A WEEK OF SUNSHINE, SMILES AND KIND PEOPLE

On Monday 13th all the participants met at the host school – Agrupamento de Escolas de Canedo in Canedo, a small town about thirty kilometers away from Porto. They surprised us with a pleasant musical and dance welcome. Then we toured the school, got to know the students and teachers, enjoyed traditional Portuguese treats and warmed our hearts, as we were impressed by the extraordinary kindness and hospitality of our hosts. Following that, there was a presentation of all five countries and an overview of the program, which focused on sustainable environmental practices and waste management. After lunch the students had a workshop on reusing items, where they created birdhouses from discarded plastic, while the teachers had a joint meeting.

On Tuesday 14th we went to the coastal town of Aveiro. First, we stopped at the University of Aveiro, where they introduced us to various ways of reusing plastic. This was followed by a quiz, in which David from Slovenia took first place, celebrating his 15th birthday on that day. Even though he was celebrating his birthday far from home, he will remember this day for a long time, as we sang 'Happy Birthday' to him in several languages in the middle of the university hall, and he even got a cake. After lunch we headed to the old town center of Aveiro, which some call the Portuguese Venice. We took a ride in colorful moliceiros, small boats once used by fishermen, along the river canals and admired the old buildings adorned with traditional colorful azulejo ceramic tiles. A very charming guide told us that each building has unique tiles that are not repeated anywhere else. After the boat ride, we visited the salt flats, where we learned about the traditional salt production that is characteristic of this area.

On Wednesday 15th it was time for Porto, a city where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, after which Portugal is also named. We first stopped at the town hall, where we learned about the city's history. Then we sat down in the luxuriously furnished meeting room, where city officials hold their meetings and make important decisions. We were also welcomed by the regional representative for education, who gave us souvenirs. After that we went for a walk through the city and stopped at Torredos Clegorios, one of Porto's most famous cultural landmarks. Next to the baroque church, where we listened to an organ concert, stands a 75-meter-high tower, offering a magnificent panoramic view of the city and its surroundings after climbing 240 steps. Following a delicious lunch, we continued exploring the city and, with the sunset, headed back.

On Thursday morning we visited the Granorte factory, which specializes in processing cork products, one of Portugal's main export items alongside wine. After that we headed to the town of Santa Maria da Feira, which is the center of the municipality that also includes our host school. We first stopped at the town hall, then went to the museum, where we learned about the history of this charming town. It is known for its medieval castle with four towers, numerous festivals and sweet treats, including fogaca, a traditional sweet bread in the shape of castle towers, which you can find everywhere. Later, we drove back towards Porto, visiting the company LIPOR, which deals with sustainable waste recycling. On the way home we made a stop at the famous Matosinhos coastline, where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and nature. We ended the day with a farewell dinner at the school, socializing with teachers, parents and students, and concluded the evening with a fado concert, a traditional music of Portugal.

Friday 15th arrived in the blink of an eye, marking the last day of our time together. While the students were creating clothing from recycled materials, the teachers had a final meeting, followed by the closing ceremony, the award of diplomas, and the last shared lunch.

During the week, which spoiled us with beautiful weather, stunning views, and warm-hearted people, we gained quite a few laugh lines from all the good cheer. But we are grateful for each one. We got to know different cultures, customs, and languages, practiced communicating in English, and built new connections and friendships. At every turn we were inspired by the Portuguese kindness, hospitality and warmth. On the way home each of us promised that we would definitely return to Portugal. I believe we will keep that promise.

Muitoobrigado por tudo! Thank you very much for everything!

Nina Stojaković Kvas