A Pisti veio de Atenas – Grécia e realizou Erasmus Placement em Lisboa em Portugal. Esta é a partilha da sua experiência!
“Saudade (European Portuguese: [sɐwˈðaðɨ], Brazilian Portuguese: [sawˈdadi] or [sawˈdadʒi], Galician: [sawˈðaðe]; plural saudades)is a Portuguese and Galician word that has no direct translation in English. It describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic or deeply melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. Moreover, it often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing will never return.” Between February and July 2013 I was an intern in Associacao Mais Cidadania within the Erasmus Placement Program, while taking a pause from my graduate studies in Communication, Media and Culture at Panteion University of Athens. I participated in the activities of Associacao Mais Cidadania and its youth center +Skillz. Although it’s not easy to put down in words my whole experience, let’s give it a try! First, and the part I consider most important, is the personal growth I gained throughout these months. I became more independent and learnt to deal with my own matters by myself. I started being more tolerant with other people, a little bit less selfish and more open in trusting others. Some of the gains on professional level; working with an international and diverse group of people, training my language skills in English and Portuguese (as well as Italian –inevitably :P-, some French etc.), learned how to work in a team but also how to be independent and pro-active, got familiar with the function of E.U. programs (such as E.V.S., Leonardo da Vinci L.L.P., Youth Exchanges etc.), got an idea on local- based actions of volunteerism, got knowledge on an area previously unknown to me, that of Non-formal Education. And because I so much love making lists, let’s sum up a few things!
- Why A.M.C.?
For getting to know some of the most friendly and positive people around – For introducing me to Kostas and M.B. (inside joke people!) – For learning that Bairro Alto is not just bars and alcohol but a neighborhood with local people of unique character – For the amazing kids of +Skillz! – For walking by Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara every day on my way to work (jealous enough?) And for all the other reasons that you’d rather experience than describe.
- Why Lisbon? (oh, please! This list is gonna take forever!)
For the food, the sweets, the coffee – If not for Lisbon, I wouldn’t have the chance to meet V., my ex-flat mate that I’m lucky to consider my friend – For the sun – For getting lost in the streets of Mouraria – For the wine (oh, The red wine!) – For no more Sunday’s blues, you just dance them away during OutJazz – For the Festas de Santos Populares in June – For just sitting by the river and watch the evening pass by – For not feeling the need to get out of the city –literally- for 6 months (apart from a short visit to my family in Greece and a weekend in Porto) – For all the things going on in the city involving Arts and Music – For the sardines (we save them, not eat them!) OK, that was enough! Come here (oh, wait! I forgot I’m not in Lisbon anymore) to find out yourselves! I can think of at least 5 people that by hearing “Lisboa” a smile brightens up their face and they get a specific conspiracy look, they know! 2nd of August, with me crying while waiting the departure of my flight back and that certain bittersweet feeling starting growing up inside me; it’s not just the place. It’s the place, together with the people I met there and the timing that make these 6 months unique and non- repeatable. Four months later and I still get this feeling whenever I think of Lisbon (that is, every day). Is this what saudade is supposed to feel like? Love to all, Pisti
Associação Mais Cidadania 