If we had known how the day would end, we would have greeted the Beja sun with more than our usual enthusiasm. We went off to our school assignments – some to have sad partings as they received beautiful remembrance gifts of the city and school in which they volunteered; others to have only the satisfaction of contributing to and creating a bridge to world peace as they conducted their last classes and said goodbye.

A few who had the “ritual” of lunch at Capitel wished (adios) to Pedro and other acquaintances.
Others were able to join our Pensao hosts Barbara and her son Hugo who had invited all of us to lunch at the restaurant next door. Barbara’s daughter-in-law and granddaughter who had been tutored by Marcia joined us.

When we were served the traditional meal, we gave a thank you and goodbye toast to our hosts and to Beja. The final touch was the traditional dessert, very sweet but beautiful to look at with the golden egg yolk color. Judy and I had to leave the others to leisurely after dinner conversation and more toasts. We had our final class at Escola Secundaria com 3 de Ciclo D. Manuel de Beja. Lucilia’s tourism class of reluctant learners became quite motivated as
we engaged them in role playing hotel receptionists and guests. We left the school on a most pleasant note. It was a very quiet place at 4 pm on Friday.

Judy took some final pictures of Beja as we walked back to Pensao Residencial Bejense.

THEN [drum roll} there was dinner at Pousada de Dao Francisco, one of several monasteries which have become part of Pousadas de Portugal. What a delightfully Portuguese dining room and what an elegant presentation of mixed salad followed by saltimbocca {chicken breast with smoked ham and potatoes) and ending with encharcada (the traditional eggs and sugar dessert). Of course, vinhos nao incluidos. The marvelous feast was followed by a brief wrap up program
in the moonlit garden by the pool.

The final [piece de resistance] Joanie and Bea regaled us with the “Last Will and Testament for those who Remain and come after them.” Filled with laughter and tears we
gave them a standing ovation.

The heat wave continues, but so too the shady spots and the
cooling breezes. Mornings and evenings are the perfect time for walking, shopping and sightseeing provided our teaching schedules permit (often they do).

The Global teaching volunteers at Escola de Santiago were treated to a formal dinner at lunch time yesterday, all planned, prepared and served by students in the service program. Our
five-course meal was delectable, beautifully served, and greatly enjoyed and appreciated. A number of staff members joined us for this special event. The second year program students wore uniforms that they had previously selected for the school. Likewise, the china
plates had been selected. They had a small picture of the school at the top of each plate. Elegance prevailed!

Festivities continued on Thursday (along with the heat!) The local coordinating staff and
community members collaborated with our group leader to serve a traditional Portuguese meal at Escola De Santa Maria. A number of teachers from the schools where we volunteer also
attended. We all missed out teammate Joanne, who had to leave this afternoon for her flight back home to Hawaii. The evening events at Escola de Santa Maria ended late. Anyone needing
or wanting a ride back to the hotel was provided with such by the Beja teachers. Yes, hospitality features strongly here in Beja. We have enjoyed an extra special volunteering opportunity because of the friendly, helpful, interesting teachers, hotel staff, and community members we have had the pleasure of interacting with.

First I will tell you my impressions of Beja and our beautiful hotel, The Residencial, and then I will tell you about my day at school, Santa Maria.

From my first look at Beja, I fell in love. It is all I imagined this part of the world would be: narrow winding streets of small pavers set in patterns, Moorish architecture, shops intermingled with colorful doors leading into homes, magnificent tiled walls, the ever-blue Portuguese sky.
There are many parks, clean of debris as are the streets, with lovely old trees, many with fountains.

Our family-owned hotel is charming, tiny but bright and decorated with interesting pieces of art collected, I understand, when the family lived in Angola. Every morning we meet for breakfast in the maroon breakfast room and eat on trays with embroidered placemats. The very narrow front of the Residencial features an ancient blooming bougainvillea and the rooms on this façade have Juliet balconies. Unbelievably there is a chocolate shop two doors away.

Besides the chocolate shop, our street has many small shops; some have very trendy clothes and shoes. From the windows of these shops, it looks as though the children of Beja
are the well-dressed children of Portugal. Many shops have a strange conglomeration of goods – from fishing poles to jewelry to pots and pans.

Every morning I walk to Escola de Santa Maria. It is about a 25 minute walk which I enjoy. I have never discovered a direct path to the school through the twisting disjointed streets of Beja but I know how to get close enough to see the walking backpacked kids and so follow them. The less than 20 year old building is large and would be rather stark and institutional if it weren’t for the art work of the students on the classroom walls and in the corridors. There are 900 students ranging from three-year-olds to late teenagers; the younger children study in a separate building.

My classes are for the most part pupils who have been learning English from one to four years.
After the first day, they are responsive and eager. They are very curious about me and about the
United States. They seem to understand my use of a simple vocabulary; I try to get them to answer my questions using sentences which, with prompting, they are able to do. From what I can tell, English language is taught here somewhat blended with social studies with emphasis on the European Union Countries.

Another beautiful Beja day – wonderfully cool and pleasant morning and evening, blisteringly hot and sunny mid-day. The locals have assured us that “isto nao e comum." But probably we won’t have a chance to find out.

Joanne and I are quite warmly greeted by our students at Escola Bento de Jesus Carala as they
wait for class. They like us to take their picture which we are, of course, happy to do. In class we have been more integrated this week helping the students one on one form questions on a reading passage, then answer them. While I don’t have much experience with kids this age (15-19) they seem to be very sweet (not a term I think they would like.)

Unfortunately these kids had trouble in other schools and are here in a “last chance” situation.
They must pass each term in each subject for three years. They can repeat (which some have done several times) but there are limits. Apparently individual tutoring is not available.
Sadly they do not seem to understand how paying attention in school will matter to their future. Like kids they’ll worry about the future manana.

Joanne and I have also had sessions with Katarina, the 10 year-old granddaughter of Barbara, owner of Residencial Bejense. The highlight of yesterday was her arrival for “class” with not one, not two, but three friends: Margarita, Maryana, and Diana. Between bouts of giggles we had the girls tell us a bit about their families, worked with flash cards, and listened and
helped as they took turns reading. I was astonished when I asked if they would like to sing a song for us. They all jumped up, whispered excitedly for a few moments, lined up and animatedly sang a song in excellent English, something about red, yellow, green: stop, wait, go, and traveling in a car, a plane, a train, a jeep, a helicopter, and a motor scooter. Then they all patiently allowed Phyllis to direct us in a photo shoot. For me, it was truly delightful, as I don’t interact with kids a lot and didn’t know it could be so much fun.

The team continues to be very well taken care of. Meals are more than adequate, generally very tasty, with a mix of familiar favorites and traditional Portuguese. Fish and pork, including the infamous ‘pig on a stick,’ are wonderful. Hotel staff continues to keep our “home: clean and comfortable.

Several of us have tried valiantly to help the local economy with limited success. Fortunately we
were ale to procure a few actual “made in Portugal” souvenirs in Evora and Monseraz.

Beja feels like a really small town. We see our students everywhere and some of the same locals everyday at the Capitol. The men having coffee each morning next door are familiar and then there is the ubiguitaus carbs. We are becoming part of the fabric of the community just when it is almost time for us to leave.

Back to work after our various and exhausting weekend adventures. The IP Beja team of Janice and Keith began the day with the discovery that the library was closed on Monday morning. Unfortunately the posted notice did not define “morning.”

Phyllis came to the rescue with her snooze-alarm cell phone and called to discover that morning ends at 2:30 pm. With some pleading Phyllis got us in through the library’s back door so we could prepare the day’s lesson. A little VIP treatment is always appreciated.

A small group of us met at Capitol for lunch. By now we know that baguette sordeix chex
arrive immediately but toasted involve a long, tortuous wait. Pedro showed up as usual for his daily lunch time dose of English conversation. I admire this kid for his ambition. I just don’t know how to tell him he is not likely to find a regular Skype partner in this group.

Classes at IP Beja went well. We are grateful for our loyal core of regular students and realize that the start of the school year means some can’t attend regularly. Teachers fret about the
stress of beginning classes and the festive feeling of a new semester for the students is apparent.

We get approval from Maria, our school contact, for the end of class project that Janice has devised. We have high hopes of ending this inaugural program on a positive note. We hear vague rumblings of satisfaction among the students, which is encouraging.

Peggy and Tim, the Cuba crew, were invited to their school director’s home for fresh-killed wild rabbit dinner. Who could refuse? The description of the food and the suburban house with pools had us all in envy. This is another new site for Global Volunteers and from the sound of it, things look promising for a return engagement.

Sleep came easy on Monday night. Mercifully.

The weekend was filled with adventure for all the volunteers. The two Kathleens, “Jo-knee” and Peggy spent Saturday and Sunday in Lisbon. Kathleen A. met her niece who is studying in Spain and they toured the city together via an open bus. The others went on a
“forced road march” to the Alfama historical district and Belem. Afterward they took a bus tour to Sintra and the coast. Seven other volunteers hired a bus and got a guided tour of Evora.
Tim and Keith opted to spend the night there while Marcia, Joanne, Janice, Brenda, and Beatrice continued with their tour guide to the small, charming Portuguese village of Monseraz that overlooks Spain. Meanwhile, back in Beja Constance and Judy toured the local museums and totally enjoyed Beja’s ambience. The weekend’s cultural experiences will long
be remembered by the team members.

Our day started, as usual, in the breakfast room, as we dashed and drifted in and out, preparing for another work day. Marcia and I set out for Bento de Jesus Carala Escola at a leisurely pace strolling in and out of shops in route to our professional school work-site. Phyllis joined us at the school and in the classroom with our mentor and sweet teacher, Dulce Marques introducing Phyllis to a usually rapt cadre of students.

Our students were animated as the English speaking lessons on proper sentences ensued. Marcia and I assisted by coaching pairs of students who ranged in age from 16 to 18. As class ends the students pose with us for pictures. It’s a happy class and a happy day!

As we join our Global Volunteer colleagues at the Capitol Café for lunch, the village nature of Beja is ever more apparent. Some of our classroom students are at the café, as is “Professor” Carlos, too, to offer his Global Volunteers support. Pedro from the library has joined the tables, eager to practice his conversational English. Familiar faces are all around as we greet, meet and eat across cultures.

Late afternoon brings leisure time to meander and for Marcia and me, a 4pm. Conversational English with Katarina, the granddaughter of Barbara, our hotel owner. Katarina is an eager learner – such a contrast in motivation from some of our vocational students.

After a busy week, we are seemingly ready for a break from the routine, with some showing up an hour early for dinner. Dinner is worthy of an early start. Who would think Black Pig on a stick could be so delicious? And the restaurant soenchanting!We are happy campers as we stroll home, and go off to bed. Sweet dreams, my friends.

We volunteers continue to travel in various directions, off to our assigned schools in Beja and beyond. Some need to arrive by 8:15 am, while others don’t start teaching until 3:00 pm. In spite of our diverse schedules, we are a very harmonious group of 13, and enjoy catching up with
each other at meal times.

Something new for Global Volunteers in Beja is the addition of conversational English classes at IP Beja, the polytechnic university. Keith and Janice teach two classes with up to 30 students in each. The Intermediate-Advanced and Pre-Intermediate classes are comprised of students, former students, community members and IP Beja staff members. The support for this new program has been excellent, with daily meetings with International Language Directors Maria and Joao. They enthusiastically welcome the new courses which were designed in coordination with Global Volunteers. Maria and Joao are eager to supply anything the teachers may need, including copies, a laptop and projector for instruction

While brand new, the program at IP Beja appears to be having an impact. Each day you can see the confidence level of the students rise as they are more and more comfortable with the English language. And other students not currently in the program are already asking how they can sign up for the next session in March 2012.

Another day in beautiful Beja and team 10 will scatter to our varied assignments. Trains, buses, and sturdy feet propel the Global Volunteers on their mission to wage Peace and Social Justice. Peggy and I help promote on the train to Cuba where we confirmed that research shows Cuba, Portugal was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus!!

Our school has primary through 9th grade classes and today started with a small group of 3rd grade students who reviewed their counting skills by making a tally of the tables (14) and chairs
(27) in the classroom. They then learned to identify the pencil, its home the pencil case, the rubber and the pen. One boy observed that the pencil used to live at the Stationery Store. The fifth graders have a better understanding but appear a bit shy about speaking. Questions are
numerous showing great curiosity if not always in English.

We had another wonderful lunch with the Director and a few of the teachers. This is very convivial time with easy questions from us and them. We’ve been invited on a tour of Cuba Monday afternoon and a meal of wild rabbit at someone’s house. This should be a memorable event that strengthens the friendship growing between us.


Dinner was a great mix of pizzas and fun conversations. We close another day with a sense of well earned sleepiness and possibly dreams of great adventures to come.

Our second day in the schools of Beja and outlying municipalities was filled with activities of engagement. The volunteers actively worked to engage the students and teachers in their respective educational settings with introductory conversational English speaking opportunities.

At the vocational-technical school, Joanne and Marcia enticed reluctant speakers and interested students, focusing on the topic of environment, to converse in English.

At the Escola Secundaria com 3 Ciclo D Manuel 1 de Beja, Constance and Judy mentored and facilitated students to reflect on factors they deem significant when submitting applications for employment. They engaged students in a written exercise to compare and contrast approaches and strategies used to enter the work force in the United States versus Portugal.

Transported by train, Tim and Peggy went to the municipal school in Cuba. Upon arrival they
received an introductory tour of the school. Both teams taught classes engaging the students in conversation about the United States, after a preliminary introduction about their personal
backgrounds. Both were enlightened with the ways of the school and socio-cultural differences between the urban versus rural settings. In addition, they were treated like royalty to a sumptuous gastronomical noon meal delight.

An adventure in orienteering prefaced Kathleen A.’s day as she circuitously made her way to the Escola de Santa Maria on a timely basis. She, also, promoted student conversational English. Kathleen A. met many motivated teachers excited about the united effort to meld an effective
educational curriculum for the EU Program.

At the Poly-Technical University, Janice and Keith provided their students with a “high tech” presentation of their students’ requested topics. They prefaced their session with introductory information about themselves and their background.

Off to Vidigueria, on the school bus, were Joanie and Beatrice. At their school, in an outlying municipality from Beja, they worked with students provided with alternative educational learning tracks. They found the students to be very respectful, and all were proud of
their beautiful community and local museum.

At the Escola de Santiago Maior in Beja, Brenda and Kathleen provided conversational English experience in a multi-level Portuguese class. They also team taught a delightful group of twenty-four students at the eighth grade level. These eighth grade students were not only engaged, but enthusiastic to converse. They were observed to be extremely supportive of their fellow classmates struggling to respond in English.

All in all, the day was full of varied experiences culminating with a half-hour of intense basic Portuguese language lesson provided by Joachim Mosca, wrap-up meeting session with Phyllis, journal reading/thought of the day and wonderful meal at our local Beja restaurant, Pastelaria Café bar A Merenda.

The team met at the library this morning to receive our work assignments. Most of the folks left with someone but Bea and I were told that tomorrow we will ride the school bus to a nearby village so what to do? We returned to the hotel and dug into the teaching materials in the meeting room.

At the daily meeting Kathleen and Connie presented the daily thought and then team members discussed their day. Peggy and Tim will be taking the train to Cuba each day. Keith and Janice
will teach 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Brenda will work at the library. Judy and Connie, as well as, Kathleen and Tim, spoke about the schools they visited as did Joanne and Marcia. Our other Kathleen also shared her day.

It feels like the first day jitters are decreasing and team members are looking forward to tomorrow!

UP early! Breakfast at 6:30, check-out at 7:00, 5 taxis at 7:15, and onto an 8:15 bus to Beja. We're on our way! Anticipation grew as we watched the passing countryside. After checking in at the lovely Residencial Bejense, we began orientation. More lengthy introductions were made. Our group has diverse backgrounds and experiences but all with the common thread to provide service for others. Phyllis addressed important issues with the group - What will it be for dinner - grilled fish or black pig on a stick? After lunch, she focused us on setting our goals and I think by the end of this important exercise, we were all pleased with the final product.


Dinner was great - a wonderful variety of meats, fish, and salad with portions big enough for everyone to taste and share. Before heading off to sleep some of us toured each other's rooms. Each one is quaint and unique in its own way. BUT did you know that Marcia and Janice have not one but two balconies? One in the sleeping area and one in the bathroom - very chic! I'm sure we all fell asleep excited to meet the teachers on Monday, learning our assignments and getting started on the mission that brought us to Beja.

Boa
noite.

Beja Portugal an enchanted city

Saturday was the day that everyone made their way to the Trype Oriente. Some had been in Lisbon for a few days and the rest arrived throughout the day. After settling in, some took walks while others rode the cable cars and took tours. At a lovely buffet dinner, we officially briefly introduced ourselves. What a well represented group! From the east coast to the west, from the northern Midwest to Texas and all the way to Hawaii…and an experienced GV group as well. I'm anxious to see what the tally of years adds up to. Not many lasted long after dinner since we had an early rising in the morning.

Full Team Currently Serving in Beja!

We are happy to share that a team filled to capacity is currently serving in Beja, Portugal! Based on the huge demand for volunteer opportunities in Portugal in recent months, our staff and volunteer team leader are investigating new community partnerships in order to offer greater service opportunities in the months and years to come.

Please read about our Portugal program below to see if this might be the right volunteer opportunity for you, and work project updates will surely be coming soon:

On the European continent's Iberian Peninsula, overlooking the Atlantic, Portugal ascended to the status of World Power during the "Age of Discovery," only to lose most of its wealth through subsequent foreign attacks. Overcoming recession and political instability, the country emerged in 1140 as the first nation-state (independent kingdom) in Western Europe, and has remained unified in language and culture.

Today, Portugal is a European leader and founding member of NATO, OECD, and EFTA. As a Global Volunteer, you experience Portugal through her people as a teacher of youth and adults in Beja's classrooms and municipal learning centers.

As in all of Europe, English is becoming an increasingly important tool in Portugal, and few opportunities exist for local people to learn from native English speakers in non-tourist areas of the country. You'll work either in elementary and secondary schools, or with young adults in technical or trades schools. Each year, more and more classrooms are requesting volunteers as important student resources. This program has become an inspired people-to-people demonstration of international sharing and unity!

Please note, personal flexibility and good mobility is requisite in this location due to the conditions in some educational facilities.


We hope to hear from you soon!!

Humanitarian Airfare Opportunity

If you're seeking great deals on airfare for a service program later this year or in 2012, check out Fly For Good where you can receive excellent discounts when you travel as a volunteer. Simply contact your Volunteer Coordinator today to learn more about this excellent opportunity (you will need to get an official letter from Global Volunteers to qualify for certain deals)!!

Fly For Good website: http://www.flyforgood.com/

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Call toll free (800) 487-1074.

Amazing YouTube Video Produced by Former Volunteer!!

We at Global Volunteers are privileged to work with so many wonderful volunteers, partners, and supporters each and every day.

Last week, one particular volunteer, Graham, truly knocked our socks off when he shared a 9-part video series he had created about Global Volunteers and posted on YouTube!! These videos feature the travels and experiences of numerous Global Volunteers (particularly one tight-knit group from New Jersey) and we welcome you to take a look at these exceptional videos by using the link below.


Thank you, Graham!! And for the rest of you... ENJOY!!


Global Volunteer Retrospective Video (Introduction): http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessmug#p/u/41/CYK8kbGZYV8

Festival during Spring Volunteer Team!!

For those of you serving in Beja this April/May, we're happy to announce that the Ovibeja festival will be occurring in early May!!

Please click on the following link to learn more (or at least to peek around the website, as it is in Portugese!!) - http://www.ovibeja.com/

If you are interested in volunteering in Portugal later this year, don't hesitate to give us a call!! We have a volunteer team scheduled for September 24 - October 8 and we would love to welcome you to Beja!

For more details visit our website or call (800) 487 - 1074 today!

Meet Joe Testa!!

Pictured: Students in Beja


Considering a service program in Portugal??? Chances are, your team leader will be Mr. Joe Testa! Please read below to learn more about Joe and his varied experiences with Global Volunteers!!

Joe Testa has over 30 team leader experiences under his belt. He says he really enjoys doing what he does for a lot of reasons. He likes that it provides him the opportunity to experience parts of the world that he otherwise might not visit. He also likes getting to know the people and the cultures in the communities he serves. "In a short period of time I make quite a few friends," he said. "Under normal circumstances it would take me quite a bit longer to do that."

Joe is quick to add that another benefit of participating on a Global Volunteers' team is getting to know the team members. "I think we're a unique group of people who care about what's going on in the world and who try to contribute as best as we can," he said. "We're in a feel-good business. When you finish a program, you feel good about the fact that you've given up your time and expertise to help someone in need. That is a very good feeling."

Although Joe says all his teams have been good ones, one sticks out in his mind. "I led a team of volunteers to Vietnam," he said. "At the end of our program we were invited to attend a final celebration. We were in a van, so we couldn't see much along the way, but when we stepped out, we were amazed. There was a path of students, teachers and other school staff that were lined up to let us know how grateful they were for what we had done. We were overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to thank us. It was pretty incredible. Sometimes we might think we're not doing that much, but in the eyes of the people in the community it's a lot more than we realized."

Joe acknowledges that he and his teams have contributed quite a bit over the years, but says there's so much more to be done. "What we do speaks well for our country and it empowers other people to improve their lifestyle," he said. "What we do works, and it works well. But we will always need more volunteers because the need is greater than what we can supply. I'm sure we there are many other locations we could help, if we had more volunteers."

Joe's advice to a volunteer on how to get the most out of a Global Volunteers program is often stated by team leaders. "Have an open mind and be flexible," he said. "Always expect the unexpected. Don't be quick to evaluate. Take it all in, and think about it, and make your decision about your experience after you get home."

When not leading teams, Joe lives in Canandaigua (The Chosen Place), New York. He is an avid runner who participates in marathons and triathlons. He also likes skiing, boating and an occasional game of golf.

"Joe was wonderful! He added so much to the trip! Much of my enjoyment of the experience related to his upbeat attitude. He was efficient, fun, funny, flexible and a wonderful leader." ~ Lynn Winters Gross, Mexico Volunteer

"Joe is awesome! He doesn't make himself seem like he can't do any of the work because he's the leader. He gets right in there and helps like one of the team members. I know some of us team members were tough on him and he would just laugh and smile and joke right back with us. He is a wonderful team person and an awesome team leader -- he did everything he needed to, and more."
~ Bridget Shanahan, USA Volunteer

"Joe Testa is an excellent team leader. He is enthusiastic, keeps everyone informed, consults regularly with the team and is not afraid to make decisions."
~ Judith Ebert, Mexico Volunteer