O testemunho do Angel No. 3 ( Boutique da Cultura)

Well, after 1 year, my project has come into an end, and it has had a lot of experiences and feelings. The first day after my project finished was kind of magic. I felt the same strange sensation that I had when I was here for my first time, and I for me this kind of things are special. For me, feelings and sensations are attached to specific moments, because this feelings are born from experiences thay you had, thoughts, and just in that specific moment. Everytime you feel something, you feel it for the first time, because maybe you have felt something similar, but in another conditions, so it's kind of different. That's why for me it was strange, because I had the same feeling of being starting a new chapter, in the same place after one year. It's not the same, but I feel it like.

In this time, I have also learnt a lot from my relations with the people, more than what people think. I've discovered from close persons a lot of things, like their way to act depending on the situation, depending with who they are, and that has surprised me with a lot of people. I've met people who has been kind of egocentric, who wants to be the center of the attention, people who interrupts (in a bad way) other people when the other is talking. People who is really false (...). Anyway, not all the people is bad, or has bad things. Not all the volunteers that I have met that have wanted to be the "star" are bad person, some of them they have a really big heart when they don't look to themselves, and that's something that I really appreciate, how a person can change that much depending on "where is she/he looking", it's something from where I have learnt a lot, it's really interesting how people minds can work. People diversity is always good and I like that people find themselves different from others, or they just have more ego, the only thing I think about it is that they should be careful, when your ego is bigger than your person, you're no one, they are just a mouth talking about themselves or trying to be funny, and before being popular or funny, I prefer to be myself, to be the person I am. It's about listening and talking, when you do one of them more than the other, you're trying to be more than you are.

I have also met incredible people this lasts months. It's true that I have lost a little bit of contact with some friends because since the summer came, I don't really want to be talking that much via phone or whatever, I'm more like the wind that blows the leaf and carry it whenever it feels. It hasn't been anything particular to anyone, it has been just my way to feel the life as we should, do things just by how you feel them, and with this I don't want to say that I didn't want to talk or meet people, I just want to say that I preferred to let the things be by their way to be rather than force anything or being taking the phone to talk, I'm a person who likes to talk face to face. Anyway, this last months I've met a lot of incredible people, more outside than inside of the volunteer circle, and it's a really huge difference for me.

Being volunteer it's hard on meeting people, and it's something that a lot of people could be like "whatt", and I mean, you can meet a lot of people, but it's a lot of people that will go back to another country after some months or 1 year, after they will start their lifes again, and they will start to lose every remember or experience. Maybe it's not like this in all cases, but in most, and we have to be realist, if you leave and people is not keeping the contact with you, in many cases they will forget about others little by little. That's why I have had friends here, and I don't want to impress anyone, just show them the way I am, the way I look, and I think that's magic. I found a group of friends who are aiming for the same as me for the next year and for me it's fantastic, because in this way I can really approach them more to the concept I have of friend, we can live new experiences but not from zero, what makes the relation that we have even stronger. With other people, I'm sure I'm not forgetting them because I have good memory and I've learnt a lot from everyone and even if I don't say it directly, I'm always gratefully by the people I've met for that. About what people thinks about me, I don't really mind, if people want to think I'm "X" or I'm "Z", for me it's the same, for me the most important thing is that who met me, knows me the way I am, I feel and I think, I'll always try to be humble and help the others, I don't feel I need to be talking about myself, and the impact that it has on my friends it's special, because I can be the way I want without caring about almost anything, and they will be the same way, or feel confident with me, adn that's what makes me be the way I am, I don't need to make jokes to make other think I'm funny, or try to be serious to look like that. I'm the way I am thanks to the people I love. Thanks Lisbon for this year, and let's see how comes this next one.

O testemunho de Angel No. 2 ((Boutique da Cultura)

People say that 6 months pass fast, almost flying, but to be honest, for me this months have been a lot of time and good moments, I'd say that I remember every single day that I have passed here because everyday is different, in feelings, in experiences, in attitude, so they let us know a little bit of ourselves and from the others.

I have liked a lot all this time that I've passed here, because this time has been usefull to learn about tons of things. I've had the opportunity to learn Portuguese to the point that if I need to go out, I don't need to speak English anymore. I've learnt from the local people and how they are from my experience in the volunteering, by my bosses, colleges and the people we are in contact with, they way to be and to act, with me and with the others. Specially, I've learnt a lot from my boss because he's a deep person and I think we share a lot of values. One of the best moments that I can get here is to talk with him because I know that everytalk will be interesting because we both are deep even if we normaly look stupidly funny or like prankers.

My experience with other volunteers has been also really nice. When you're out of your house, you don't know how will it be, but here I feel like we have formed a family beetwen us, with a close relation with most of us. Everyone is different, so that's perfect for learning by each other. I know that if someone needs funny moments, we'll have them, and also relax or support moments. I really like the group we've formed.

In general, I feel like this is gonna finish soon, but I still have to pass a lot of good, sad, beautiful or melancholics moments, because life is like this, but I'm open and ready for them, because this was one of my aims here, to know more about the life, about the people, about feelings, to know more about me.

O testemunho do Angel

It's always interesting to change you're life completely to start a new chapter in it. I was a little bit afraid of being alone, but since the first day I arrived, I felt covered by people, also volunteers. Also in the Spin Association and Boutique Da Cultura the first they I went with them.

The first day I was in Boutique was perfect, they were like a family and they have this atmosphere there. I know I was new there and in that moment I wasn't part of them, but they accepted me very well. Even having to speak other language without many idea, but they have been patient and that has helped me a lot to learn from them and now I can hold one conversation! People here who doesn't know me are like: wow, your Portuguese it's really good for your 2 months here!

For the creativity, it's always the best option to stay in this kind of atmospheres because a good, familiar, with kind people, helps to develop more this. I find it perfect because I want to grow as a person and as an artist, because I'm surrounded by art and artist with good heart. I really feel so lucky to be there with them, sometimes I don't realize where I am because it's so perfect. I want and for sure, I will learn a lot for this year.

People, experiences, the atmosphere, everything is new for me and I think that I can take advantage of everything to reach my goal. This year here starts in a good way, I really want to see how does it continue!