My two day trip to Figueira da Foz - Day 1 (morning) - Gala beaches - The 23rd of July 2016

My brother and I ventured onto one of the beaches of Gala just across the bridge  from Figueira, on the other side of Mondego river, in search of a quiet morning and some of our child and adolescent memories. The many we recalled brought about a certain taste of sadness - the salt mines are long inopperative and the beautiful marshland terrains around have also been abandoned, the drying out of fish industries which used to cover a huge part of the adjacent area are also gone and the wooden houses, many of which were on stilts are reduced to just a few ...

 

 

Stretches of sand is all people seem to be interested in ... we may be getting old but the traditional atmosphere and the hard working activities connected to fishing that once marked the importance of this area deserve to be highlighted and passed onto the young generation ...

 

 

 

 

We sat at a small local restaurant and had fried eels ... just as tasty as the ones we used to have ... (fortunately traditional cuisine is still "alive") ...

 

 

 

Birthday gathering ...

Almost "institutionalised " the birthday gatherings of colleagues and students are frequently attended events by both the resident teachers and personnel working at the Training Centre. 

A "recent" colleague, Azevedo, who is seemingly unknown to the "resident community" (despite having been one of the first ever teachers I worked with at the old Centre in 1982) celebrated his birthday "in style", which could only be equaled by Pitta's in what turned out to be one of the best "served" birthday parties the Training Centre has ever seen, despite the reduced number of party goers because of the Summer holidays.

Here are some of the moments which marked that welcoming sort of "gathering" ..., which visibly moved him.

The Summer English Course for 6 and 7 year old children - Day 5 - The Art exhibition - The 15th of July 2016

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The "Art" exhibition is also quite an important moment for the children, who are finally allowed to take home whatever they managed to do during the half an hour dedicated to fine motor development throughout the course.

Everyone seemed interested in the 3D constructions the boys had made, not to mention the "builders" themselves. The Taj Mahal and its "builder", Bruno were among the most photographed.

I reckon everyone was happy with the outcome results and I did get quite a few requests from parents to let them know where I bought those 3D constructions, many of which I must confess are either bought abroad or at special Chinese super markets around my living quarter.

The "unfinished" world map puzzle also drew people's attention and despite the fact that the girl's paintings weren't photographed during the actual exhibition many of those who saw them were astounded by them, not believing the girls had made them without any adult help.

I strongly believe an artistic approach to life brings a lot more to any of us than we may feel it does ...

The Summer English Course for 6 and 7 year old children - Day 5 - The handing out of the participation certificates - The 15th of July 2016

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The handing out of the participation certificates is always an important moment for the children once it represents a "pass" level, which despite not having much to do with the ones they get at school it's what they are encouraged to strive for.

Prior to that ceremony Manel, the youngest of the group (only five years old together with yet another child) handed out two flowers to the secretary of the course, who will make sure every parent will get a pen with the photos taken throughout the weeks, as well as the rehearsals of the exhibition and the final presentation.

I feel facial expressions say a lot of what was going on in the children's minds the moment they were handed out the certificates and it was equally a very important moment for the parents who were present. This time the auditorium was filled with a group of people that weren't exclusively related to the children who participated in the course, besides the regular colleagues, who always attend such events.

(To be continued)