A lot has happened since my last post. I was so busy that I had no time to write a blog post. Now let’s see what happened in Rato-ADCC in the last few weeks.
We bought a sewing machine from Lidl (it was around the beginning of May). I was so excited about it because I missed sewing a lot! Tiago called me forth and said “Hey kid, let’s buy your new toy!” He made me laugh. But I didn’t have time to try it, because somehow I injured my wrist and I wasn’t able to use my right hand. A few hours I tried using the sewing machine to explore it, but it made my wrist so much in pain. So I stopped using it and my right hand. Nuno gave me a cream and bandage for my wrist. It was very nice of him! He cared about my wrist more than me. 🙂
Since I couldn’t use my right hand, it kept me from using any tools. So I concentrate on tasks that require thinking instead of doing. So I started to think and plan workshop ideas about sewing and embroidery.
I had the idea of creating an infopack/booklet for future volunteers from one of the mentoring sessions. When I told this idea Laura and others agreed with it and they supported me. I really like the possibility to do our own ideas also.
That time I was feeling so much inspired and motivated. The machines/tools Rato-ADCC has made me feel like that. Besides them, also the environment and attitude of workers made me motivated. I felt like there was so much space for art, creativity, and inspiration. Rato-ADCC provided this space.
Day by day I’m learning more Portuguese and I become so excited about it. I can read and understand more words on the street signs, at the markets, etc…
Also I had my first Portuguese conversation! Martyna went to her country and Anna went to Azores for traveling. So I was alone at home. And one night I wanted to drink wine, but because of my wrist I couldn’t open the bottle, it was so painful! But I really wanted to drink it. So my only choice was to ask a neighbor.
So I went there and knocked on the door, when they opened I said; “Olá! Eu sou seu vizinho. Eu quero beber vinho. Eu não posso abrir o vinho. Porque meu pulso. Pode abrir o vinho?” Ok, I know that I had some mistakes like saying ‘vizinho’ instead of ‘vizinha’ but it is ok. And when they opened the bottle I gave them the last piece of tiramisu that I cooked and I said; “Isto é seu, para agradecer.” I wanted to say “This is for you as a thank you.” but I think I didn’t say it correctly. But anyway I had the conversation and I had the wine opened, so everything was good.
Later I became more confident about speaking Portuguese, so at the shops I started to speak Portuguese more. They are simple things like “Quanto custa?”, “Eu quero…” but they work very well. Once I had to buy batteries for my watch because it stopped working. So I went to a Chinese store and asked them about batteries for my watch and I got them. Also that time we communicated in Portuguese only!
I think one of the best ways to explore a city is to travel alone. So while Martyna and Anna weren’t here, I decided to go out alone. I went Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. I sat there and enjoyed the environment. I ate, drank some wine, watched some series, drew some things with the company of ducks!
When Anna came, we wanted to go to Costa da Caparica. We missed the bus because we were waiting at the wrong side of the road! So we had to take a taxi. But the taxi ride was so much fun. The taxi driver was so talkative (like all Portuguese people) and he talked about so many beautiful things about Portugal. His way of speaking was so poetic.
