O testemunho final da Silvia (Bola p'ra frente)

 Olá malta! Here is Silvia from Italy!

The word that sounds more in my head in the last weeks is: GRATEFUL.

I am grateful for what I have learned, for the person I am, for all the experiences I made, for all the people I have met and all the discoveries made. Everything will always stay with me, because now I see a completely new version of myself, more mature, more determined, more self-confident, more open-minded and more tolerant. Now I see that all the difficult moments I faced this year were worth it, because I have learned and grown a lot through them and now I am feeling really satisfied with all the experience that Lisbon has been for me. I know that I lived it to the fullest and I did my best both in my volunteering and in my personal life and path. I look at these streets and I know them and they know me.. I am feeling at home, I am feeling in a place where I am comfortable. There is a mixture of known and unknown that surrounds me everyday, and it gives me the comfort of being home, but at the same time the curiosity to discover more.. Until the very last day I never stopped discovering new corners of the city.

Actually, every month of this year was a new discovery. These past 9 months passed so quickly that it seemed like a glimpse of an eye, but, at the same time, they left me with so many emotions, connections, memories and life experiences that it seems more like years have passed. There have been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of beautiful moments,  a lot of moments where I felt lost and in confusion, but I am so glad for everything and everyone... Everyone left me something, teaching me to see things in different ways.

I have learned so much about myself and I will always remember this year as a changing point from the 'old version' to a completely new and grown version of myself. I've learned to leave behind old habits and ways of seeing the world and learned more about tolerance, compassion, taking care and loving. I look back to everything I managed to do, to create, to realize and to overcome in my life, both professionally and personally and I am really proud and glad for every single moment.

In the Association I managed to create different activities and to help in the organization of different projects, both from other associations and other collegues. I was thinking, creating and carrying on every week one or two english games, using the tools of non-formal education, helping them to understand how to learn a new language in a funny and relaxed way. Besides, in May I started some reading sessions of ‘O principezinho’ to think and talk with them about topics such as love, friendship, emotions and respect. Moreover, I helped in the organization of the event ‘Living Library’, aimed to overcome some prejudices and discriminations, for example we talked with our guests about depression, homosexuality, neighborhood stigmas, the war from a Russian point of view, veganism, etc.. In this event I contacted some of the guests, I dealt with them during the day, I helped with some translations and I have been the reference point for both guests and youngsters. Finally, I did an afternoon of cooking lesson to prepare an italian dinner with all of them, in a way to say goodbye to everyone.

In my personal life: I made a lot of new friends and created connections all over the world; I traveled around Portugal visiting new and old places (Porto, Mafra, Lagos, Madeira, Aveiro, Viseu, Ericeira, Sesimbra); I made new experiences, such as partecipating in dance and music events; I discovered and learned how to respect new cultures, such as Arabic or Orthodox culture; I have learned words and sentences in different languages, like Estonian, Turkish, Russian, Moroccan; I expanded my music culture with songs from different countries. Lastly, I have learned to enjoy every single moment with every single person, because it’s not forever: I had to say a lot of bye byes especially in the last 2 months. 

Even if this is the end of this experience and the last weeks in Lisbon has been full of bye byes and last moments, I want to remember that these past 9 months gave me also a lot of first times. For example: first time sharing a room, first time working with kids abroad and in another language, first time teaching English to kids, first time sharing an apartment with people from 6 different nationalities, first time facing a serious illness for months (on my own, in a foreign country), first time living in a big city, first time taking the metro every day, first time listening to some languages (estonian, basque, ukranian, georgian etc.), and so on... All of these new experiences showed me the world from another perspective: I will never be the same Silvia, now my horizons have widened.

I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I know that this experience changed me a lot and, facing some wonderful and some difficult moments, made me stronger and more self-confident. As I read in a book: life doesn’t get easier, it’s about you becoming stronger and more powerful, so this experience will be a teaching and inspiration for everything that is going to arrive for me in the future and now I know that I am more than ready to start a new chapter, wherever it’s going to be. I wish all of you the best and I thank again everyone that made this experience incredible and life-changing!

Beijinhos,
 
Silvia.

O testemunho No. 2 da Silvia (Bola p'ra frente)

Hey, Silvia’s back!

Now it’s almost 6 months I am here in Lisbon... WOW! So many things has happened...

But First I want to start with a question my flatemate asked me yesterday: A year ago would you have expected to be at this point of your life now? NO. I decided exactly one year ago that I wanted to do this experience, but I would have never imagined it would have been so fulfilling and enriching. Lisbon teaches me how to enjoy the moment without stressing out about the future or the past: just let life flow. Even when there is no plans, this city is so lively that you will never feel bored or lonely.

I look back at the pictures and at all the moments I have been living in the past few months and it seems like years has passed from when I arrived in November. There has been ups and downs, like the streets of this city, but after a steep road, you know that there will always be a wonderful landscape and miradouro waiting for you. Maybe you will make an effort at the beginning but then this city will marvel you with its beauty. 

One of the beauties of Lisbon are the people... because here you can meet the world, it’s like traveling without traveling ahahahh. I’ve discovered a lot of cultures, languages and traditions. I had the chance to meet people from different parts of the world, and besides the cultural differences, it felt like what connects us it’s more than what divides us. I am glad for every single wonderful soul I had the chance to meet here.

Last but not least, my project: from February and March I’ve started to get more confidence with portuguese, so also with kids and youngsters. With the help of some collegues I’ve started to teach english, always trying  to find funny activities and games, in order to learn by having fun. Moreover, I am everyday helping and supporting more and more the team. 

I am very grateful for the chance of living this experience and I can’t wait for what I am still going to learn and encounter on my path here in Lisbon.

Até à proxima!

O testemunho No. 1 da Silvia (Bola p'ra frente)

Olá! 
My name is Silvia, I am 23 years old and I am from Italy.

This is my second time living in Portugal and it isn’t the first time I see Lisbon... When 2 years ago I arrived in Lisbon for the first time I immediately felt that this city had something special: the light, the people, the colors, the miradouros, the weather... 

I didn’t know yet, but I wanted to discover it, so I knew that I would have lived here somehow at some point in my life: here I am! I didn’t aspect this moment would have arrived so quickly, but the first time I saw this ESC opportunity I knew it would have been my path because it was perfectly fitting with me and with what I was needed at this point in my life (plus the location was, of course, an upside!). 
After my bachelor's, I decided I wanted to experience more and study less because I’ve always preferred the idea of ‘learning by doing ’.

The first day I arrived at the Volunteer House, I immediately felt home: they welcomed me with a funny drawing of my new family and with a delicious breakfast with pancakes, fruit, and tea, and that was the best thing I needed after a flight. 

A few days after my arrival, I started to volunteer for ANFR (Associação Nacional de Futebol de Rua), and also there I felt really welcomed! In the beginning, the only problem was the language, but after a few weeks, understanding became much easier, and also talking became easier day by day. I really like spending time with kids and adolescents, playing games, talking, laughing, creating arts, helping them with homework etc.. 

I hope I’ll be able to leave a bigger impact on this association, helping them with English classes or with some of my skills that can be useful for them. In this short time here in Lisbon a lot of things had happened: I’ve met so many people, I’ve got to know so many different lifestyles and cultures, I’ve heard so many new languages, I’ve listened to so many new songs, I’ve had a lot of fun with so many laughs and hugs.

I am really glad for everything, but one of the things I am most grateful for in my Lisbon life are my flatmates from Casa Bernardim, we created a wonderful family: we are there for each other in every moment, I know I can always count on them... Even if we are all from different nationalities we get along very well, so I am feeling really lucky for this! And I am really glad for all the wonderful people I’ve met that already made my experience so special!

Well, Lisbon has already been full of new experiences, growth, teachings, and connections I will always be grateful for, so I can’t wait to live this moment of my life and this opportunity to the fullest! I’m ready for all the adventures and discoveries that will come in the next months!

Até já! Beijinhos!