Christmas is here!

Dear friends, beautiful strangers, accidental wanderers, warm-hearted beings, and all of you! May this time, whether you celebrate it or not, be soft and cosy, filling your hearts with joy and peace. Let your dreams unfold and bloom, and have courage to make steps toward them. Trust in yourself, because you can do more, than you thing. Give yourself love and patience. Listen to yourself. And set of for an adventure. Yes, going abroad is scary, it's also quite a big think, but if you fall, we will catch you.

Lot's of love and big hugs from dream team,

Agnes, Jorge & Emile

Step 4: On-Arrival Training

On-Arrival Training in general: 

 

The main objective of the on-arrival training is to introduce the volunteers to the host country,  preparing them for the service period and the EVS experience. On-arrival training helps the volunteers adapt to cultural and personal challenges. It allows volunteers to get to know each other and to build a network. Volunteers also received guidance on conflict prevention and crisis management. At the same time, this training equips the volunteers with communication skills, including aspects of intercultural learning. It helps them become aware that cultural differences require different models of behaviour. The training is also a time for the volunteers to plan the coming months and to develop their own personal goals for their period of service, in line with the non-formal learning philosophy of EVS.

(Source: description of one of the projects on SALTO-YOUTH) 

It happens once, most likely somewhere on the beginning of your stay. It depends of the country (or region, as the best of my knowledge some partners countries like Turkey have their OAT with other countries in Georgia - or they had when I worked in Youth Centre in Turkey, so basically you may be surprised of the place where your training is organized, don't worry though - they'll have it covered)... So it depends of the country, but they will take care of you. By 'they' we mean National Agency of your host country. 

To not bore you to death, our training was in Braga, 9-14.11.2015, in more or less 6 weeks after our arrival. What I like about places like that is... first evening you meet all those people from different countries, is a little bit awkward, maybe uncomfortable, you're strangers one to another. But by the end, whether or not you gonna ever meet again, they become a piece of your heart. And it happened this time again. So many (60!) beautiful people, 4 great trainers and very little time to sleep. A lot of activities and content to cover, all in atmosphere of creativity. We got a little bit of everything: what EVS is (or is supposed to be), communication, cultural issues, Youth Pass, exploring Braga, building network and exchanging thousand smaller and bigger things, and much much more.

As much as I love my project, it was a bit hard to go back to the reality, but from other hand, I came back with open heart and new, bright energy and ideas. And well... maybe some of those other volunteers would like to share something also with you, here.

Now, just enjoy the photos, and if you have any questions, just write them down in comments! 

Lots of love!

My volunteering experience in Estonia

Last spring, I got to go in a Youth in Action project in Estonia. I'm still wondering how could it happened, but it did. An email arrived to my inbox, asking if I was interested -silly question- and in a minute I sent my CV and motivation letter. One day later I was in the project, and two weeks after that I was in a plane going into the North.

My project was called PAPER, which stands for "Planning, Analysing, Preparing, Evaluating and Repeating (for life). It lasted one month (this means it was a short term project) and took place in Tartu, the second most populated city in Estonia, supposedly well known for its famous University.

There I joined with the people who was going to do the project with me. We formed a pack of five: Adriana and Sara, from Portugal; Grega and Ziga, from Slovenia; and me, from Spain. We lived all together in a small village -Vana Kuuste- in the countryside near Tartu.

All of us were going to work in some of the projects that our Hosting Organisation, Öökull (which means owl in Estonian) was developing in Tartu and its district. More or less, we would working two weeks in the Lastekeskus -children centre- they have in Annelinn neighbourhood, one of the most troubled in Tartu, and another 2 weeks in a Work and Rest camp that was taking place in Kambja, a small town near our house.

But just before arrive, our HO asked us if we would like to volunteering too in an international festival that was going to take place in Viljandi (for some and my mentor Agniezska, the most beautiful city in Estonia). None of us said no to this different "meta" experience: a volunteer been a volunteer. So we all worked there too.

Our work in the child centre was pretty nice. We had to prepare the decoration and the food for their Spring Festival, which was the official closure of the year. Also, we prepared a little presentation about ourselves and what was we doing so far away from our home. As the centre was going to close for summer holidays, we did some repairing and cleaning works too.

But that wasn't all our work there. We played with the children too, even without speak a word of Estonian or Russian. Here we got some help from the workers of the centre and from our mentor Agneszka, who translated almost everything they were saying. Before we go, some of us worked in prepare a peddy paper or treasure game for them, to play during Children's Day.

Then, we moved to Viljandi for a long weekend (4 days). There took place the 35th International Hanseatic Days, where we volunteered by cleaning the main stages and streets of the festival. It was a bit difficult, for the task to do (we even hadn't the proper equipment) and for the lack of information about what we had to do. Every paper, every contract, every timetable was in Estonian, so we were "lost in translation", literally.

After that we went back to Tartu. Our new workplace was going to be the Youth Centre of Kambja, where the Work and Rest camp was. We had to prepare some activities and games for teenagers who were working in the morning in the local factory or cleaning the local graveyard. Although we had to face some communication problems and misunderstandings with the management, we got to do everything nicely and solve the problems.

I don't have the feeling we worked that much, maybe because it was only for 30 days. But the thing is that we did. Actually, I think we spend more time knowing Estonia and its culture than working. And that's good!

Thanks to our mentors, Jane, Agnieszka and Ragnar, we travelled along the country (and even abroad!) and we had the chance to live an authentic Estonian experience. They introduced us to the ritual of Estonian sauna, which I miss so much. With them we got lost into the wilderness of Estonian nature, sleeping in the forest with only the moonlight and sailing the rivers with our canoes.

I can't forget all the beers, wines, ciders and Vana Tallinn hot shots we drunk, and which introduced us to a lot of nice talks between us. They gave us almost everything we needed, translated every single word (because Estonian is one of the hardest languages to understand and learn) and tried to introduced us into the local community.

Sadly, it lasted only one month. When we wanted to realise we were there, we were already evaluating our days there. As soon as we arrived, we had to go back home. But we did it with our backpacks full of memories and teachings.

Happy Volunteer's Day!!

Tomorrow is United Nations International Volunteer's Day. A day to celebrate the spirit of people who gives altruistically its time, work and love to help becoming the World a better place. Like us, working here in Portugal in something that fascinate us: photography, entertainment, arts & crafts, culture, education and communication.

Congratulations if you are a volunteer!! Thank you very much for your amazing work, wherever you are and whatever you do. We all are changing everything, by doing little works everywhere we are.

Congratulations too if you are thinking you become a volunteer. Come on, don't be shy; just take the step. You can volunteer almost in any field you want. For example, this year the UN International Volunteer's Day is dedicated to those who promote sustainable development between citizens and governments. That's my case: in Spain (and I guess everywhere too) I'm a volunteer promoting the use and the improve of public transit systems.

Your help is very welcome in everything to decide to do. If you know something, share your knowledge. If you are talkative, share your conversation. Or simply, if you are a happy person, just share your smile. 

I'm not going to lie: it can be difficult sometimes. You may have to stand there during good situations and also during the bad ones. You may have to support people which may have lost everything and they need to rebuild their entire life. You may find very hard stories.

Anyway, that's nothing to be scared about! Being a volunteer is, above all, very satisfying. You will learn a lot, sometimes will be for your career, but most of the times for your life. Also, you will meet inspiring and interesting people, who will open your head and heart. Don't forget all the good memories you will get: volunteering is also about have fun doing a thing you love.

And the most important: you will be part of an amazing experience which is going to change your life. Maybe you won't realise at the beginning, but anything is going to be the same after you start volunteering.

Never forget: a little effort can do a big change.

Step 1: Finding Your Dream EVS Project

Go for a European Volunteering Service can seems very easy, but the fact it is not. OK, you can have some luck and find a project without search for it, like fallen from the sky, but that's not happening usually. Although there is a good news for you; once you're inside of the program you will find projects, youth exchanges, and training courses just with a flick of a finger. So this article will help you to introduce yourself to this world.
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Conseguir uma vaga no Serviço Voluntário Europeu pode parecer fácil, mas não é assim. Está bem... podes ter sorte e encontrar um projeto quase sem pesquisar, como caído do céu, mas isso não acontece normalmente. Mesmo assim, eu tenho boas notícias para ti: uma vez dentro da dinâmica do programa, vais encontrar projetos, intercâmbios juvenis e cursos de formação só com um click. Este artigo vai ajudar-te a entrar neste mundo. 

First of all, do you know what EVS is? If not, let's review some basics. The European Volunteering Service is part of the non-formal education program called Erasmus+, designed to allow young people to get new knowledge for their professional and personal development. The EVS is an international experience that every youngster between 16 and 30 years can live, from 15 days up to 1 year. Almost everything is payed: the travel, the food, the housing expenses, the transport if you have to move for work... And you will have some pocket money (the quantity changes from one country to another).
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Antes de mais, sabes o que é o SVE? Se não, vamos rever o básico. O Serviço Voluntário Europeu é uma parte de um programa de educação não formal chamado Erasmus+. Este programa foi desenhado para permitir aos jovens ter novos conhecimentos para o seu desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional. O SVE é uma experiência internacional que cada jovem de entre 16 e 30 anos pode viver, desde 15 dias até 1 ano. Quase tudo está incluído: a viagem, a alimentação, o alojamento, o transporte (se precisares para trabalhar...) E também tens algum dinheiro de bolso (a quantidade varia de um país para outro). 

Now you have the idea of what an EVS is, let's start with the searching. I strongly recommend you to go to a sending organization in your city or near of it. They will explain you what EVS is, how it works, your rights and duties, and will answer every question and doubt you have. And the most important, if the organization is big and good enough, you can be included in their own database of candidates. This is: they can help you finding a project for you, if you don't care about the country and the work to do.
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Agora que tens uma ideia do que é o SVE, vamos começar com a pesquisa do projeto. Eu recomendo que vás a uma organização de envio, na tua cidade ou perto dela. Eles vão-te explicar o que é o SVE, como funciona, os teus direitos e obrigações, e responderão a todas as tuas questões e dúvidas. E o mais importante para mim: poder ser incluído na sua base de dados de voluntários. Isto é: eles podem ajudar-te a encontrar um projeto para ti, se não estás a procura de um trabalho ou um país concreto. 

But you don't need to have a sending organization to start looking for a project. And the place to do this is the EVS database of projects. This is a huge website, with lots of information but with a great searching tool, which also can be used to find your searching organization. So here you will dive into a huge pile of data (sending, coordinating and hosting organizations, countries, topics, contact people, emails, phone numbers...) to find a project you would like to work at. If you find something you like, don't hesitate to contact them for more information.
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Mas não precisas duma organização de envio para começar a pesquisar projetos. E o local para fazer isto é a base de dados de organizações SVE. Este é um web-site enorme, com muita informação mas com uma ferramenta de pesquisa muito boa (que também pode ser utilizada para encontrar a tua organização de envio). Aqui vais a ter que te submergir numa grande quantidade de informação (organizações de envio, de coordenação, e de acolhimento; países, temas, pessoas de contacto, email, números de telefone...) para encontrar o projeto onde gostarias de trabalhar. Se encontraras algo de que gostas, contacta a pedir mais informação. 

Unfortunately, there are some lack of updating in the project's information. Maybe you write for more information and the contact person has changed. Or that the project is not taking place anymore. Or that simply, they don't want to answer to your mail. Don't lose the hope!! Anyway, EVS database it is a good place to start getting familiar with the issues and objectives of the volunteering projects. So you can learn a lot!
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Infelizmente, há falta de atualizações nas informações das organizações. É possível que escrevas a pedir informação e que a pessoa de contacto não seja já a mesma. Ou que o projeto já não tenha lugar. Ou, simplesmente, que eles não queiram responder ao teu correio. Não perdas a esperança!! Contudo, a base de dados SVE é um local ótimo para familiarizar-se com os temas e objetivos dos projetos de voluntariado. Podes aprender muito! 

If you can't wait to go volunteering, you must have a peek in the "Opportunities" section of the EVS database. Those projects are about to start in the next months and they need people to start them, and almost surely they are going to answer you. I've seen there projects that stay empty for months so, If you don't mind the country or the work to do, have in mind this chance.
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Se não podes esperar para ir de voluntariado, tens que dar uma olhada à secção de “Oportunidades” da base de dados SVE. Estes projetos estão prestes a começar nos próximos meses, e eles precisam de voluntários. Então, é quase certo que vais receber uma resposta rápida. Eu tenho visto projetos que ficarom vazios por meses. Se não te importas do país a viver ou do trabalho a fazer, tem estes projetos em mente. 

Besides from EVS database, you can use the pages Eurodesk and Salto-Youth, which also have plenty of useful information for Youth. Plus, search in Facebook for the EVS pages. You can find several projects every day, especially when the deadline is close. My favorites are Discover the EVS, Servicio Voluntario Europeo (in Spanish), and European Voluntary Service, but there are hundreds of pages and groups like those. Also, you can search for projects and other activities in Join Youth and Youth Networks.
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Além da base de dados SVE, também podes utilizar as páginas Eurodesk e Salto-Youth, onde também há muita informação útil para a juventude. Ainda mais, faz uma pesquisa no Facebook pelas páginas SVE. Podes encontrar muitos projetos todos os dias, especialmente quando a data limite está próxima. Minhas páginas favoritas são Discover the EVS, Servicio Voluntario Europeo (em Espanhol), e European Voluntary Service, mas há centos de páginas e grupos como estes. Também podes pesquisar por projetos e outras atividades de juventude em Join Youth e Youth Networks. 

Let's fast forward a bit. Imagine you already know what, where, and when to do. This is, you've choose one or several projects. Now it's time to prepare a resume and a motivation letter. It's supposed the motivation letter it's more important than the resume, so put more effort into this. Be creative: it might be not a real letter. You can do a video, a cartoon, a song, a poem... Anything you need and think to show why you are the best candidate for the place. For the resume, just remember to do it over the Euro Pass template.
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Vamos a avançar um bocadinho. Imagina que já sabes o que fazer, onde e quando: já escolheste um ou mais projetos. Agora é o momento de preparar o teu currículo e a carta de motivação. Supostamente, a carta de motivação é mais importante que o currículo, então tens que trabalhar mais nesta parte. Sê criativo: a carta não tem porque ser uma carta. Podes fazer um vídeo, uma história, um quadradinho, uma canção, um poema... Qualquer coisa que precises e aches que pode mostrar porque é que és o melhor candidato para o projeto. Para o currículo, não te esqueças de fazê-lo num modelo Euro Pass.

Now, let's say your motivation letter has made an impression in the organization you want to work and you have an answer. Sometimes you are directly selected for the volunteering, without interview (that was my case). But in almost all the situations you will have to overcome a selection process. And they will want to speak with you. Don't panic!! It's very good news; you are one step closer to your target.
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Agora, vamos supor que tua carta de motivação criou impacto na organização onde queres trabalhar, e que tens uma resposta no teu email. Há vezes em que és diretamente selecionado para o voluntariado, sem entrevista (esse foi o meu caso). Mas em quase todas as situações, vais ter que ultrapassar um processo de seleção. E eles vão querer falar contigo. Não entres em pânico!! São boas notícias: estás um passo mais perto do teu objetivo. 

Your interview will be in English most of the times, unless you already know the language of the country, and via Skype or Hangouts. Relax, they just want to know more about yourself. You will be chatting with them for 20 minutes more or less. Be confident, show you are interested on the project topic, ask all the times you need if you don't understand, and try to solve all your doubts about the project.
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Quase sempre a entrevista vai ser em Inglês, a não ser que já conheças o idioma do país, e mediante Skype ou Hangouts. Relaxa, eles só querem saber mais de ti. Estarás a falar com eles mais ou menos uns 20 minutos. Sê confiante, mostra que estás interessado no tema do projeto, pergunta sempre se não perceberes, e tenta resolver as tuas dúvidas sobre o projeto.

Again, let's say you have nailed the interview. In a few days or weeks you will have an answer again. Maybe they ask you for some portfolio with your works (especially if you are applying for a communication and arts related project). Or maybe it's a final answer. There are two options:

1. Congratulations!! You are in!! If this is your case, you can jump forward to step 2. 
2. You are not selected. If this is your case, don't worry!! I've had to do 3 interviews before being selected for a project. Hopefully there are lots of nice projects waiting for you in Europe. Next time you will be luckier.

If you have any doubt, you can contact our hosting organization, Juventude Vila Fonche.

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Novamente, vamos supor que fizeste uma ótima entrevista. Em uns dias ou semanas terás uma resposta. É possível que eles te peçam um portfólio com os teus trabalhos (especialmente se estás a solicitar uma vaga num projeto de comunicação ou arte). Ou é possível que seja a resposta final. Há duas opções: 

1. Parabéns!! Estás dentro!! Se este é teu caso, podes saltar à fase 2. 
2. Não foste escolhido. Se este é teu caso, não te preocupes!! Eu tive que fazer 3 entrevistas antes de ser escolhido para um projeto. Felizmente, há muitos e bons projetos à tua espera na Europa. Vais ter mais sorte na próxima vez, de certeza. 

Se tiveres alguma dúvida, podes contactar a nossa associação de acolhimento, Juventude Vila Fonche.

Photo Credits: / Créditos fotográficos:
Sceptre (Wikimedia), Salto-Youth

Step 2: Pre-Departure Training

I know, it should start with Step 1: Finding a Project and Being Accepted, but lets do it a little bit around.

Let's say you already had been accepted, you are ready, excited and a little bit worried (maybe it's your first time, maybe you don't trust your language, maybe it's hard to leave your friends or significant other, maybe it's a little bit of everything). But there's still thousand and one questions in your head, and you have no idea how everything will work, moreover you either think it's gonna be the best vacation time in your life (wrong!) or you gonna change the entire world (yeah...).

But your National Agency (I guess we will need to write small dictionary of Erasmus+) wont let you alone. They, or your Sending Organisation prepares something called Pre-Departure Training, one of few you will take part in. The First One.

I'm not certain that information, but who prepares your pre-departure training will depend on how many participants goes from your sending organisation or country. I assume, if there's just one person per organisation, it may be easier if NA does it. And in the case when just your sending organisation has almost 10 departing soon, well.

But what's the thing about it?

You are introduced to the concept of volunteering. It's seems to be term easy to define, but when it comes to that, everything gets a bit tangled. Then, there's all section for Erasmus+ ant what it actually is. You talk about Youth in Action programme and European Voluntary Service (EVS! Now you know where those letters come from!). Don't worry, they tell you about your rights and responsibilities as EVS volunteer. You should feel free to ask your own questions, that's also time to come up with your doubts and worries. What's your motivation? What are your expectations? What are your learning objectives? Those are pretty good questions your trainer is responsible to take care about. Also important is to speak about culture shock, what it is and how it really works. How to deal with it.

Last but not least, make friends. Because the people who are at the training course will go through the same/similar experiences as you will. It's important to have somebody to talk about it with. Your 'old friends' may sometimes don't exactly understand what you are through, and they are for sure great people, just with difficulties to relate to your words.  

Agnes: My training course was a blast, however I assume it wasn't exactly the same as usually. The people who I met were pretty amazing and we got along easily. Some of us already had experiences of living abroad, so there was not much to talk about culture shock. We talked about main objectives of EVS, rules, doe's & dont's, conditions, everything. It was laud and a lot of laugh. For me it was one day trip to Krakow, since my sending organisation has its office there. We completely skipped ice-breaking games, since there was no 'ice to break'. The trainer, amazing woman with great experience got us through everything smoothly. Then it was already late afternoon and well... I had to hurry up for my train back home.

Jorge: Unfortunately for me, reading the experiences from Agnes, my pre-departure training was a little bit different of what she is describing. I just went to a reunion with my sending organization, where they asked me if I had any doubt, they explained me some things and I signed the agreement and the medical insurance. I didn't have any doubts: recently I had done a youth in action project, so I knew about how everything worked. I also had lived in Portugal yet, so there it wasn't anything new for me. And that was all, less than 30 minutes.

Emile: My pre-departure training was on a entire weekend with people who had many different project : We were only 3 EVS in the group. There were an association which wants to make a project around dance in Burkina Faso, for example, and others journey in an associative framework. Anyway it is concerning people who are going to stay in a foreign country for more or less time.
For me, the positive aspect of this weekend is that it allowed me to mentally project myself in the journey, (Be careful, too much projections can create too much expectations, which are often not filled!) and being aware of my deep motivations, even those you don't want to say to everybody.
We saw through different games that we all have prejudices between cultures when they don't really know each others, and how they were born.
Also, I realised that you are not meeting a culture when you are travelling, but you are experiencing one person after another and at this point you can make your own vision about that culture.
We did a lot of role games around cultural exchange, to make us aware of the differences between 2 cultures, and to help us understand how we react in multicultural situations.

Agnes: Old Routines and an Average Day of a Volunteer

There are things every single one of you like doing. I mean, like those weird little things you're not aware of doing until you can't. Personally, my weird thing was drinking tea in hug mugs, which I didn't know about until I went to Turkey and... they had just those tiny glasses.
 Há coisas que cada um de nós gosta de fazer. Estou a falar daquelas pequenas e estranhas coisas que não sabes que fazes, até que não podes fazê-las mais. Pessoalmente, a minha coisa “estranha” era beber chá em chávenas, não conhecia até ter vivido na Turquia e... eles só têm copos pequenos.

Some of you haven/t experienced being abroad yet (I assume, you'd like to try since you're here), fore some it's first time, and some are pretty familiar to that in one way or another. The one thing is true: your daily life is gonna be flipped upside-down. More or less, but it won't be the same.

Alguns de vocês ainda não experimentaram viver fora (mas acho que gostariam de experimentar, visto que estão aqui), para muitos é a vossa primeira vez, e para outros já estão acostumados a isso de uma maneira ou de outra. Para todos, isto é certo: a tua vida diária vai mudar de cima para baixo. Mais ou menos, nada voltará a ser igual.

However, you can adjust the reality to your needs, just a little bit.

Contudo, podes ajustar a realidade às tuas necessidades, só um pouco.

That's what I do, because moving to another country every year definitely breaks every fixed routine.

Isso é o que faço, porque mudar para outro país a cada ano, rompe totalmente com a rotina estabelecida.

 Somehow, I manage to get up around 7:30 - 8 am. After half an hour on my yoga mat, turning on water for tea, I take quick shower. Quick, really. Often the water doesn't have enough time to boil. I stop by the kitchen, turn off the stove and pure water to 'my' huge green mug so it's gonna cool down a little bit while I'm making my bed and fixing my bedroom a little bit. It's 9 - 9:15 by then and the time to prepare whatever-is-in-the-fridge for breakfast. 15 minutes later, boys start waking up. First Jorge, then Emile.

De certa maneira, consigo acordar às 7h30-8h. Depois de meia hora de Yoga, aqueço água para fazer chá. Tomo um banho rápido. A sério, é rápido; às vezes a água não tem tempo suficiente para ferver. Então, volto para a cozinha, desligo o fogão e ponho a água na minha chávena grande. Enquanto está a esfriar, faço minha cama e limpo um pouco o meu quarto. São quase 9h quando preparo o pequeno-almoço, como qualquer coisa que haja no frigorífico. 15 minutos depois, os rapazes começam a acordar. Primeiro o Jorge, depois o Emile.

At 10 we are already at the Youth Center (Centro Jovem!). Mornings are slow. It's either team meeting, or coffee with our mentor, or Portuguese classes, or just whatever is important to do (small designs, editing photos, writing a post it is usually for me). Or if it's necessary, we're preparing to our afternoon workshops. It's been a month (almost), since we came, and getting into everything usually takes a while, but supplies for my actual jewellery workshop are on the way, and we're talking with school about setting up photography classes for their students (yay! I couldn't be more excited!). So for now it was kind of crawling.

Às 10h já estamos no Centro Jovem. As manhãs são calmas. Costumamos ter reunião de equipa, ou com a nossa mentora, ou aulas de português, ou qualquer coisa importante para fazer (o que normalmente faço são pequenos desenhos, edição de imagens, ou escrevo um artigo para meu blog). Sempre que necessário, preparamos as nossas atividades para as tardes. Estamos aqui acerca de um mês. Começar a realizar certas coisas podem demorar algum tempo, mas o material para as minhas atividades de bijuteria já estão a caminho. Também estamos a falar com as escolas, para fazer workshops de fotografia com os estudantes (sim!, não poderia estar mais nervosa). Até agora tem sido uma pesquisa de tarefas.

At noon we go to Pousadinha for lunch. We are driven, all three, since it's quite a walk. Pousadinha is something you'd call hostel probably, where some children for school are taken to eat, too. And they have rooms for guests. It's one of those not-fancy-but-cozy-and-homey places.

Ao meio-dia vamos almoçar à Pousadinha. Como fica um pouco longe, os três vamos na carrinha da Associação. A Pousadinha é parecido com um Hostel ou um albergue da Associação, onde algumas crianças da escola vão lá almoçar. Também tem quartos para hóspedes. Não é um local sofisticado mas é muito acolhedor e familiar.

 Usually by 1:30 pm  we're all home, safe and sound. And, believe me or not, most places here are closed until 2 - 2:30 pm. Lunch break! So I sit in the kitchen, waiting for the water to boil (again) and then, whether reading or just working on my next piece of jewellery, there's tine to enjoy extra break.  That's like one of the most unexpected things I experienced here. Because in Poland you don't take a special break to enjoy lunch. Nah, sometimes you barley have enough time to chew up your sandwich. Here is different, slow down, relax, boy.

Normalmente, estamos em casa ás 13h30 e em segurança. E, acreditem ou não, a maioria dos locais aqui estão fechados até as 14h-14h30. É a pausa para o almoço! Portanto, sento-me na cozinha, ponho mais água a ferver e, seja a ler ou a trabalhar na minha seguinte peça de joalharia, desfruto do meu descanso extraordinário. Na Polónia, não existe tempo para descansar e usufruir do almoço. Por vezes, só tens tempo para devorar a tua sandes. Aqui é diferente, acalma-te e relaxa rapaz.

Half past two we are back at the association. And that should be when the magic begins, but... some kids get here around 5, so until then we do small things. The ones we started in the morning and had no time to finish. Or help others. Or do researches to prepare workshops for next weeks. Or just play with children. There's thousand bigger or smaller things to do.I guess you'll get to read about it in further posts, with more details. That's just a sneak peek.

Às 14h30 estamos de volta à Associação. E, aqui, deveria começar a magia, mas..., a maioria das crianças só chegam ao Centro Jovem perto das 17h. Então, até esse momento, fazemos pequenas coisas. Aquelas que começamos de manha mas não tivemos tempo para terminar. Ou ajudar os outros. Ou fazer investigações para as nossas atividades das próximas semanas. Ou simplesmente, jogar com as crianças que estão por aqui. Existem sempre pequenas e grandes coisas para fazer. Suponho que terão tempo para ler isso nos próximos artigos, com mais detalhes. Para já é só um trailer.

We should get off at 6:30, but sometimes I stay longer. For several reasons, either it's just too good fun to leave and I wanna stay, or I'm trying to finish my own, private things. Whatever it is, by 7:30 pm I'm home the latest. Then I go for a run, 5K (or not; recently it's been raining awfully and I rather get up an hour later to discover it is still raining, and I get soaking wet in mornings instead...), have small dinner with next huge mug of tea.

Deveríamos voltar para casa às 18h30. Contudo, às vezes ficamos mais algum tempo. Por diversas razões, ou porque é muito divertido para ir embora, e quero ficar, ou porque estou a tentar terminar as minhas coisas pessoais. Seja o que for, às 19h30 estou de volta a casa. Depois, vou correr cerca de 5km (ou não; tem chovido imenso recentemente e tenho preferido acordar uma hora mais tarde e descobrir se ainda está a chover). Depois é tempo para um pequeno jantar com uma chávena grande de chá.

The day is almost over. I have time to take care of my private things such as one of my other blogs, writing a tutorial for you, fixing photos I took that day. Or just chatting with friends, instagraming, reading a book, watching a movie, working on jewellery. Anything is good.

O dia quase acabou. Ainda tenho tempo para fazer as minhas coisas privadas, como olhar para os meus blogs, escrever um tutorial para ti ou descarregar as fotos que tirei nesse dia. Ou só falar com os meus amigos, navegar no Instagram, ler um livro, ver um filme, trabalhar na joalharia... Tudo é bom.

The thing is, that views around are stunning. I can't have enough of looking around. And the atmosphere of the place is nice. Like you don't need to hurry anywhere. Just relax and have things done. A day have just 24 hours, so use it wisely. And weekends... that's completely different thing (;

As vistas ao redor são incríveis. Não posso deixar de olhar. O ambiente local é bom, como se não tivesses que correr para chegar a algum lugar. Só tens que relaxar e ter as coisas feitas. O dia apenas tem 24 horas: usa-o com sabedoria. E os fins de semana... isso é uma coisa completamente distinta.

- Agnes