O testemunho final da Marta (SPIN)

My volunteering in Lisbon has come to an end. The past 6 months have been something completely different from what I've experienced before. I feel more sure of myself, I'm not afraid to take risks, and I now know I’m capable of much more than I thought before.

Living in Portugal gave me the chance to immerse myself in a culture so different from my own. The way people live life slowly and chill has taught me to take things with more ease and appreciate the small things around me. One of my favourite things was wandering around Lisbon’s colourful streets, ending up at a random miradouro, and just enjoying the views the city has to offer.

I’ve made some incredible friends who made my stay much more fun and exciting. It was amazing to be surrounded by people from all kinds of different places, learn about their countries, and share things about mine. I’m very grateful for the connections I’ve made and hope to stay in touch with them in the future.

I’ve also seen many stunning places. Portugal truly has so much beautiful nature—from the sunny beaches of Algarve to Madeira's mesmerizing views. My favourite places for sure have been the small beach towns by the ocean. They’re always so cute and pretty, with a really cool vibe.

I learned lot about myself during the project and I now know better what I want to do in the future. I feel that all the doors are now open for me and there really is nothing holding me back.

O testemunho no. 1 da Marta (SPIN)

I arrived in Lisbon a little over two months ago from Estonia. Although moving to the

other end of Europe can be intimidating and challenging at first, I haven’t regretted my
decision even for a second. 

I know that I chose the right path for myself and made a dream become reality. I love living in a new city where I can go and discover new places every day. I think Google Maps has become the most visited app on my phone because of that. Also, I like living near the sea. I think there’s something very calming about it.

I work at the Spin office and so far I have helped with different kinds of office work. We

also had a training course at the beginning of October, so I had a chance to help out
there as well.

I had a few days off in October and I had heard a lot of good things about Algarve, the

most southern region in Portugal. So, I thought, why not see it myself if it’s as amazing
as people say. I chose to go to a small beach town called Lagos and it truly was
stunning. The vibe, the nature, the beaches, that one Lidl I visited four times in those
three days because I was on a budget - all amazing.

Even though everything hasn’t gone exactly as expected, I still feel very grateful and

privileged to have this opportunity. As I have quite settled in now, I hope to experience
many more wonderful things here, meet amazing people and make these following
months unforgettable:)

O testemunho final da Marta (Spin)

Hey everyone,

Marta here, wrapping up my volunteer journey in Portugal. As I reflect on the past eight months, it's been a tornado of experiences, challenges, and growth. While I didn't get as involved in youth exchanges and project planning as I had initially hoped, I still treasure every moment spent here.

My travels took me to some of the most stunning destinations in Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores. I was mesmerized by the "stairway to heaven" in Madeira and the volcanic baths in the Azores. Each place was a beautiful experience in its own right. Throughout my time in these beautiful destinations, I found solace in nature and a sense of wonder in exploring new landscapes. Although I didn't have as many opportunities to connect deeply with locals, I still appreciated the warmth and hospitality they extended to me during my stay.

During my volunteer experience, I had the opportunity to make some wonderful connections and form strong bonds with fellow volunteers. These relationships have been a highlight of my journey, and I hope to maintain them even after the project ends.

Though my volunteer experience didn't unfold exactly as planned, I'm grateful for the lessons learned and the memories made. Portugal will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of this vibrant community. 

As I move forward, I can confidently say that I've grown as a person. I've gained clarity on what I want and what I don't want, both in my personal and professional life. This journey has been transformative, and I'm excited to see where it leads me next.

Until we meet again,

Marta Alethe

O testemunho final da Hanna (Spin)

 

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.

O testemunho No. 2 da Hanna (Spin)

Older, smarter, countless times sunburnt and happy - these words describe me and my 8 months in Portugal.

I might be a little bit late with my second testimony. It's my eight month here, in this breathtaking country, so much has happened, I have lived through so many different emotions, experiences, and honestly, I don't know where to even begin to tell you about my adventures so far, I did promise you that I would bring you with me, remember?

I would start with the wonderful projects that I had the opportunity to help manage during my summer in Spin. Usually people rest during the summer, take a vacation and lay on the beach all day long - but not me. During those few months, with the hottest summer i've experienced, we had multiple projects, a youth exchange, a training course and our own project Live It Lisbon! It might sound a lot, but as for me, I love to keep busy. It was tiring, but I took a moment to enjoy every second of it. My first time working with kids was in the youth exchange, we had youngsters come from Spain and our own neighbourhood - Bairro Padre Cruz. It was full of challenges, but it was so nice to see kids have fun, find new friends and bond. Live it Lisbon - was a different experience than the rest, it is Spins own project, inviting participants from different countries to sunny Lisbon and taking them to a trip of the summer, through Portugal, its culture and traditions, but also doing something good for the community, by helping around the neighbourhood. 

Our last project of the year, a training course, was heartwarming. It was about mental health and how to be your own best friend. It gave everyone time to think about themselves, and how kind we are against ourselves. It was my first time also being involved in the logistics of managing a project, I got to be closer with the participants, manage timetables, menus and other things you might not think about, when you see a project from afar or if you join one. Not to mention I met other estonians! Finally…

 

Everyone needs to rest, and so did I. My first trip in this beautiful country - I went to Algarve! Yupii! My eyes have never seen such beauty - from Sagres all the way to Faro. I felt like I was in a fairy tale, the old cities tell you a story of Portugal that you never might think of. Swimming in the cold ocean water makes you feel alive, calm and in peace with everything in this charming world we live in.

I would go back every summer, I just could not get enough of Algarve, and so I recommend even to you, reader, maybe even a new volunteer, to go there. You won't regret it.

I never thought that I would bond with my co-volunteers that deeply. With long volunteering comes also time to say goodbye, not yet to my project, but to volunteers, who end their own projects. Spending those precious moments together, you don't realise how much you grow fond of people. My hardest goodbyes, we will meet again soon, somewhere, we will always be in each other's hearts, but it's still hard to change people. But how it goes, when a door closes, a window opens - Autumn is a season of change, new people, new faces, and most importantly, I can give them all my knowledge, be that person, who can be a welcoming face to their new experiences and adventures!

It already feels like it's my last testimony, thankfully it's not. I have 3 months more of this adventure left, time to make my last and best memories yet. My heart breaks everytime that I think that suddenly I only have 3 months left, but I will make my peace with it, every ending has a new beginning, right)

 

 

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 no. 1 da Hanna (Spin)

 

I am sitting at my desk in the Spin office, writing my first testimony. I have been in Portugal, Lisbon for over a month now and I can put my hand to my heart and say - it has been the best decision of my life to come here, change myself including the community around me for the better.

Hi, I am Hanna, originally from Estonia, a country where most of the time it is cold and cloudy, but I am enjoying the sun here in Lisbon, taking every last piece of it in.. I am just 19 years old, the youngest volunteer right now in Spin  Association. Freshly graduated from high school, I chose to turn my life upside down and do something different, outrageous. Looking for a job I came across an opportunity to volunteer in Spin  Association for a year and I knew it was something I have been looking for. 

 In my first month I already had to work with my first ever youth exchange (which was the coolest experience ever) and had to manage our organization's own spin hostel. I never had a job before, that means it's my first time working in shifts, doing paperwork and helping with different projects. I was really excited but also scared, if I can manage this workload, and if I will do everything right. Despite my fears my coworkers are the sweetest people on earth, guiding me through my first weeks, months, giving me time to settle and learn from my own mistakes. 

I also would like to give attention and show my appreciation to my flatmates, who I have lived with for some time and will have to spend my whole year with. Living with complete strangers is a new experience for me, but something I hold dearly in my heart now. It's amazing how you can become so close with people in a few weeks… Months. Strangers have become my little family, who I can always count on, and who I can share this amazing experience with.

This is my first testimony, but not last. I can only imagine what great things I will see, work on and experience. I am only at the start of my journey through Portugal and my volunteering in Spin and I could not be more excited and happy to be here and bring  you with me through my adventures.

O testemunho final da Teele (Spin)

Hi blog,

I’m finally back. Here goes my humble effort of trying to somehow summarize the past 10 months of my life. Where do I start? 

I have been back in Estonia for a month now. Estonia – the land of dearly missed black bread and saunas, not to mention the only country where people can pronounce my name. But I’m here to talk about Portugal, the land of Tosta Mista and WRC bus drivers. During my first weeks in Lisbon, I remember saying that nine months are probably not going to be enough for me. It stayed true until the end so I extended my project for one extra month.  

Some things remained the same throughout the 10 months. I still didn't get used to:

1. the 77-step staircase in front of my apartment, 

2. needing to always have cash,  

3. wearing shoes inside houses,  

4. people saying “how are you?” as a greeting, 

5. peacocks in parks (still crazy). 

Other things have changed. I’m drinking espressos now. And I think my life has a bit more color – I mean it in a metaphoric way but also quite literally. As my fellow Estonian volunteer put it: “Teele, you’re not white as hell anymore.” I felt good about her comment until I got home and it was pointed out that I’m still the whitest one in my family. In addition to that, the inside of my closet has also slowly turned from black-white-gray to slightly happier tones.  Aside from color, something else I gained was independence and confidence. I had lived on my own before, but never in a foreign country. After experiencing that it really is possible to pack your life in a suitcase and move to another country, I have more confidence to do it in the future as well. And Lisbon, being warm and accepting, was a great city to start with.

My work in Spin ended up being quite versatile. The main tasks were office-related, but once in a while we had some bigger happenings like welcoming new volunteers and  making lunches/dinners. I also got to develop my photography and video-making skills and in a few cases when Liza was absent, I took over social media. Another cool task was helping to choose new volunteers and reading through all the applications. 

Furthermore, Spin hosted two big projects during my time, one Erasmus+ training course and one youth exchange. In both projects, I had the opportunity to assist the facilitator. However, my all-time favorite task has to be “take the interns surfing”. Sure enough, I rented a board on my own and joined them on the waves.

When I wasn’t working, I was probably dancing. I took full advantage of my dance studio, going five times a week for 1-3 hours and falling in love with styles I’ve never danced before. I had the funniest-dorkiest popping teacher, the kindest, smiliest house teacher, the most physically challenging contemporary teacher and just simply the greatest locking teacher, to name a few. Over time I became friends with other dance maniacs and a small supporting dance circle was formed. To end the season, we had performances in a theater and I could finally quench my thirst for performing again. 

When I wasn’t working or dancing, I was out with my friends. One thing I didn’t know to expect was this big volunteer community we had. Because Spin is also coordinating many volunteers to other organizations, we would naturally meet and become good friends. And this time it was an incredibly cool mix of cultures. Not only did we have the Spanish, Italian and French people that you would expect, we also had volunteers from Poland, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco and the UK. Add my Brazilian flatmates, Portuguese co-workers and German friends from dance to this equation and you get a full multicultural package. I’m really lucky to have had such kind people around me, always taking good care of me and also teaching me how to be better. 

Seems like I got the full package in general. I’ve been feeling high meeting a lot of people, seeing dolphins in the ocean, driving through clouds in Madeira, swimming under waterfalls and just happily walking the sunset-coloured streets of Lisbon. It got to taste foods like clams, octopus, squid, snails, chestnuts, papaya, passion fruit and dragon fruit. Once, being close to the Spanish border, we made an unplanned 10-minute visit to Spain and were immediately greeted by a herd of wild horses. It was my first time in Spain. Other “firsts“ include: Halloween party, Carnival and Santos Populares celebrations, spending a night in an airport and taking part in a demonstration (for Ukraine). To think about it, it was also my first time waking up in order to see the sunrise, because usually seeing the sunrise just happens when I haven’t gone to sleep yet. Some other weirdly unexpected things include learning how to juggle, play mahjong and make good tomato soup. The list could go on.

But what’s good without any bad. Remember Covid? We’ve had all sorts of Covid-related situations. One time I had to stay in quarantine, because not only one, but three of my flatmates were positive. I managed to stay clear this time, but two months later I caught an ambulance ride to a hospital because I had just had the worst night ever and suspected I might have a concussion (a longer story). Turned out it was good old Covid-19. One Friday night on the crowded streets of Bairro Alto, I had my phone with all my bank- and transportation cards stolen. I went back to living without mobile data and GPS for three weeks. And if you know me, I’m terrible with navigation. To top it all off, a near falling to death experience in Gerês. Do take signs that read “zone of death accidents” seriously.

And of course, when you get to the middle end of your project, you have the heartbreak of your friends leaving one by one. I knew I was sentimental, but it reached a new level. When it was my own turn to leave, I was trying to come to terms with it for almost two months. Some people asked why I was not staying, but since most of my friends were leaving, I felt like this chapter was ending anyway and I should leave too. It didn’t save me any tears though, because it was the best chapter I’ve ever had.

 

Wow, congratulations, you’re among the 35% who made it through this essay! Thank you for taking the time. See you in other adventures. ♡