Volunteer's Day in Viana

How many of you knows that first record of the verb volunteer comes from 1755? Pretty long time ago, don't you think? It has roots in French, is a derivation from the world voluntaire - one who offers himself for military service. Hasn't it change a bit since then?

As so Wikipedia says Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain. Volunteering is also renowned for skill development, and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life. Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or community served. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment.

Forgive me reaching to Wiki, but 'volunteering' is one of those words everyone knows the meaning and nobody thinks about them deeper unless necessary.

In some places Volunteer's Day went by unnoticed, but it doesn't mean your help is any less important. And, above all, should you contribute and share with others to be noticed or just from simple need of your heart? Think about it for a moment. But then, when you give, you also get something. For me it's an exchange working both ways. In and out, however with no expectations attached.

We were lucky  to be taken for volunteers' meeting in Viana do Castelo, where there are three other database and apply!). We all have different stories to tell. Jorge for example started his adventure in college working his former high school and in summer camps. For me it's been over 10 years (in high school) and I've been through various adventures such as therapist of autistic children (with horses!), tutor or having workshops during art festivals.
EVS: Gretel, Melaine and Natalia. We had coffee, cookies, laughter and an opportunity to share our experiences, talk what volunteering means for us, and well... it is pretty amazing to be in another country (if you want to try yourself -> check out the

I'm not going to bore you to death how the meeting go: it was short and pleasant. We got some gadgets (pens and notebooks!), got too sign a message for future volunteers in a book, talked and after the formal part was over, Diana and Helder took us to try bolas de berlin (heaven in your mouth!), walked around, had dinner and see the church on the top of the hill. A beautiful day for which we are absolutely grateful.

It's not fair to tell for everyone, but I feel here like a part of big family. It couldn't be more perfect. Thank you, to all of you!

And say hi to fabulous Diana, one of our coordinators (Helder is in the background ^^)! Love you! 

Do it yourself!

Hello, it's me...

I've been wondering if you would like to know about the Erasmus+ youth exchange we participated last december, here in Arcos de Valdevez, called 'Do it yourself'.

Life is about dreams. And sometimes you don't know how to become them real. Sometimes you find the missing piece of the puzzle. So you start transforming you life. That's was 'Do it yourself' about: entrepeneurship, work by yourself (that doesn't means you work alone!), and little ideas made big.

The exchange was designed and produced by our hosting organization, Juventude Vila Fonche, and they kindly offered us to participate. At the beginning I thought we would be only in the evenings and nights (as we would be sleeping in our house), but it realise we were actually being a part of the exchange with the great portuguese team.
 

So, this was going to be my first time doing a youth exchange. Agnes, who had already done some, was repeating all the time that it was going to be very intense. I have done lots of summer camps and activities which always were like that, but I coudn't imagine until what point this exchange would be intense. Always speaking in a positive way, of course.

"What is a youth exchange?" will you asking yourself. Well, it's just a non-formal education programme which aims to introduce an idea to the youngsters, but in a way which is totally the opposite from what you can find in a school or college.

In this case, 'Do it yourself' was one week of working, (non-formal) learning and, above all, having so much fun, from 9 in the morning, when everybody were barely awake, until late late (sometimes really late) night. I just can describe my experience with one word: amazing. And I'm not the only one who think like that.

First, because of the people. Kind, positive, smart, funny, energetic, good-cook, hard-worker, and interesting people, with ages between 18 and 26, coming from four different countries, plus Portugal: Chech Republic, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Each one of us shared a piece of ourselves and our country, giving the best of us to the group. Maybe food, maybe literature, maybe games, maybe music, maybe traditions or even our good mood. At the end, we knew a little bit of each others and our countries. We started with five different groups, but we finish our days there as a family.

Second, because of the things we did. I've already been almost four months here and thanks to "Do it yourself" I could discover what makes Arcos a different place: technology, start-up and small business, entrepeneurship, space, and people willing to create a better city.

But also, because of the games, activities, work and trips made that week. We were all the time playing and joking, talking, getting each other better, losing shyness, getting this place better, planning and executing incredible ideas. Living intensly, after all.

And, of course, because of the nights lived there. But, what happened in Pousadinha (the youth hostel where it was the exchange) must stay there. I will only said that none of us slept enough during those days. Some even fell asleep on the couch, while the rest of us where singing out loud, jumping, laughing and yelling.

So, all I want to say now is thank you all!! I would repeat without thinking it.

I could stay like that all day, but I think the best you can do is live a youth exchange by yourself (Do it yourself!). You won't be disappointed, for sure.

All fotos were taken by Aurora Cappiello, friend, graphic designer, photographer and participant in Do it yourself. Thank you!

Silly Adventage of Living in International Community: Gifts Giving

Oh, are there any? It seems to be like such a huge mess, you know, all that cultural differences. But hold on a sec...

Growing up in Poland I believed Santa brings gifts first on 6th of December (usually small ones, candies and tangerines, and those chocolate Santas), and then on 24th bigger ones. Hah, I lost my life not being a child of mixed, Polish-Spanish couple! Why? Because... Hum...

I woke up this morning completely unaware. Well, it was obvious that Jorge had prepared something special for us, but nobody knew what exactly it was. After my morning yoga and meditation I dressed up and got out of the room. The first thought was 'why would I left my slippers on the middle of the corridor?...' but ignoring how weird it was, I put them on and moved to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Then after some time Jorge came out and asked if I went to the saloon, but well... have I ever went to the saloon in the morning?... Nope.

And did you notice something weird about your slippers?
Yes!

So laughing, I run into the saloon, and looked around confused. And here it was!

Three Wise Men visited even us, could it be because our Spanish friend was so kind and good people, they didn't mind to make some extra kilometres to visit our little, cosy apartment?

It's just two ways of gifting other people, but there's as many, as countries and religions. Please, let us know under, what are yours, how do you celebrate? Hanukkah? Ramadan? Any others we have no idea about? Just write down in the comment!

Love,

Agnes

P.S.
We are back! After Holiday break. Emile joined us yesterday, and... we went for a tour to IKEA :D We'll keep you updated. Hello in the new year!