Birdwatching

Since 2011 I am a member of Polish Society for the Protection of Birds. When I found out, that one of Vertigem’s activity is birdwatching I was really pleased. I’ve realised that it could be great chance for me to get some informations about birds which appear in Portugal.

Few times a month all Vertigem’s volunteers go to the mountains, forests or lakes to registrate wild birds. With binoculars and books about birds we try to spot and recognize some species (with vocalization or observation methodes). With greater or lesser effects:)

By participation with those kind of activities I had chance to see for myself some birds, which we don’t have in Poland, because usually they breeds naturally in western Europe or in other places in the world, but not in my country.

One of those species is for example Sylvia undata (Dartford warbler) which is very common here. It’s small passerine bird with characteristic long tail. Also Alectoris rufa (Red-legged partridge) is very popular in this part of Europe, but I had to came to Portugal to see this colourful gamebird. Still, I hope to registrate other species that don’t appear in Poland, but just few days left to do this. I have to try harder 🙂

Kasia

Let´s talk about Poland…

As we´ve mentioned before, Vertigem cooperates with school in Marinha Grande. Almost every week volunteers go there to talk about their countries. Few days ago we went to school with our polish presentation. We were talking about Poland´s history,nature and traditions.
Monika showed some pictures and short movies about city she lives in,Wroclaw.I also showed something from Cracow.

Portuguese students were trying to guess what polish famous people are we talking about. They were also trying to speak polish, which obviously wasn´t easy for them 😉 But the most funny thing for them was moment,when we were talking about polish stereotypes and how people in Poland see Europe according to stereotypes.

After our presentation we went to kitchen,where students from São Thomé,who had presentation week before, prepared for us fish in traditional for their country way. We also wanted to make something special from Poland,but here it´s really difficult to buy ingredients that we need. That´s way we just made some polish cookies. But they liked them, few people even asked for recipe 🙂

Talking about food…One part of our presentation was about it…well…I love portuguese food,but when I was talking about polish one in Marinha Grande I realised that I miss traditional polish food like pierogi,schabowy or barszcz. I dream about tomato soup with rice made by my father,which is the best in the world. I´ve already asked my mum to prepare for my arrival polish bigos,which I miss the most!She said YES 😉

Kasia

Our group is getting bigger!

When we´ve came here from Poland, just three volunteers lived in Bezerra´s Ecological Residence – Marilyn, Armelle and Jeroen. Marilyn arrived here in July and she´s staying in Portugal all year. Armelle from France came one month before us and Jeroen from Belgium arrived just one day before our arriving,so for our three everything was new and we start getting know everything together. Armelle and Jeroen are also longterm volunteers. On All Saints Day two Turkish guys joined us. They will stay here for six months. Our group is getting bigger! Now Jeroen isn´t only one man here. We leveled out the playing field 😉

When few people are living together it´s completly normal and predictable that some problem just have to appear. We also haven´t waited long for that moment. After few days of being here we had to make some rules about living at school. We were sick of eating breakfest with somebody´s socks or hammer on the table. We couldn´t keep our eyes shut for things like that. Happily, rules helped our group to clean atmosphere and now it´s more easy to live together 🙂

Of course, everyone has their own habits and we have to respect each other. We are from different countries and cultures, but that thing is very good for us, because we have a chance to learn something about other environments. Sometimes it´s funny, sometimes it´s shocking, but everytime it´s just interesting. Before coming here I didn´t know that estonian language doesn´t have future form and genders. In Estonia they are joking that they have no sex and no future 🙂 Still, I can´t understand how someone who declares vegetarianism eat fish and chickens, but it´s another story…

It was also suprising for me, when I found out that in Turkey only men can cut another man´s hair and only women can take care of other woman´s hair. Probably I will be suprised a few times more here, but I hope it always be nice suprise 🙂

Now in Vertigem we are expecting one new guy from France. He´s coming on Wednesday, 21st November. Hope, he will be nice and cool person, who will consolidate our group 🙂

Kasia

How volunteers of Vertigem spend their free time in Bezerra?

Get to know how a typical weekend of Vertigem’s volunteers looks like.

Volunteers from all over Europe who come to volunteer within organisation of Vertigem live in a small village of Bezerra. Not a lot of people live here so it seems that you cannot expect many amusements here. However surprisingly there is always something going on. Very often we go away for the weekends but when we stay we are not bored at all anyway. During the weekend of 19^th to 21^st October all of the volunteers stayed in to celebrate one of the girl’s birthday. Kasia was having her anniversary on Sunday so we have decided to have fun all the weekend.

Next to Bezerra is another village called Arrimal where is a bar that you can go to chill out and have a beer. Therefore on Friday night we went there hoping to take part in a dance party. However unfortunately it wasn’t taking place at that time. Anyway we decided to stay, play some billiard and just have fun. Although some of the volunteers (mainly girls) weren’t very good at playing they have quickly found some helpers among local people (mainly young men). It was a good occasion to meet Portuguese people and have some fun at the same time.

On Saturday there was a big party in another village called Mendiga about which we have found out  in Arrimal the night before. Local people said that there will be some traditional dances and a lot of young people from the area nearby. We have arrived there around 11pm. It may seem a little late but in fact it is early for Portugal. The actual party didn’t start until midnight and people were still arriving at 3am. So if you are going to a party in Portugal don’t bother showing up until twelve o’clock! Anyway there was really loads of people and they were dancing to traditional Portuguese music. There is a specific way they dance to it and we really wanted to learn it. It wasn’t so easy though. However girls found some local dancers to teach them and they have learnt it – or at least that’s what they have been told!

Finally the day of Kasia’s birthday has come. Every day we go for lunch and dinner to local family’s home. The name of the lady who cooks for us is Carminda. On that day, like usual we went there for lunch. However afterwards there was a surprise – Carminda’s granddaughter, Catarina baked a delicious cake with candles. We have sung “Happy Birthday” in Portuguese and Polish and gave our wishes to Kasia. Then in the evening in the school, we prepared a small birthday party with some sweets, cookies and champagne. We have played some games as well. Summing up, you cannot expect to be bored in Bezerra, there is always something interesting going on! Or you can always make something to go on as well.

Also living in Bezerra provides extraordinary opportunities to experience real and traditional country life. Since the beginning of my stay here I could go through several events like that. One of them was All Saints’ Day on 1^st November. Here they spend it in a very interesting way. There is of course no such thing as Halloween before as it’s very religious area. So in the morning all families go to the church to pray for their dead relatives and friends. After the mass children go with small, handcrafted bags to all of the houses in the neighbourhood and ask for a little money or a cake.

In the same time the adults gather around the table and eat. First, lunch and then sweets, nuts, sweet potatoes and cakes. Very traditional cake  is baked at that time in a small, flat and round shape. Me and other girls here call it “eat-me cake” cause it’s just so irresistible. When it’s on the table you just really NEED to eat it! Of course during that time when everyone is at the table we drink wine. However this time we were drinking a special kind that is called agua-pé. It’s not really a wine yet because it’s very young, around 4-5 months. It has a pink colours and is not very strong, maybe like beer. So when me and other volunteers were spending this holiday at local family’s house we were sitting by the table 3,5 hours. I was so full I thought I cannot walk anymore. But the experience was so nice especially that I was also giving the money to the kids!

Now, is the time for picking olives. Tomorrow me, Kasia and Marilyn are going to help to do it and then go and see how real olive oil is made. I am sure it will be a great experience again, and if I had come to Portugal to a big city I would never have an opportunity to actually take part in all those things!

Monika

What do we do when we’re not in the farm?

Although we go (usually) everyday to farm we have also other duties. Vertigem cooperates with the schools in nearby cities as well. Every week when it’s possible, we go to Marinha Grande to a professional school of tourism. Students there are around 16-20 years old so it’s easy to communicate with them. Every volunteer has to present their own country there. Also students from the school make presentations so everyone has a chance to learn something. It is very important for local communities as well as volunteers because they have a chance to know young Portuguese and foreign people.

Since the beginning of October we have been three times there. During the first visit I (Monika) was speaking about European Union and especially about Maastrich Treaty. In 2013 it will be 20 years since the signing of this Treaty so it was a good occasion to do it. Afterwards Marilyn from Estonia was giving presentation about her country, culture, and customs. Next week we also went to Leiria where we were talking to children aged 8-10. It was obviously more difficult as they don’t speak any English, only Portuguese. Also that week Armelle from France and Jeroen from Belgium were giving the presentations in Marinha Grande. Also they were cooking traditional food with all of the students. It was a lot of fun!

Another activity that we do is birdwatching. Usually once or twice a week we go to the mountains, or forests and lakes and try to spot the birds. Then we write the names of the species and enter them into a database. It is important not only for us but also other people who want to do birdwatching.

Another thing that recently we have started doing is horse riding. Armelle is a professional in this field so she is giving other volunteers lessons. It is very fun and interesting experience.

Also from time to time we receive groups of kids who are visiting the farm. They learn how to make bread, how to feed animals, we go with them to the caves and do all kinds of things we usually do on the farm.

Of course besides of the duties volunteers have the right to just enjoy their free time. Usually during the weekends we go and travel around to know the country. If we stay in Bezerra we also have a lot of things to do: have fun, go to play pool, play games, do the horse riding and just enjoy our time in Portugal.

Monika

Halfway

2nd November. That´s mean we are exactly one month here. That was very nice month. Full of new experiences. During this four weeks I´ve met new people, places and tastes. So many things happened… I´ve started to learn portuguese, I was participating in traditional parties and feasts. I spent few days in Portugal´s capital. Lisbon surprised me. I was expecting modern city, but happily it kept its tradition,magic atmosphere and spirit of fado. But it´s not only Lisbon. I visited also other cities…

We were participating in classes at school in Leiria and Marinha Grande, where we could found out how young people cooperate with each other and learn new things about life and different countries and culture.

Also here in Bezzera we have many news. Yesterday two Turkish guys joined our group. We also have new life on the farm. Literally. On Monday new baby goat was born. It´s so cute and funny. We still can´t take our eyes off it 🙂

Personally, for me, time that I´m spending here is very useful. As a new member of Polish Society for the Protection of Birds I can get know many bird species that don´t appear in Poland.

Everyday here is something new. I´m curious how next month will be look like 🙂

Kasia

Tutti frutti

Everyone knows,that fruits are very healthy. Acid, juicy,sweet,bitter-I love them all. But this is a really great pleasure,when you can collect it right from the tree and you don´t have to buy it in a supermarket.
When we´ve came to Portugal vintage´s been already done,so we couldn´t participate in it.But fresh grapes or apples from the trees are not anything special for me.I can have it from my grandparents´ garden. But there are some fruits here,that are not so common in Poland.Well, of course you can buy it in shop,but it´s not a point. It´s huge different when you can eat fresh fruit, which is quite exotic in your country.That´s how I discovered some fruits,that are not so popular in Poland.Let´s start with figs.In Poland usually I eat them as snack,the dry ones.But here,when I first taste them,right from the tree,it was quite confusing for me.I´ve oped one of that fruit and thinked “Oh God,there´re some worms here”, but than I found out,that´re not worms.Figs just look like this inside…It was my first time with the fresh ones…don´t blame me, I wasn´t known it 🙂
Here, I also taste first in my life kaki.That fruit looks like a tomato,but it´s very sweet and it´s without seeds.It tastes really good. But the really suprise for me was strawberry tree. It tastes like connection of lichi and wild strawberries.And thay say,that if you eat lot of them you can feel like drunk.I have to try this! 🙂
It´s also nice,that we can collect some lemons just from the tree.In few days pomagranates and oranges will be ready to collect.I can´t wait!

Kasia

Bon appetit!

My family and friends ask me what in Portugal I like the most?After almost three weeks here,I can say:food,definitely. Fish,seafood,meat,wine – I love it. Here, as a volunteers we eat at place of typical portuguese family. Really nice and kind people. Always with smile on their faces. It seems like for them lunch or dinner is really important time during the day. But it´s not just eating. It´s time, when everyone meets around the table and can talk each other. With no rush. But I have to admit, portuguese people don´t eat very healthy. At lunch and dinner they usually eat thick soup and some meat with potatoes, rice or pasta. Yes,twice a day!And they eat bread with everything-soups,meat,spaghetti, lazagne,casseroles. What vegetables do they usually add to food?Potatoes,cabbage,bean and chickpea – so everything which is rich and not very light. How about meat? Goats,turkeys,chickens,pork,rabbits – they love meat. And of course delicous fish and seafood, what I personaly adore! One of the most popular fish on the tables here is codfish ( bacalhau). I have to also mantion about piri piri, that they add to everything 🙂 With meals people usually drink wine, what shouldn´t suprise anyone – after all it is Portugal! Probably after two months here, I will come back to Poland with some extra kilos,but who cares?Portuguese food is worth it!

Kasia

What do we do in the farm?

As volunteers here in Portugal we live in small village Bezerra and we work in the farm called Quinta do Cuco (you can see it in the head picture). Quinta is the educational farm and belongs to Vertigem – environmental organisation working on promoting natural and cultural patrimony. In charge of the volunteers is our coordinator – Rui. He is a very nice and fun person and besides he is also teacher in the University of Aveiro. The farm is located approximately 2 kilometres from the place where we live and we either walk, cycle or take a car there. During the week Rui is always here from Monday till Thursday afternoon, then we usually take a car to the farm. We work everyday in the morning and afternoon with the break for the lunch and relax. Besides working in the farm we do also a lot of different things but in this post I would like to present you “the farmers life”.

Let me give you the tour of Quinta and introduce the inhabitants:

This is Max – he is a guard of our farm. He likes all the volunteers sometimes too much – it is normal he jumps on you to say hello. He is also quite dangerous, unfortunately killed already around 4 cats.

Another dog is Bolota. Rui says he is rasta cause he has some dreadlocks. Anyway he’s a nice and cute dog. Everyday we have to give our dogs food and water.

There are two big cages of chickens. They also need food and water everyday.

Marylin feeding the chickens:

There are also two lovely bulls:

And guess what! They also need food everyday. They have two kinds: hay and a special one.

Monika and Kasia giving food to the bulls:

The bulls live now also with the donkey – Ambrosio. Then in another building there are goats (and one sheep):The turkeys:

And we have also a very new inhabitant of the farm – she came to us just 3 days ago. This is beautiful Suri:

There is also second part of the farm where is a place for all the equipment, a house with a bread oven and a garden (with a pool).

Everyday we go to the farm and do all the usual things which i showed you above. Apart from that there are daily different thigs to do there: picking up fruits, collecting wood, fixing things, making jam etc.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of Quinta do Cuco!

Your special guide: Monika

Bom dia!

We are three volunteers within EVS programme in Bezerra Portugal: Marilyn, Monika and Kasia. On this blog we are going to describe our work, free time, people around, place and experiences.

Hope you will enjoy it!