A Day in my Expat Life

Have you ever wondered how your favourite bloggers spend their days? Not the big events of life but the little things. What do they eat? Where do they blog from? Are they relaxed or do they have a busy day? I unraveled (almost) everything in Clara's blog, The Expat Partner's Survival Guide, where now and then an expat daily routine is featured. I really enjoyed myself while making this contribution. You can find the post here (link), but don't stop there and keep reading because Clara's blogue is indeed very interesting.

Did you enjoy learning about my day? I'm curious about yours too, if you want to tell me (or Clara).

Algumas vez se questionaram sobre o dia a dia dos vossos bloguers preferidos? Não estou a falar dos grandes eventos mas sim das pequenas coisas. O que é que eles comem? De onde é que eles nos escrevem? Serão pessoas relaxadas ou têm dias cheios e ocupados? Eu revelei (quase) toda a minha vida no blogue da Clara, The Expat Partner's Survival Guide, onde de vez em quando ela mostra a rotina diária de um emigrante. Eu diverti-me imenso ao fazer a minha contribuição. Podem ver o post completo aqui (em inglês mas tem fotos). Se gostarem não parem por aí porque o blogue da Clara é deveras interessante. 

Gostaram de ler sobre o meu dia? Também estou curiosa sobre o vosso, se me quiserem contar (ou à Clara).

Stories of my world #8

He grew up in a small town, like me. He is about my age and also studied chemistry. He was my colleague for a few years but we couldn't be more different. I could hardly find a better example of cultural difference among my experiences. He had a girlfriend. She was beautiful and wore very sexy clothes. That's the one, he thought, but she was not easy. She gave him an ultimatum: he would either finish his PhD and get a good job, so he could support her, or she would leave him and find another man. He was planning to go to England or Germany for a few years, so he could return to his homeland and become a big scientist. He hoped that would be enough for her. I asked him if he thought she liked him for who he was. His answer surprised me, as he assured me obviously no, not yet. He would have to become a big professor first. But shouldn't she like him for who he was then, not who he would become? He tried to explain to me that that's not how it worked in his country. There, the rich men get the beautiful women. That's also why they are beautiful, he said, because they don't work and they have money to buy all the beauty related services. Men accept that because they want to hang around with a beautiful woman by their side. I became fascinated and horrified at the same time. We were in the 21st century! Our home countries were separated by 3000 Km, but our views were lightyears away! Another time I saw him holding a red rose and I commented how cute I thought he was trying to conquer her heart. He laughed at me. He said that the red rose was solely to guarantee that she would allow him to sleep with her that night. 

It was not only him surprising me, but the opposite as well. He couldn't believe when I told him I was moving to another country because I had found a new job there. It was hard to believe for him, that I would keep working when I had a boyfriend that could support me. Another time, after I commented that I would get a lower salary when I would move, he shrugged his shoulders and said But you are a woman, you will get more money and things from your boyfriend. 

I tried to explain him my views, over and over again, but he just couldn't believe it. He thought I was strange. I thought he was strange. He had probably never met any really independent woman before. I had never met anyone like him before either.

How about now? Has he changed? Has he been abroad and confronted with a different reality? Or is he paying for that or another girl's fancy lifestyle? I have no idea. I have never seen or contacted him again. I probably never will.

No matter what, I hope he is happy and enjoying whatever life choices he has made. 

Learning Swedish #9

One can learn a language in many different ways and at different rhythms. For me, having classes has proved to be the most effective. I do not have a great memory, and I have to repeat and exercise a lot at home as well, but I feel it is in the classroom that I solidify my knowledge (if that's the right word for what I know of Swedish so far...). I have now had classes with 7 different Swedish teachers and I can say from my experience, that the classes can vary a lot depending on the teachers and on the students. 

The system of Swedish for immigrants, SFI, works in a way that one can learn as fast or as slow as one wants. When the pupils are all at the same level, usually in the beginning, the teacher can give what I call a normal class, following the book, explaining grammar and showing how to pronounce the most difficult sounds. Later on, as each student develops in a different rhythm, we should study the book on our own, while we get random exercises during classes. 

I started in a class with "normal" lessons, but since I went to the summer school and I try to use Swedish now and then at home with the boy, that class became too easy for me as I had already learned most things. I moved to a more advanced class last week, in which we do work more on our own. I do miss the fun classes we had before but I also know this is far better for me as the other students are at a similar level than me. In this new system we can call for a test every time we feel we have learned 3 chapters. In my first class in the new group (last Tuesday), I asked the teacher if I could have the test today. She replied that she would be on vacation and we would have a replacement teacher and if it was ok to have it the following week instead. I agreed and I thought that maybe by then I could have done 3 more chapters and do 2 tests in one (they are not very long). I spent the weekend trying to learn as much as I could in the next chapters. 

When I went to class today, I heard a colleague saying she would do a test today, the one with the same three chapters I wanted. An idea started formulating in my head... could I do it today as well? No, I hadn't study for that. "What was exactly in those chapters?", I asked the girl. Plural, prepositions, past tenses and such. I don't remember that being so difficult... Should I do it? Yeah, why not? I did it! It felt crazy at first. Crazy as in "am I really doing this?", but when I saw the test I realised it was a good idea. I saved myself some stress (not much though, as I don't usually stress that much) and it was quite easy, so I got rid of this one really nicely. Since I use all the grammar when I (try to) speak and write it felt just like another exercise. I don't know my grade yet, but I know I didn't fail much. 

Nice!

I'm starting to feel that I can do this!

Stories of my world #7

He was a grown up when I met him. He was nice. The first words I ever heard from him were "go in and we will see what you can do". I couldn't do much then. I could do a lot more one year later. He taught me a lot. He pushed me. He showed me how to achieve goals through persistence. He proved me how I could do so much better than I thought. I was no champion, but I almost got on the podium for the first time in my life, because of him. Almost, because when they called my name I didn't believe it was me, and I didn't go. Silly little girl. He handed me the prize later that day. He was my coach for two years. Two years of "keep your head down", "point the elbows to the ceiling", and "make each stroke count". Nowadays, back in the pool, when I am completely alone with my thoughts, I recall those times. I can still hear his words. I can still clearly hear his voice. I always try to correct my technique, as if he was there, on the side of the pool looking at me and my class. I also remember when he decided to test how fast I could do 100m. I did it as fast as I could. In the end he told me the time. I asked him how was that. He smiled and replied "an eternity". I admire his honesty, then and now. I appreciate the fact that he didn't try to be nice and that he told me the truth. He was one of my favourite teachers/coaches. He was my swimming coach. He is still a swimming coach in my hometown. He is still there, teaching young people not only how to swim, but also life lessons. He is still great, I bet. He is Carlos.

Dreams outside the cookie jar

I often dream and, even better, I often remember what I dream. Usually my dreams are so insane that I give a good laugh when I wake up. It seems that I pick the smallest details of my day, mix them well and make great plots of insanity. Today however, I had a very deep and beautiful dream. I don't know if dreams mean something or not. My scientific-oriented brain tells me they are not more than a mix of images captured or created in the brain, but who knows. 

There’s a bear fighting with my friend Telma. The bear is aggressive but it’s not hurting Telma. It is standing on the back paws, roaring and fighting with its arms and claws. As my dream progresses the bear takes the shape of a human being. First still big and aggressive but later on smaller. I observe the scene, at first unable to react, but then as its size decreases I get closer. Now, a lot of people bumps into the bear/human and he ends up in the floor being stepped on. I start shouting at people, telling them how rude they are for not even noticing they are stepping on a being. I help the bear/human up, all dirty, scared and insecure. He thanks me for defending him. Now, it has become a little boy. I stick with him, as I understand that he is fighting some inner fights within himself and he needs help. We go together on a train ride. Now and then, someone goes by and shouts at him. I defend him all the time, until slowly it stops happening. Slowly, he becomes bigger, more like a man, but not a giant. Definitely not aggressive either. When I’m sure he can take care of himself I say goodbye and we part ways. You are ready now, the world is yours, I tell him.

Interpretations accepted!

Sara Jump - Belfast

Titanic's slipways, Titanic Belfast, August 2016

On top of the crag overlooking Belfast, Belfast Castle, August 2016

Belfast Castle

Belfast is a nice city and it has a few interesting sights to visit, within or not too far from the city center (I wrote about it here). A few kilometres from the city there's also Belfast Castle (any bus n.1 from the centre goes by). The castle is isolated and sits on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park. Its higher location allows you to have a really nice view over the city. Around the castle one can hike to the top of some crags and enjoy a nice walk with spectacular views. That is if the weather allows, of course! Here is my experience. 

Belfast é uma cidade engraçada e tem vários pontos de interesse a serem visitados, tanto dentro como perto do centro (escrevi sobre isso aqui). A alguns quilómetros do centro fica o Castelo de Belfast (qualquer autocarro n.1 apanhado no centro passa perto). O castelo está isolado e fica nas encostas do parque Cavehill Country. A sua localização alta permite-nos ter uma vista muito bonita sobre a cidade. Em volta do castelo podemos fazer caminhadas até ao topo de uns penhascos e aproveitar o contacto com a natureza e as vistas espectaculares lá de cima. Tudo isso se o tempo o permitir claro! Aqui fica a minha experiência. 

Belfast Castle and its gorgeous garden / O Castelo de Belfast e o seu lindo jardim

According to legend, Belfast Castle is safe as long as there is a cat living there. This myth led to the creation of the "Cat Garden", where you can find cats in different shapes and materials. There's supposed to be nine cats, all visible, but not all easy to discover. Sadly, it was raining and I couldn't get pictures of all of them. There was a statue of one in a fountain (below) and there's a mosaic cat in the picture above. There was also a bush shaped cat (photo above on the left hand side) and a stone cat hiding somewhere. We missed the others, but it would have been fun to play find-the-nine-cats properly.

Reza a lenda que o Castelo de Belfast só está seguro se houver um gato a morar lá. Este mito levou à criação de do "jardim dos gatos", onde se encontram gatos de diversas formas e materiais. Há, supostamente, nove gatos. Todos visíveis mas nem todos fáceis de descobrir. Infelizmente estava a chover e não pude tirar fotos a todos os gatos. Havia uma estátua de um na fonte (em baixo) e um mosaico na foto acima. Vimos também um arbusto na forma de gato e um gato de pedra escondido no meio dos canteiros. Não encontramos os outros, mas teria sido divertido poder brincar ao encontra-o-gato como deve ser. 

 View over the city from the castle / Vista do castelo sobre a cidade

The interior of the castle has been refurbished and events can be held there.

O interior do castelo foi restaurado e serve para fazer eventos.

As we are in Ireland, the weather can be very unstable. In the afternoon we spent in the castle the weather was super bipolar. After a permanent drizzle of an hour or so, it felt that it was about to stop and we attempted a hike. During our hike we pretty much got 5 minutes of intense rain and then 1-2 minutes breaks of sunshine, and repeat. We avoided photographing when it was raining, but still our camera lens got wet and you might be able to spot some drops in some photos. Let's just say that it was on purpose to make the photos more irish.

Como estamos na Irlanda o tempo pode ser muito instável. Na tarde que passamos no castelo o tempo estava super bipolar. Depois de uma chuvinha constante de 1h, parecia que ia melhorar e decidimos fazer uma caminhada pelo parque. Durante a caminhada houve 5 minutos de chuva intensa e depois 1-2 minutos de sol, isto em modo repeat.  Evitamos tirar fotos quando estava a chover mas ainda assim a nossa lente molhou-se e há algumas fotos com gotas. Vamos dizer que foi de propósito para tornar as fotos mais puramente irlandesas. 

 The crags / Os precipícios

A cave and probably the reason why the park is called Cavehill country.

Uma gruta e provavelmente a razão do parque se chamar "Monte da cave" (Cavehill).

There were 3 different trails and only one, the longer one, went up to the top. As it was raining, we didn't want to go all the way around, so we invented a shortcut and went straight up. We were not the first ones to do that, as there were some small trails we could follow. It worked for our purpose and we had a bit more of adventure.

Havia 3 trilhas diferentes e só uma, a mais longa, passava pelo topo. Como estava a chover não nos apetecia ir à volta da montanha, por isso inventamos um atalho e fomos a direito e a pique montanha acima. Não fomos os primeiros porque havia havia trilhos pequenos marcados. Serviu para o que queríamos e assim tivemos um pouco de aventura.

We heard a shout and froze. Is it someone shouting for help? No... it was just a farmer calling his cows. Oh lovely countryside life!

Ouvimos um grito e paramos. Será alguém a pedir ajuda? Não... era alguém a chamar as suas vacas. Tão boa a vida no campo!

 Both this pictures were taken within 2 minutes. You see what I mean? Bipolar weather!

Estas fotos foram tiradas com uns 2 minutos de diferença. Percebem agora? Tempo bipolar!

Although wet, we had a lovely time. The castle and surroundings was probably our favourite place in Belfast.

Ainda que molhados divertimo-nos imenso. O castelo e arredores foi provavelmente a nossa parte preferida em Belfast.

Seasons in Sweden

I grew up learning and knowing that seasons change with the equinox and solstice. 

Spring starts March 20th or 21st.

Summer starts June 20th or 21st.

Autumn starts September 22nd or 23rd.

Winter starts December 21st or 22nd.

Later on, I learned that seasons can be classified in different ways, such as astronomical (the one we use in Portugal and in other countries), calendrical (assigning 3 months to each season, e.g. spring is March, April and May) or climatological.

In Sweden the climatological classification is used. According to wikipedia, spring occurs when the daily average temperature is rising and is between 0 and 10 ºC. Summer is when the temperature is permanently above 10 °C. Autumn is when the average daily temperature is falling and is between 0 and 10 ºC. Winter is when the daily average temperature stays permanently below 0 °C. 

Two conclusions can be taken from this:

1. If the climatological classification was used in Portugal, there wouldn't be winter there, except for a few days in high altitude places around Serra da Estrela.

2. Sweden can have more than one season simultaneously, depending on whether we are talking about the north or the south. This was what caught my attention when I saw the weather report yesterday on TV.

The picture referes to the year 2014, but I couldn't find for this year. The idea is there anyway. In September 20th it was still summer in central and southern Sweden, but Autumn in North of Sweden. In October 10th, it was winter in the north, autumn in the center and summer in the south.

I find it funny. Swedes find it normal and modern. What do you think?

Art here and there #6 - Belfast

Belfast city suffered greatly during the Irish conflicts called "The Troubles". Nowadays, Belfast is free from the intense political violence of former years, but it is still famous for its artistic murals sending strong political messages. We only had a day and half in the city, which was not enough to see a lot of the murals but I managed to photograph some along the way. Of course, not all murals are politic-related, and some are simply beautiful works of art.

For more info (including a map) about the murals of Belfast you can click here.

A cidade de Belfast sofreu bastante durante os conflitos Irlandeses, chamados de "Os problemas". Hoje em dia a cidade está livre da violencia política desses tempos, mas ainda é famosa pelos seus murais artísticos com mensagens políticas fortes. Só passamos um dia e meio na cidade, pelo que não pudemos ver muitos dos murais, mas ainda assim fotografei vários pelo caminho. Claro que nem todos os murais são relativos a política, alguns são simplesmente belos trabalhos de arte.

Para mais informações (incluindo um mapa) sobre os murais de Belfast podem clicar aqui.

The Son Of Protagoras, by MOT

O filho de Protagoras, por MOT

"Protagoras was a proponent of agnosticism. He wrote: “Concerning the gods, I have no means of knowing whether they exist or not or of what sort they may be, because of the obscurity of the subject, and the brevity of human life." in streetartnews.net
"Protagoras era um proponente do agnosticismo. Ele escreveu: "Quanto aos deuses, não tenho meios de saber se elas existem ou não, ou de que tipo eles podem ser, por causa da obscuridade do assunto, e a brevidade da vida humana." em streetartnews.net

 An Injury to One is an Injury to All, by Danny Devanny and Mark Ervine

Um ferimento a um é um ferimento a todos, por Danny Devanny and Mark Ervine

It celebrates the many unions with membership in Ireland, north and south.
Celebra os muitos sindicatos com a adesão da Irlanda, norte e sul.

I love Salvador Dali and this mural was my favourite!

Adoro Salvador Dali e este mural foi o meu preferido!

The Statue of Harmony in Thanksgiving square, by Andy Scott

A Estátua da Harmonia na Praça de Ação de Graças, por Andy Scott

A stone of the ground reads: The Statue of Harmony, here in Thanksgiving Square, on a globe that symbolises the oneness of mankind. It is a symbol of the light which can enrich our lives through peace, conciliation and respect for diversity.

Numa inscrição no chão lê-se: A estátua de Harmonia, aqui na Praça de Ação de Graças, em um globo que simboliza a unidade da humanidade. É um símbolo da luz que pode enriquecer as nossas vidas através da paz, da conciliação e do respeito pela diversidade.

This one actually tricked me into thinking that there was indeed a pond there... when I got closer I understood that there wasn't. Very well done!

Esta fez-me pensar que havia de facto ali uma poça de água... quando me aproximei percebi que não. Muito bem feita!

 The legendary Charlie Chaplin / O lendário Charlie Chaplin

Titanica, by Rowan Gillespie

Belfast city

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, situated at the mouth of the River Lagan giving it the ideal location for the shipbuilding industry that once made it famous. In the early 20s, Belfast was the center of Irish industry, namely linen, tobacco, rope and ships. The Titanic, for instance, was built in Belfast. Nowadays, Belfast remains a centre for industry, as well as the arts, higher education, business, and law, and is the economic engine of Northern Ireland. The city itself is populated with gorgeous churches and antique red brick buildings. The architecture is beautiful.

Belfast, a capital da Irlanda do Norte, fica à boca do rio Lagan, dando-lhe a localização perfeita para a construção de navios, o que tornou a cidade famosa. Nos início dos anos 20, Belfast era o centro da indústria Irlandesa, nomeadamente de linho, tabaco, corda e navios. Por exemplo, foi em Belfast que foi construído o Titanic. Hoje em dia Belfast continua a ser o centro industrial, bem como o de artes, educação superior, negócios e legislação, e é ainda o centro económico da Irlanda do Norte. A cidade em si é cheia de igrejas imponentes e de edifícios de tijolo antigos. A arquitectura é linda.

On the right is Elmwood hall, and I couldn't find the name of the church on the left.

À direita está Elmwood hall e não consegui encontrar o nome da igreja à esquerda.

 The Queen's University of Belfast. 

It was founded in 1845 and is one of the largest universities in the UK with over 25,000 students spread over 250 buildings, 120 of which are listed as being of architectural merit.

Foi fundada em 1845 e é uma das maiores universidades do Reino Unido, com mais de 25,000 estudantes espalhados por mais de 250 edifícios, dos quais 120 estão marcados como relíquia arquitectónica. 

Crescent church

Belfast City Hall, a Victorian building built in the Baroque Revival style, with copper-coated domes in green. It covers an area of one and a half acres and has an enclosed courtyard. Its grassy gardens are populated with tourists, teenagers and business men eating their lunches.

Belfast City Hall, um edifício Victoriano construído no estilo Barroco Revival, com as típicas cúpulas cobertas em cobre, logo verdes. No todo o edifício cobre uma área de um acre e meio e contém um pátio interior. Os jardins relvados no exterior são populares entre turistas, adolescentes e pessoas de negócios a almoçar.

 The modern waterfront / A parte moderna à beira rio

 Donegal Quay

 Lagan Weir Bridge

Albert Clock

Custom House Square

Left: Bank of Ireland; Right: Parish Church of St. George

Belfast Cathedral and the Writer's Square, full of quotations from different Irish writers.

Catedral de Belfast e a Praça dos Escritores, com citações de vários escritores Irlandeses.

 Cute buildings and streets everywhere / Edifícios e ruas giras um pouco por todo o lado

 Walking along the river Lagan / Caminhando à beira do rio Lagan

Harland & Wolff's gantry cranes, in the Titanic quarter. This shipbuilding firm was created in 1861, and by the time the Titanic was built, in 1912, it had become the largest shipyard in the world.

Guindastes de Harland & Wolff's, no bairro Titanic. Esta empresa de construção naval foi criada em 1861 e em 1912, quando o Titanic foi construído, já se tinha tornado na maior do mundo.

SS Nomadic is a steamship of the White Star Line. It was launched on 25 April 1911 and now on display in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, as the only surviving White Star Line vessel afloat today. She was built in order to ferry passengers, their baggage, mail and ship's supplies to and from large ocean liners moored off-shore, such as the RMS Titanic.

SS Nomadic é uma embarcação a vapor da companhia White Star Line. Foi inaugurado em 25 de Abril de 1911 e está hoje em exposição no bairro Titanic em Belfast, como a única embarcação que ainda existe da companhia. Foi construída para transportar passageiros, suas bagagens, correio e outros de e para os grandes transatlânticos ancorados ao largo da costa, como por exemplo o RMS Titanic.

 Titanic Belfast

Everybody knows the story of Titanic and its crash against an iceberg on its maiden voyage, back in 1912. It was one of the biggest disasters during peace times. Although I heard the story many different times there was still a lot of facts I learned when I visited the Titanic Belfast. 

The sheer size of Titanic and her sister ships (Olympic and Britannic) posed a major engineering challenge for Harland and Wolff. No shipbuilder had ever before attempted to construct vessels this size. Titanic was constructed side by side with Olympic, on Queen's Island, now known as the Titanic Quarter, in Belfast Harbour. H&W had to demolish three existing slipways and build two new ones, the largest ever constructed up to that time, to accommodate both ships. Both slipways can be visited today (photo below). The anchors themselves were a challenge to make with the centre anchor being the largest ever forged by hand and weighing nearly 16 tons! The whole construction was delayed due to such problems and had it been on time and Titanic might have made her first trip earlier and, therefore, not crashed. Her sister ship Britannic had similar faith and suffered an explosion, caused by an underwater mine off the Greek island of Kea, in 1916 during the world war. Olympic, on the other hand, had a career spanning 24 years and was retired in 1934. 

Toda a gente conhece a história do Titanic e do seu embate contra um icebergue na sua viagem de estreia, em 1912. Foi um dos maiores desastres ocorridos em tempos de paz. Ainda que eu tenha ouvido a história várias vezes havia ainda muitos factos que eu não sabia e que aprendi ao visitar o Titanic Belfast. 

O enorme tamanho do Titanic e das suas embarcações irmãs (Olympic e Britannic) fez com que construí-las fosse um grande desafio de engenharia para Harland e Wolf. Nenhuma outra empresa de construção naval tinha alguma vez tentado construir embarcações tão grandiosas. O Titanic foi construído lado a lado com o Olympic, em Queen's Island, hoje conhecida pelo bairro Titanic, no porto de Belfast. H&M teve que demolir as 3 rampas de lançamento existentes e construir 2 novas, as maiores alguma vez feitas na altura, para conseguirem acomodar a construção dos dois navios. Ambas as rampas podem ser visitadas hoje em dia (foto em baixo). As próprias âncoras foram um desafio de construção, com a âncora central sendo a maior alguma vez forjada à mão, com um peso de quase 16 toneladas! Toda a construção do Titanic foi-se atrasando e hoje em dia questiona-se o facto de que se terminada a tempo, o Titanic teria feito a sua viagem de estreia mais cedo e por isso talvez não tivesse sofrido o acidente. A sua irmã Britannic teve um destino semelhante e sofreu uma explosão causada por uma mina aquática, ao largo da ilha de Kea na Grécia, em 1916, em plena guerra mundial. Olympic, por outro lado, teve uma carreira de 24 anos e foi apenas retirada em 1934.

 Titanic's slipway. The vessel took all the space you see in the photo, until the last post further down.

A rampa de lançamento do Titanic. A embarcação ocupava todo o espaço que se vê na foto, até ao ultimo poste lá ao fundinho. 

I really enjoyed learning more about the Titanic and its sister vessels. It was all very interesting and fascinating how they could build such giant vessels with so little technology.

Eu gostei imenso de aprender mais coisas sobre o Titanic e as suas irmãs. Foi muito interessante e fascinante pensar como é que conseguiam construir tamanhos navios com tão pouca tecnologia ao seu dispor. 

All the sights shown in this post are within walking distance of the city centre. In the surroundings of the city there's also the Belfast Castle and an old jail called Crumlin Road Gaol. We didn't have the time for both and we ended up visiting the castle and its surroundings. I will post about it soon. 

I hope you enjoyed Belfast!

Todos os locais que mostrei ficam relativamente perto do centro da cidade. Nos arredores, um pouco mais longe, ficam o Castelo de Belfast e uma antiga prisão chamada Crumlin Road Gaol. Não tivemos tempo de visitar os dois e acabamos por escolher o castelo. Escreverei sobre a nossa experiência em breve.

Espero que tenham gostado de Belfast!