this one testemunho for a long time. I was looking for some special topic to write about... something interesting and usefull. Topic which will be more than empty informations, but some knowledge with possibilty to aply it. Well... I found it!!! Yeah! And I'm so proud now! Its so cool! I'm even angry that no one discover it for us (i mean Spin volounteers) before. Really! So.., generally I love Lisbon very very much. 

Its place with positive spirit, and if yout intentions are positive, energy of this place will support you to realize your wishes! But i found also few disadvantages of this city. Its overcrowdet city. You going to experience lot of pressure,  specially on the streets (traffic jams, ...), metro... Also you will miss dome physical movement (if you will not mannage some activity((For sure your mentor will help you with it)). And in the and money and nature. I need to tell it, because I found solution, how to deal with all of this problems by one easy hack! 

So: Lisbon became ideal place for my EVS project cause of my idea! I explore it just by chance, only 2 mounths before end of my project. Its an bicycle! I know, it sounds weird and dangerous. But actually, its not! Ita amazing instrument to explore Lisbon from completly diferent, and very alternative perspectiv! Its the fastest kind of transportation here! Imagine, my way from Anjos to Bairro padre Cruz taking 45min or one hour by metro and buses (depends on time you will wait for connections). On bicycle? 40 or 45 minutes! And surprisly this way is moreless flat! Ok, i have some experience with cycling. If you dont, better lets practice a bit before. Just to be shure youre able to show direction with your hand, and look behined you during riding. You will need it during passing thru the crowdy roads. And dont be afraid! Lisbon car drivers are afraid too, so theyre going so slowly and carefully. Plus they are waiting on traffic pughts all the time. In my philosophy, cyclers deserving some extra advantages (cause of ecological and safety reasons/ try to comber bicycle and car, you will understand me),,, so for me; you can using roads , but sidewalks as well! Yes, you should have access for more green lights than cars! And also you can passing under the red light signs, as same as walkers in Lisbon usually doing. But of course, dont lose your head because of this testemunho! Youll be always responsible for yourself! You will explore this possibilietes by your own. 

                                                       ( be cereful for the ants )

But lets continue. What If the police will see you doing somethink illegal? Its not a problem! They cannot catch you, because they dont have bicycles! Youre so privileged! Yes! You should feel like a pirate of the roads here! Its very important!  I dont want to describe you the way to Spin hostel. Even google will not show it to you. I explore it by my own, and it was exciting experience. I found so many interesting places! But as im kind, i will give you few advantages. 1st; never ever follow the bicycle ways! There like a traps! Of course On the way to Spin youll cross thru few, But its an only short parts of this cycloroads wich you can use. so dont forget to leave tham once, othervise youll spinning in circles, or youll desapear. 2nd advice its verry important. If youll loose yourself, you should ask someone for the way (by the way its nice way of practicing your porthugese). But when youre asking, please use only the simple terms! Simple such for example an benfica stadion. Everyone know where is it. Dont ask where is Bairro Padre Cruz! 

Porthugese people are so polite, thet they would answer to you even if they dont have an clue where is the place youre looking for! So it can happen that youll  jumping thru the Lisbon like a flubber for many hours. It sounds like an joke, but its not, and its very anoying! And money! Public transport card costs 37Euros per mounth. Of course, subways and buses are important part of culture, end not to experience tham its like not being here. But you will, for sure, for example couse of weather. But there is not bat wether for bike ride! When its too hot, wind of movement will cool you, and when its too cold, movement of your body will make you feel hot!... I just want to say, that if youre desparate, and youll decide to use bicycle for whole your EVS, youll save a lot of money. 370€ per 10 mounths! You can buy amazing bicycle for this money! If youll be patient,/ or lucky you can find bicycle even for 20€, and it will be better than one I had. I called it suicide bike, becouse it was falling apart during the way. Even my handels get loose during and I mostly died. But now I dont have this bike anymore. and im so sad! I experience so nice times on it. For example way near the cost to the Cascais is very nice.

My first two weeks as EVS volunteer in Lisbon

You know this feeling that you are lost and no doors open in front of you. Well, I was in this situation just after my final exams in France, I didn’t know what I wanted to do: take a gap year ok, but what to do during this free time? I applied for an EVS volunteering because I wanted to go abroad, to be part of a concrete project and to learn more about others and myself. I’m just 20 years old so I need this kind of experience which allows you to evolve. I remember I was with friends when I received a mail from Spin telling me I was choose for this EVS volunteering, and I screamed because I was so happy. I know I’m very lucky to have been chosen.

   
I arrived in Lisbon two weeks later. Two of my flatmates came to pick me up at the airport the 1st of June. I had just put down my suitcases as we went out to the streets to party. In fact, I arrived at the right time because it’s Santos Populares now, the biggest celebration in Lisbon. During all the month of June, every night it’s party in all Lisbon. This situation permitted me to discover a Lisbon very festive, colourful, with a smell of sardines in all the streets. Yes, sardines, but do not stop at the visual, it’s very good with bread. This festive environment allowed me also to meet other volunteers of my EVS project. I met wonderful people from so many different countries. We all speak in English but it’s very interesting to discover the culture of everyone, to share our own life experiences.
     

My roommate was also a big support for me during the two last weeks to discover the city and surroundings. Lisbon is a city where you can try a lot of things whether in terms of sports, museums, concerts, beautiful beaches. I have already tried kick-boxing, surf, yoga, zouk dance. Yes, I love to try a lot of things 😊 And for me, discovering a culture is first and foremost about cooking. I’m French but I agree to say that Lisbon is excellent for its pastries. My goal is to try almost every specialities, it makes really a lot but I have 9 months !!

I began to work in Vicentix one week after my arrival. It’s a recreation center after school. I was impressed because they do so various activities with kids. Not only sports, but also cooking, coding, activities with the elderly. I felt immediately at ease in this environment, surrounded by young children full of energy and joy. I need to improve my portuguese to be able to talk with children, so this experience permits me to improve two languages in the same time!

   
I feel the 9 next months will be very intense, whether in Vicentix or in my everyday life. When I arrived, the weather was a bit too much windy and cold but now the sun is pointing the tip of his nose. I continue to discover this city so alive, where people are of an incredible sweetness (like pastries 😉).  I know this is just the beginning of my adventure but after these two crazy weeks, I know I will go out transformed from this experience.

Maio em creche Crescer a Cores

Como a minha colega voluntaria jà me tinha anunciado, voltar da formação A' Chegada à rotina diaria não foi facil. O SVE nem sempre è "navegar em aguas calmas", màs acho ùtil que assim não seja e que eu possa dar a minha contribuição contando a minha experiência.

E' verdade que è necessaria muita flexibilidade mental sobretudo, màs as vezes tambèm fìsica; o conselho que gostaria de dar aos que queram começar esta aventura è ler com atenção os documentos que os voluntarios recebem antes da partida, os quais podem ser um meio e ferramenta para o apoio e a clareza na relação entre assinatarios, ou seja os tutores das Organizações de envio, de coordenação e de acolhida.

Na mitade de maio tive a oportunidade de participar em uma reunião com os pais e ad educadoras. Estas oportunidades me fazem sentir parte integrante da organização. No fim de semana participei e ajudei na lògistica da festa do "Dia do Vizinho", uma festa para a melhoria da convivência num bairro desafiante como pode ser um bairro social. Aconteceu um festival de sopas em que cada predio levou a propria sopa para os vizinhos experimentarem, junto com bifanas, arroz doce, sobremesas tipicas caboverdianos, sangria e bolo. Houve tambèm cantos populares alentejanos e brincadeiras para as crianças.

Sempre no mês de maio organizamos nos locais da creche o terceiro e ùltimo encontro do roteiro "Historia por Aì" ao qual participaram tambèm pais e educadoras. Pudimos ler os nossos contos, nas nossas linguas, e ouvir as historias dos outros.

Alèm disso, acolhimos os voluntarios de uma das instituições de crèdito padrinhas da creche, os quais pintaram a fresco as paredes da creche e com os quais partilhamos um churrasco e sobremesas.

O mesmo dia alguns deles nos acompanharam junto com a minha tutora, as psicòlogas da associação e a minha colega voluntaria na operação "Bom dia vizinho". A acção consistiu em colar nas portas dos predios do bairro inteiro o logo da atividade para desejar a todos um bom dia e promover a boa convivência.

As crianças do jardim da infância do bairro ja tinham desenvolvido atividades similares, aprenderam desde logo a cumprimentar os vizinhos.

Junho serà um mês interesante por causa das festas populares de Lisboa e grande e pequenos eventos vão acontecer...

Elisabetta

O testemunho da Kateřina

Even though in the time of writing this testimony I still have two more months to go, it already makes me feel nostalgic. My experience in Spin was so far simply great. I am mentioning the word “simply” on purpose. To be honest, it is not that easy to describe my whole world here. In these 7 months, there were (and still are) unforgettable things happening almost everyday, I have experienced many things for the first time, I fell madly in love with Lisbon, I am surrounded by inspiring people which of course are making at least half of this whole experience and then Spin, our office, our team, our hostel and our neighborhood of Bairro Padre Cruz. 

Right now the biggest part of my EVS life is dedicated to my personal project. I have decided to write 2 Erasmus+ proposals with my colleague Maria, another EVS volunteer. The first one is a Youth Exchange on the topic of municipal waste which will be applied back in the Czech Republic and the second one is a Training Course about non-violent communication which will take place in Cyprus. I have to admit it is not always an enjoyable fun thing to do, we have spent many hours sitting, writing, brainstorming, being depressed, being excited and luckily being inspired as well. Even though we have written many pages already, there are many pages left. We are coming with new ideas every day, we are really trying to make it as good as possible. We really care about these two projects and we even call them our babies. :D Soo wish us luck with applying! And in 2 months, see you at my final EVS report!

O testemunho da Maria

So how is EVS life when the excitement of the beginning has passed and the sentimentality of the end still hasn’t kicked in? Pretty awesome! 

Further away from the awkwardness of the beginning, I feel that I’m part of the city, I started recognizing people in the street, I know which shop sells the most fresh fruit, I know what’s the fastest route to reach a place, I know that it’s a bad idea to take the tram 28 if you don’t want to suffocate and most importantly, I stopped identifying with the visitors of the city. 

I have seen different faces of Portugal: cities in the north,  overrated villages and underrated towns, sunny parks and cloudy beaches.  

The same goes for my volunteering in Spin. I feel comfortable to work and take initiatives, cooperate with everyone and undertake different tasks. And by different I mean very different. From choosing the participants for our international volunteering project, to publishing on social media, answering to emails, cooking for a hundred people, attend meetings in junta, promote EVS in info sessions, taking care of Spin’s hostel, experimenting with writing a youth exchange and why not… taking photos with the president of the country! 

Seeing so many different sides of a country, a city, of your work, it gives you a great feeling belonging in this reality, as if you had been doing this your whole life. It just feels right. Suddenly, what was at the borders of your comfort zone, now feels as comfortable as a couch with a blanket on a winter day! And it’s the moment when you realise that moving on after this, is way more challenging than it was to start it.

Yea… sentimentality started kicking in.

Formação “A’ chegada” em Viseu

Segunda-feira 14 de maio 2018, Largo Intendente, Lisboa, horàrio e mùsica perfeitos para o “aperitivo”.

Acabou um dia de trabalho não dos melhores que ja tive, mas não me sinto triste nem frustrada...

Ha uma semana partì para a Formação “A’ chegada” em Viseu e voltei no sàbado. Não queria escrever logo no domingo porque as emoções eram

muitas e confusas. Hoje não diminuiram, mas quero organiza-las. A minha viagem não demorou muito, ao contràrio dàs de alguns participantes que conseguiram chegar da Ilha da Madeira, e ainda antes da Georgia, ou do Algarve, as vezes sem falar muito português ou inglês, mas todos com o nosso cargo de expectativas e motivações.

Por minha conta, a minha colega espanhola na minha Associação Anfitriã, que tinha participado na Formação o mês anterior, ja me tinha avisado sobre a experiência; eu tentei controlar as minhas expectativas para não ficar desiludida. Obviamente não foi preciso, porque foram grandemente ultrapassadas. No começo podìa parecer extranho, ja que o grupo era bastante heterogenêo (dos 19 aos 30 anos de idade, da Georgia à Finlandia..), que pudessemos ganhar esse tão alto nìvel de harmonia.

Isso foi possivel confrontando-nos sobre nossas diferenças e similaridades, sobre os nossos paìses de origem, sobre o paìs que nos acolhe e as suas positividades e negatividades, e sobre aquelas dos nossos projetos pessoais.

Atè conseguimos ser independentes dos formadores durante uma manhã inteira organizando palestras e dinàmicas baseadas nas nossas competências e capacidades (dança, mùsica, comida, lìngua, ciência, esportes, costrumes...).

Tivemos momentos de reflexão e momentos muito productivos, momentos de aprendizagem e de ensino (sobre tudo simultâneos).

Pudimos explorar a cidade juntos, o seu parque com os pavões livres, o mercado de agricultores locais, os bares chiques e aqueles mais descontraidos, a gente do lugar, o teleferico, os seus grafitis...

Esta formação quase foi anulada por falta de participantes (eramos 16, a mitade do usual) mas eu estou muito agradecida que tenha acontecido. Voltei ao meu projeto com um olhar diferente.

Encontrei amigos de todas partes da Europa e mais alèm, uma rede que apoia-me na distância, peças de mim em todo Portugal, e eles tambèm deixaram partes deles em mim.

Mal posso esperar para a pròxima formação!

O testemunho da Fran

Estou a fazer um Serviço Cívico Europeu há quase um ano em Lisboa. Termino em menos de uma semana e é hora de me preparar para sair quando sinto que cheguei ontem... Lembro-me de quando cheguei, foi o começo das festas de Santo Antônio em Lisboa, o tempo estava bom, a cidade fervia e as ruas cheiravam a sardinha assada e cerveja. Imediatamente gostei da atmosfera e das cores da cidade, do pôr-do-sol dos moradouros e da sensação de celebração permanente e liberdade durante o mês de junho. Desde os primeiros dias conheci dezenas de pessoas de todos os lados e tive que me adaptar a uma mudança radical de estilo de vida, vindo de uma pequena aldeia de 60 habitantes... E passei por um dos mais belos verões da minha vida.

Na organização onde trabalhei, a SPEA, também conheci muita gente e, para minha grande satisfação, portugueses. É muito interessante conhecer pessoas de todo o mundo, o que inevitavelmente acontece quando se faz um SVE em Lisboa, mas queria conhecer a população local e, graças à minha organização, era possível. Descobri uma cultura que não conhecia, ou muito pouco, e apesar do seu lado muito calmo e muito reservado, os portugueses provaram ser pessoas muito simpáticas.

Durante as minhas missões, bastante diversas mas todas relacionadas com o estudo e a protecção das aves, tive a oportunidade de descobrir áreas do país longe de Lisboa, como a região do Parque Natural do Douro Internacional, a costa perto de Sagres ou as Ilhas Berlengas. Foi uma grande oportunidade porque apesar de Lisboa ser uma cidade muito bonita, eu precisava e queria explorar áreas mais naturais e remotas.

Juntei-me a uma associação cujos membros e missões sentirei falta assim que sair de Lisboa. Também aprendi a falar uma língua que amo e que ficarei triste em esquecer se não encontrar oportunidades para praticá-la quando voltar para a França. Não foi vencido, porque apesar de o português e o francês não serem línguas radicalmente diferentes, levei muito tempo para falar em português. Hoje passei neste curso e aprendo todos os dias um pouco mais.

Os bons dias estão voltando e o desejo de reviver um verão tão intenso quanto o ano passado está mais forte do que nunca, mas outros projetos me chamam e daqui a algumas semanas vou sair para novas aventuras. Mas uma coisa é certa, fiz bem em vir viver um ano em Lisboa e vou deixar Portugal com o desejo de voltar o mais depressa possível para explorar tudo o que ainda não tive tempo de explorar durante o meu ano neste belo país.

O testemunho da Renata

Fear, expectation, happiness and many more emotions are what invaded my body when I received the email confirming that my life was going to change a lot. Before continuing, I will introduce myself. My name is Renata, I'm 22 years old and I live in Elche, a beautiful city in Spain.

2 months ago I arrived in Lisbon to do my EVS in Crescer a Cores. There, I am in the care of 8 small babies between 4 months to 1 year. To the ones that now I call "my babies." Lisbon has made me meet incredible people from the first moment, people that probably never would have known had it not been for an experience like this. Starting from the first day for the first person I met on arrival who went to pick me up at the airport and accompany me to my new home. Then he left me in my room and introduced me to my roommate. At that time I did not know that she would become a great support for me.

At the Spin’s welcome dinner I met the other volunteers who would start this adventure with me on the same project and also the people who work and make it possible for us to be here. And in this time, I've realized that all the people who are related in any way to the Spin association are wonderful. In EVS you also have a mentor, and in addition to having your own, the interaction with other mentors is great.

In my first weeks I met people of more nationalities than in my entire life. And I started to know my new city, but to know it thoroughly, "intense tourism" I call it, visiting hospitals and seeing another face of Lisbon. But taking all the situations with humour I tell everyone that if I am going to live a year here I have to know everything EVERYTHING. It was time to really get to know Lisbon and get into its streets, its people, its cultures, and I have personally entered into its food, what a wonder! And I tell you a secret ... in Lisbon the kilos you gain are not so many because there are so many stairs and hills so you lose everything ;)

Since I arrived on March 1, it was raining non-stop for a month, but now the sun that characterizes this city is appearing and I had to go to the On arrival Training at Viseu and learn a little more about Portugal. Hilarious activities, wonderful people of different nationalities volunteering in different places of Portugal and a beautiful city like Viseu have left a great memory forever and gave meaning to the word "saudade".

I thank my friend "El Sevi" for sharing the application for this project with me one day.

I am improving my English, learning Portuguese, discovering Lisbon every day, meeting incredible people but above all knowing myself.

O testemunho do Dario

"Hi Dario, In 3 days, everything changes! The selected volunteer will not be able to join us and you were on the top of the waiting list, so you are now selected to Join Viver Telheiras' EVS Project. Congratulations!". 

With these words my EVS started. It was February 15th when I received this mail from Spin Association. I was so overwhelmed with emotions, that it took me a couple of hours to realize I had only two weeks to organize the whole trip. I arrived in Lisbon on the 1st of March after the worst plane trip of my life due to bad weather. But as after every storm the good weather returns with sunshine (though this time it’s just inside me; 4 weeks of rain are waiting for me in Lisbon). Bad weather has marked the first weeks of my EVS, but I have to say that a few sunny days were enough to fall in love with this city. In a caption of a picture I posted on Instagram I compared Lisbon to a blooming ivy that climbs lightly on its seven hills. Lisbon is hot. Despite the rain it immediately speaks to you. Like all cities, it’s lively: it spies on you from the half-open windows, it greets you through the eyes of passersby, it invites you to get lost in every corner.

I started working two weeks after my arrival. Maybe it was better this way. In the two free weeks I had the opportunity to explore the city, settle in, meet many people outside and inside the association. At work I met my tutor, Luis. He is a 31-year-old who turned out to be more than just a business colleague. He introduced me to the local partners of Telheiras (the neighborhood where I work) and he presented me the projects that the association carries out and to which I could join. 

It's only been a month since my arrival, but I feel like I'm already part of a solid team. I like my job; the week is marked by administrative work in the office and practical activities such as the “refood project” (to avoid food waste inside the big supermarket chains) and the “plastic project” (to reduce pollution and to educate citizens about separate recycling). In the meantime, the preparations for the famous Telheiras festival have begun. It takes place from the 11th to the 19th of May, and it will be an honor to participate.

I know that this is only the beginning of my adventure, but I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen this EVS. For now, I would say that’s all, but I’m sure that many surprises and opportunities are waiting for me in this adventure.

Lost and Found - Szandra

You know about those boxes all over the world, which are full of lost goodies waiting for their loitering lazy-ass-owners to pick them up again? Yeah, those. Well I kind of felt like I’m in one of those boxes waiting aimlessly for some mythical phenomena to occur.

And it did.

Portugal not just grabbed me out of the box, but kicked that cardboard real hard, pushing me right into the hearth of Lisbon. And that intensely pumping heart can easily devour one who’s daring enough take an extra step forward and explore. 

My EVS began on the 1st of March. You hear a lot, that Portugal is a sunny, and hot country. Well, it was rainy as hell in my first month, but the Sun was there… Behind the smiles of people, behind the windows of the old, living houses of narrow streets. Sunshine escaping from all over, directly to YOUR hearth. 

It is beautiful.

And enormous joy. There is life in every single small corner. You can have as much fun as you want, and even more, in amounts you would have never expected.  Meeting new people from all over the world and getting to know their brimming own individual universes, and ways of perspective is the most priceless thing. You hear the expression cultural diversity a lot. But here you understand it, and get immersed in it, with a never ceasing eagerness to delve into it even more and more. 

You will be immensely conscious about so many things, you might not even have heard about before. Because among all this fun, and beauty there is also purpose. You will learn, you will develop, you will teach and you will help, while being helped. This what EVS is about. 

For me.