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