The Turkish Dinner

Wednesday, April 27, 2015

The Turkish dinner was a success! The food was so tasty…

The strong smell of species was spreading through the air.

The board was full with delicious dishes. The great majority was meat-free, so I could taste almost every speciality. 

Everyone was enjoying it a lot. 

They served bulgur with vegetables, little cabbages roles stuffed with rice, fried bread with cheese, sweet bread, tomato salad…the table was covered with wonderful colors from the foods. Salsa and tomato were a faithful present in almost all the dishes.

At the end of the meal the hosts served a Turkish Delight, a wonderful cube of fruit covered with sugar (one of my favorites things from around the whole world).

The Turkish prepared a quiz with some questions about their country, in order to decide who would give the next international dinner.  The Austrian and Germany lost the battle against the Spanish and Brazilian team. So…next feast it would be their responsibility. We wont be here to taste it, but I´m shore it would be another big feast!

Natalia

Monday, April 25, 2015

Natalia, my great-grandmother´s name and now the name of a very dear friend.

We met her in a FIKA organized by Max.

On the way home we found out that we live in the exact same building, separated by the distance of three doors.

Since then, she has been our company for FIKAS that extended along the night, big feasts (even when we have nothing to offer) and long-lasting times of laundry.

Natalia has the loveliest shrill and the loudest laugh! She makes every other person smile!

Natalie is patient. Always helps me with the Swedish.

She loves the sun and the water.  She cares about the flowers and the animals.

Sometimes she gets sad.  Sometimes she misses home.

Natalia fears the war. And calls for peace.

We were blessed when we found you in Swedish lands. Thank you for everything.

Meet you soon, in Sweden, in Portugal, in Poland…or in every other part of the world.

Meeting abroad

Friday, April 22, 2016

Our Portuguese teachers went to Sweden to visit our new student´s life. It is a way of strengthening connections between both universities and teachers from Portugal and Sweden. On Friday they went to our practice local and spent the morning with us in the company of the children. They could observe a bit more about our work in here and find out how have been the ERASMUS experience for us.

It was really good having their company during the whole day. They arrived Monday but, since we were in London, we just met them on Friday.

After the practice we decided go for a walk around the forest, next to our apartment.

The weather was lovely. The sky opened for us!

During the walk we found a very nice black cat with gorgeous green eyes. I called him Napoleão. The cat stayed with us the entire time. I could not find better company for a walk into the woods.

We also had the pleasure to meet a graceful and peaceful deer. We were quiet and in silence while that marvelous creature was passing next to us. Nature has created beautiful creatures! We are so lucky to observe it so close to us. It does not happens all the time.

To celebrate their visit we had dinner in a delicious pizzeria in the center of Borås.

I miss Portugal, my family and friends…I miss the light and the flavors of Lisbon. I miss the ocean, the river, my bike, walking around the city…but if I could stay in here just for a bit longer…just a bit…I would do it.

Easter from each corner of the world

Sunday, March 27, 2016

In each corner of the world there are rituals and consuetude. There are dishes and deserts. There are celebrations. In each corner of the globe exists religions. There are smells, colors, tastes and flavors. In each corner of the world exists a piece of me…and a piece of you.  We live attached to each other. Despite our differences we all share the same root.

This year I had a special Easter. I was far away from my family. But I had the opportunity to be surrounded by wonderful people.

Our teachers, Catrine and Tobias, invited us to spend the Easter with their lovely family. After a long walking in the forest we got all together around the table.

Delicious things was covering the towel, like fruit´s cake, jelly gums (Godis were everywhere!) tea, chocolate almonds and a sweet desert prepared by us.

Around the table were reunited little pieces of the world. A piece of Portugal, Sweden, Congo and Brazil. Thank you for everything dear Catrine and Tobias! How wonderful it was…

Airs of Spring in Gotemburg

Saturday, March 26, 2016

This Saturday we decided to visit Gothenburg. We walked the city streets during the entire morning. Suddenly I started to fell the Spring arriving in the city. The sun was picking up in the middle of the clouds. The city was full of flowers. The birds were everywhere! After lunch we went to a beautiful garden with a greenhouse that enchanted us.

To finish the afternoon we had a Swedish FIKA and ate five different kinds of Swedish cakes. I don´t know what happened but I think the airs of spring are making me starving!