O testemunho final da Jessica (Spin)

The six months flew by and now I only have a few weeks left until I go back home. I've met a lot of great people here and made some friends. I'm sure you're wondering if I speak some Portuguese and I have to admit... Not really. But I have created many unforgettable moments. 

 

What I liked the most were the moments I spent with my friends. Dinner together, going out for drinks, watching movies, picnics, drawing, talking, laughing, traveling,…

 

In November, four of us went on a girls' trip to Madeira. In December, I turned a year older and my sister came to visit me. I couldn't miss the giant waves in Nazare either. New Year's Eve here was amazing. In January, I started skating again. From February the weather got better and better and we spent four days in Algarve. I spend March enjoying the rest of the time here in Lisbon. I could go on and on, but there would be no end.

 

 

In between, I also worked a bit – we were allowed to help with preparations for various events and the hostel. I was responsible for Spin's blog. Sometimes I helped with the design of flyers and posters. On the whole, it was very relaxed. 😉

The only difficulties were in our shared apartment. It didn't always work out so well with tidying up and it can get very cold in winter. From time to time I also missed my home. But these were just temporary things! 

 

My conclusion is – I would recommend it to everyone to have this experience. I don't regret a second that I was here and hope that the friendships will remain despite the many kilometers between us.

 

Lots of love 💗

 Jessica

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Testemunho final do André (Spin)

Olá a todos

Intro

Unbelievable... I have reached the end of my project. It is difficult for me to summarize the past  nine months, as it feels like I have only just arrived. Too much has happened, and the significance  of some episodes remains food for thought still to be dealt with. This adventure has been like a  rollercoaster ride - but fortunately most of it leaving a positive impression. Furthermore, once again it was proof that time simply flies by, especially when you enjoy every day and don't have  to think about tomorrow. Unique - but far from reality. I am happy to share with you some thoughts  and experiences from this marvelous trip. Even though the summer days are over for now, the sun is still shining and is already making me nostalgic.

Expectations, goals, reality

I came to Lisbon with great expectations, expectations for myself and of the project but  experience shows that things never go as planned or as desired. Looking back, however, I am  happy with how everything turned out. I overcame the biggest hurdle as soon as I arrived - taking  part in a voluntary service program. It was the last chance for me to realize something like this. Part of getting older… Nevertheless, even if expectations and goals did not match reality in the end, this time remains  unforgettable. Nobody can take what I experienced away from me, that is all that matters.

Spin

The organization Spin was certainly the ideal choice for me personally to complete my European  Solidarity Corps. On the one hand, I had the opportunity to become involved in various functions  for the community, do something good and gain unique experiences. On the other hand, as a  volunteer I not only had a lot of freedom at work - I also had enough free time, which I didn't mind  at all, and I had enough time to discover Lisbon, Portugal, as well as myself . Working on various projects, workshops and events gave me great pleasure and showed me  once again how much I enjoy working with people. I was able to do locally and internationally  connections. There were challenges from time to time, but I was able to overcome them. The  many hours I spent in the kitchen of the hostel should certainly not be forgotten. This undoubtedly  confirmed my qualities as a househusband. Greetings go out to Daniela.

Lisbon / Portugal

As already mentioned, I also spent a lot of my time enjoying life. I was able to explore charming  Lisbon and the region travel around Portugal and become acquainted with and love the culture,  nature, country and people. City life in Lisbon was more pleasant than I could have ever  imagined. The city is simply unique and is now one of the best in the world for me personally. It has something for everyone. Provided, of course, that you know where to look. I now feel like a  local and very confident giving visitors a tour of the city. You can't describe life in Lisbon, you  have to experience it by yourself. Just as the Açores, the Algarve, the Lisboa region, Norte,  East,...  and many more that I have been able to visit are magical! The island of Madeira is still on my to- do list, but for me it is a “must” which I will definitely fulfill. 

Portugal has cast a spell over me, even if everything works a little differently here than in  Liechtenstein. It is a positive aspect and impressive to see that the world keeps turning even  when everything seems not to be perfect and you often have to adapt to the circumstances. The  relaxed attitude of the southerners is both nerve-wracking and fascinating. 

The motivation to learn Portuguese was strong at the beginning. After nine months, however, I  must admit that I have not reached the language level I had hoped for. I should probably have  invested more time in learning the language. The multicultural environment obviously did not help  in this regard. On the other hand, I was able to improve my English and learn a few chunks of  various European languages, including Italian, Spanish, Polish or Turkish. 

In the end, the basics are there in Portuguese and a few more or less useful words remain. Visits  to the supermarket or a café now usually run smoothly and without language barriers, even if the odd slip-up still occurs.

Living in Lisbon - and traveling in Portugal - does not necessarily require knowledge of the local  language, although you obviously feel more at home and are treated more openly when you speak  the language. Who knows, maybe I will find the motivation again one day.

In conclusion

This whole experience has helped me to further mature as a person. I will never regret doing this  ESC program. The decision to come to Lisbon was the right one. All the good and not so good  moments were necessary to make it unforgettable. 

Living together with people from different  countries, cultures and age groups can be very difficult and was one of the biggest challenges for  me, but for all that you learn to accept everyone for who they are. Nobody is perfect - and an acceptance and respect are basic prerequisites for healthy coexistence, not only within your own  four walls - but also elsewhere on the streets of this wonderful world. Unfortunately, we humans  often tend to forget this. 

I was able to learn a lot about myself, meet unique people and travel to places that are like that  beautiful that you can hardly imagine them. I experienced moments that I will never forget:  alone or in company, at work or in my free time. It was often the minor moments that seemed  insignificant, but in retrospect have an incredible effect. Thinking back to this time, I will remain in  Lisbon for a while to process what I have experienced and get used to normal everyday life again. An uncertain future lies ahead of me, but I have learned to love this uncertainty. Until I do further  decisions, I am enjoying life in Lisbon with the wonderful people I can call my friends here.

Finally, BIG THANKS to myself for having the courage to leave my comfort zone voluntary service.To temporarily move to a foreign country and get to know myself all over again. Even bigger thanks to all the people who were part of my experience, a special part of this wonderful journey. No matter how big or small, you have a place in my heart. In the end, I remain with great gratitude and appreciation for what I was able to experience and for what I have. A happy and healthy life - something certainly not to be taken for granted.

Ate breve!

André (Gausi)

O testemunho no. 1 da Jessica (Spin)

 

I am Jessica (21), a volunteer from Liechtenstein. My excitement began a week before departure. My wish was to bring a little variety into my life, so I decided to do this project. I was very excited about what awaits me here in Lisbon at SPIN. I will stay here for six months and gain experience and knowledge.  Most of all I am looking forward to meet new people from different cultures/countries. It would be great to learn some Portuguese, even though I am not that good with languages.

When I arrived at our accommodation, I had to settle in a bit. But now with time I get used to the shared apartment life.

These six months give me the opportunity to reinvent myself and take time out from "real life". As I am a very reserved person, I would like to improve my social skills.

Lisbon is a stunning city, the houses are colourful and the people are very friendly. The paved streets are slippery and it's always going up and down. There are different parks but my favourite is the one with the chickens. The beaches are incredibly beautiful, but the water was freezing cold.

I have been to several vantage points from which the whole city could be seen. The red bridge is gigantic and reminds me of America. Next door is the Jesus Statue, just like in Rio.

I have also never seen such a beautiful botanical garden. We even got in for free.

I am excited about what awaits me and look forward to the next few months here in Portugal.

O testemunho no. 1 da André (Spin)

 

After 5 months, I am sure that I will never regret this decision. My name is André Arpagaus, I am 29 years old, and I am currently doing voluntary service in Lisbon, Portugal, with a non-profit organisation called SPIN, which is located in a socially disadvantaged neighbourhood.

The "Associação Spin" is involved in various areas. Its main objective is to promote and defend intercultural dialogue, human rights, equal opportunities, solidarity, and social integration. To achieve these goals, it carries out various national and international mobility projects.

Generally, I spend three days in our office in the Bairro Padre Cruz neighbourhood and two days working from home. The working hours are fixed, but there is often the possibility to work flexibly. The organisation trusts its volunteers, which is by no means a given.

The work is extremely varied, from administrative tasks in the office to participating in events and projects on site and externally. In addition, I regularly take care of our in-house hostel. There is always plenty to do - there is never a dull moment.

Certain cultural differences are noticeable, but I quickly got used to them. Lisbon is incredibly liberal and relaxed, a city with a special charm. Due to the similarity of my internship at aha, I was able to settle in quickly here as well.

The biggest challenge, apart from the somewhat peculiar and difficult language, was living together with people from different countries. It is easy to forget how privileged we are - in every way.

The highlight so far? The entire experience! Lisbon is a breathtakingly beautiful city that offers everything your heart desires. Unimaginably great and cosmopolitan people with whom you create lifelong memories!