O testemunho final do Simone (JFC - Culture)

It’s time to sum things up. I have been asked to summarize in a short text what my year in Lisbon has been like. Many people close to me may take pride in saying “It’s thanks to me or to us that he had a good experience”; First, I want to clarify, as I briefly mentioned, that yes, I had a good experience, but a big thanks goes to my roommates and the friends I’ve made here. I certainly don’t want to undermine anyone; the Spin association played a significant role in all of this, especially in making it possible for me to be here, and the staff at the Natalia Correia library for giving me the freedom to act and welcoming me like a grandson.

Did I give my best? Could I have done more? Perhaps yes. I could have been more involved in the life of the library, but deep down, I feel I listened to those who wanted to talk to me, tell me, or explain parts of Portuguese culture and the workings of the library. I spent 11 months in the Spin project, working 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a one-hour break. A very high number of hours compared to other international volunteers, or if based on ESC rules, which set a minimum of 25 hours per week, including 5 hours of learning the local language. In these 35 hours, I also included 5 hours where I tried to teach or spark an interest in Portuguese among my fellow volunteers, even though I’m no expert but have a good foundation due to my background. All this to say, yes, Simone, you did your part.

What motivated me to keep going, even though there were aspects of the library that could have led to boredom or even stagnation, issues that I am not in a position to declare? After a slight nod to my sense of duty, I want to respond by mentioning the books and the search for indirect personal growth. After the first week, I knew what positives and negatives would come from working in that library. I would have the opportunity to immerse myself deeply in the Portuguese language, with conversations about traditions, food, events, and the geographical morphology of Portugal. Feeling that sense of inclusion was a great achievement for me. Being able to return home, knowing I didn’t feel like a tourist or an outsider, is a wonderful feeling.

Books, on the other hand, were part of a very important personal development and growth. Every day I had the choice between an art book, a comic, a newspaper, a book in Portuguese, or children’s classics, to name just a few options. The continuous practice and training in reading surely helped me pass the admission interview for the master’s program I recently took.
Spin had the task of mediating between volunteers, trying to meet their needs, and ensuring that relations between the various parties were as positive and efficient as possible. Personally, I have nothing to complain about. Catarina, first and foremost, and then the other workers at the association, were very welcoming and supportive of me, with consistently positive and enjoyable exchanges. The initial “gratitude”! activity was very nice, and I recommend, for what it’s repeating it in the future. Perhaps, after that first activity, the interaction with the association
lessened; it could have been more extensive, and certain situations with housing and the
volunteers could have been handled better, but nothing too dramatic. I hope it can survive and
continue to grow; organizations like this benefit society.

To the staff at the Natalia Correia library, I send a big hug. Sonia, Maria José, Prazer, Rosario, and Isaura—amazing women. They argue among themselves but, in the end, they care about each other. Their work is not easy, nor is the environment in which they carry it out. Calling them kind is an understatement; they were always good to me and treated me wonderfully this year. Every day, conversation was at the core—an 8-hour school of language and culture. Little by little, I became more involved in the dynamics. They always made room for my needs and endured my difficulties and demands. Thank you. In return, I had the pleasure of making a nice coffee after lunch to enhance our camaraderie. A big thank you also goes to the cooks at the elementary school in the Padre Cruz neighborhood—you can’t imagine how much you lightened my life, my wallet, and improved my nutrition.

Lastly, to my friends. This summary seems like the final part of a thesis acknowledgment, but in
some way, it is. A big thank you. Waking up in the morning and going to bed at night with your
company made life easier. Moments of passive learning with everyone’s thoughts and cultural
activities stimulating one another. These moments don’t end here like something disposable; they endure over time and remain imprinted in everyone’s memory. The dedication will develop further personally in the future.

It’s been a wonderful, almost full year.
Saúde,
Simone

O testemunho No. 1 do Simone (JFC - Culture)

 

Lisboa waaa what a life!

Every day I wake up grateful to be here. I feel like using my time in the best way. When people ask me why I’m doing a volunteer project in a library or what I’m taking from this experience, my answer goes directly to “I’m young and I have time to work until seventy years old” and then “every day I speak Portuguese, I read whatever kind of books and I have a house in the city center of a capital full of events. What I need more”.

So, this period flew really well adding the fact the I’m living with amazing guys and even SPIN’s friends are so cool.

But what about my lifestyle: 
I used to go to work from 10 am until 6 pm, in the middle I have one hour of break, where I am lucky because with the project, I’m allowed to eat in the canteen of the kindergarten of bairro Padre Cruz school. 

 

During the morning, I study the bibliography and reorder the books from previous loan. In the afternoon, instead, I look after on children and help them on find an interesting book. Of course, sometimes can happen some activities that are different and in the future other will be more related to the public, but until now those are the majors. Fortunately, I have even the time to read books and journals in Portuguese to increase my languages skills and being more useful to the Portuguese class or relaxed when I am doing tour into the city. 

And yes, each Wednesday afternoon, we used to do an inner Portuguese class, made by ourselves, with the objective to make volunteers more comfortable with the language and let it grow by themselves. Let’s call it self-learning accompanied. 

the night, maybe I don’t have so much time for doing some activities, but I like to go to the swimming pool to relax or spending some hours with the housemates talking about frivolities.

What happens during the weekends is more entertaining, I like to visit the city as: se de Lisboa; Gulbenkian’s foundation; Mouraria’s neighborhood and casa dos Bicos. And going out to festivals or events with friends. Lisboa gives you the opportunity to enjoy the youth a lot. 

Okay these were my words about my feelings and incidents that I had and still having during my ESC experience in Lisboa whit Spin association and Natália Correia Library. 

See you soon. 

Simone 

O testemunho final da Melissa (JFC - Culture)

 SPIN – last testimony.

For the past few weeks and days, I have been stubbornly postponing writing this last testimony of mine. I did not want to write it because that would mean that I would have to admit to myself, that my time as a volunteer is coming to an end. A lot has been happening, and if I would need to summarise everything, the first word that comes to my mind is „home“. I still feel a bit overwhelmed trying to put a full stop behind this experience and wrapping it all up. I would not know where to begin and where to stop but let’s try! 

During the past months and weeks, covid restrictions have been mostly lifted, and not only has the library become more alive but also our nights on the still-warm streets of Lisbon. For me, it was amazing to finally welcome children into the library and to see my colleagues cheer for me because they were super happy for me too. We also went on a walking tour through the Bairro with school kids, walking past all the amazing street art and graffiti of our beloved neighbourhood. On the last working day, I went to have a shared dinner with my colleagues, who definitely have become more than just colleagues. I am super happy about their support, because all they ever wanted, was for me to have a good time. I remember, that when I was a bit sick, they brought soup for me.

I am happy to say that, even though I finished work, I still have some days left in this most beautiful city. I will spend them with all of my friends, fresh Superbock, and vegan pastel de nata. Looking back at the past year, makes me feel grateful beyond expression. I am grateful for all the people I have met, especially for those, that I will take with me in my heart. I am grateful for the miradouros, for the food and the drinks. I am grateful for an experience, that changed me for the better, that made me consider different perspectives and learn more about myself by learning about others. 

I will carry the Spin spirit with me wherever I go and I will for sure never forget about the warm-hearted people, which I will without a doubt, come to visit soon.

O testemunho no 1. da Melissa (JFC - Culture)

I am Melissa, a 23 year old German girl and as of November 2020 officially one of the lucky volunteers in Lisbon!

I already lived in Lisbon in 2018/2019 and I completely fell in love with the city. For me, taking part in a volunteering program was a way of giving back to the city and the community that brought so much joy to me.

I arrived one week before the first meeting with the other (lovely!) volunteers and staff, and so I had some time to see old friends again, visit my favourite spots of downtown Lisbon and most of all: enjoy the view! Of course I noticed that the streets looked emptier than before, because the ongoing pandemic keeps tourists stuck in their home countries. However, the bright atmosphere of the city still gets me every time.

After moving in to my flat and starting to feel home again, Spin hosted the welcoming day at their office! Together with the other volunteers, we shared an absolutely delicious vegan meal prepared by Spin, shared our ideas and expectations, and challenged each other in a team rally around the neighbourhood of Bairro Padre Cruz. Giulia provided us with all the information we could have needed and all in all I really enjoyed this warm hearted welcome at Spin!

On Wednesday, 11th of November, I had my first day of work at Biblioteca Natália Correia. Giulia met me at the entrance of the library to introduce me to my new colleagues. We were welcomed by Rosário Cotrim, my new boss which whom we would go on to share a nice talk and many laughs. After she showed us around in the library, I decided to stay until closing time to spend my first day at the library. Due to the pandemic, the library is only open to the public for three and a half hours per day and social projects are mostly on hold. Nevertheless, I really enjoy going to work everyday, to share thoughts, many many laughters and my first Portuguese sentences with my colleagues.

After roughly two weeks into this new life, I can say that I am looking forward more than ever to the upcoming months. To everything that me and my team at work will achieve and to every drink shared over a good view with my new volunteer friends!

 

O testemunho final do Martin (Biblioteca Natália Correira)

 

Depois de terem passado os primeiros meses do projeto, a minha vida, e a da maioria das pessoas, virou-se a um cenário de incertezas e de angústias. Começou a propagação mundial de um vírus que nos obrigou a pôr os travões, a olhar à nossa volta, e a vermos na nossa verdadeira escala: seres que dependem da natureza, das relações, do ar, do movimento, dos sorrisos...; começavam assim os meus meses de confinamento, que supuseram uns meses de muitas aprendizagens, onde sem estar fisicamente na biblioteca, continuei a ser parte dela. Voltei a sentir que deixei o meu lugar, o espaço onde começava a sentir-me em família, como já tinha feito uns meses antes ao tomar a decisão de deixar Madrid e começar esta viagem. O destino levou-me a uma pequena vila do sul de Portugal, onde a minha companheira tinha crescido, e onde eu começaria a crescer, com dúvidas, com ansiedades, mas com a certeza de que as coisas iriam melhorar. No início senti-me desligado do lugar, parecia-me irreal ter passado de viver em Lisboa, no centro da cidade, a uma vila onde podia dar passeios de várias horas, perto da natureza. Se calhar foi o medo do desconhecido, de me enfrentar a um novo lugar na minha memória. Com o passar dos dias comecei a crescer e a sentir-me parte daquela paisagem. Fazia longas caminhadas enquanto pensava no que estava a acontecer na minha vida, em Portugal e no mundo inteiro. Pensava e agora tenho saudades daquela liberdade de seguir em frente por um caminho e deixar que a mente acompanhe o passeio com o ritmo dos meus passos.

 

Nestes meses continuei a ensinar espanhol desde o ecrã, mas também partilhava a experiência de estar neste lugar: o clima, a comida, as pessoas..., e as alunas davam-me a informação de como estava Lisboa, pelo que ainda a mantive presente. Passados esses meses, finalmente voltei a Lisboa. Queria voltar a esta cidade que decidiu acolher-me. Queria partilhar tempo com os colegas voluntários, andar pelas suas ruas, sentir-me novamente parte dessa vida de cidade. Mas o Martim que tinha voltado já era outro. Nesses meses no Sul aprendi que o que me faz bem é olhar árvores no horizonte e não prédios, que andar é melhor que apanhar o metro, e que o ar limpo é das melhores coisas que podemos ter de graça e que mais bem nos faz! No entanto, voltei para a biblioteca com muita ilusão, apesar de não ser o espaço de que eu lembrava: agora sem a possibilidade de ter pessoas lá dentro, com atividades, com crianças brincalhonas e conversas engraçadas. Mas, destas últimas semanas na biblioteca aprendi uma coisa que é mesmo boa: aproveitar a liberdade que temos, não esperar as limitações para valorizar quanto é que nos podíamos mexer.

 

Obrigado Portugal, obrigado São Bartolomeu de Messines, obrigado à minha companheira e à sua família. Obrigado equipa da Spin e da biblioteca. Neste ano aprendi tanto que ao olhar para trás parece que foram muitos mais meses desta experiência. Portugal agora é a metade do meu coração e com certeza voltarei a viver e a aprender mais neste incrível país.

 

O testemunho do Martin (Biblioteca Natália Correira)

“As grandes viagens começam com um primeiro passo”, se calhar a frase não está bem escrita, se calhar o autor não existe, se calhar todo o mundo já ouviu uma versão diferente. Na verdade, o importante é compreender o seu significado, mais além da sua gramática.

Aceitei o convite para viver uma realidade diferente à minha. Uma cidade diferente, uma língua diferente, umas amizades diferentes, e em tudo isso, um “eu” diferente. Lisboa. As suas ruas, as suas pessoas, o seu cheiro a rio, os seus vegetais tão bons..., e os seus bairros. Padre Cruz, o bairro onde estou a participar em um voluntariado do Corpo de Solidariedade Europeu, numa biblioteca, pequenina, mas acolhedora, chamada Natália Correia. Um bairro com uma história de apoio mútuo incrível, onde ainda existe uma vontade de participação, de comunidade e de criação entre as pessoas.

Mural da biblioteca Natália Correia

Mural do Bairro Padre Cruz

Há duas semanas que estou no projeto, e ainda tenho onze meses e duas semanas para me descobrir e descobrir o bairro e a cidade. Já conheci vários meninos que vêm à biblioteca depois das aulas, as pessoas idosas que vêm simplesmente para falar, e a gente da cidade que ainda mantem um sentido de humildade realmente valioso. Se calhar este testemunho não é completo, porque na verdade nem tudo se pode escrever, mas o importante disto é o começo, mesmo que pareça impossível, mesmo que as pessoas à tua volta pensem que não é boa ideia. As ideias têm que ser feitas para descobrir o que ainda está oculto.

Primeiro encontro com a equipa da
biblioteca

Estes são os meus pequenos passos de um caminho que ainda não sei onde me vai levar.