kill them with kindness

Seeing your culture from the outside is quite the different experience. I've been told many times how friendly canadians are, and I always knew that to be true. But I didnt quite realize the extent of our friendlieness. Compared to what I was used to over in europe it was quite the shock to come home to. Now im not saying that Europeans are not friendly but canadians take it to a whole different level.

Over the five months I was away, Ive talked to many people from all over the world, and during that time ive come to see my own culture through their eyes. Generally everyone always says how friendly canadians are, not that I didnt beleive them but it was a strange expereince to see it from the outside. Even going through customs in the airport the people drilling you will questions are being friendly. Its almost like you get bombared with their friendlyness, its incredible. Like I mentioned in my last post I got my luggage searched once I arrived back in Canada and the women searching my things was even being friendly and making small talk. If that were to happen to me in Europe the people probably wouldnt even try to engage you at all with any sort of conversastion. Im not saying that people in Europe are rude or unfriendly but the extreme friendlyness of canadians is on a whole other level.

Honestly its something you need to experience to understand the full magnitude of, its hard to articulate the feeling of seeing ones culture from an outsiders perspective. I have enjoyed being able to see it as an outsider, it has given me a better prespetive on my own culture and the way I come across to people I dont know. Local people in each country we visited we very friendly but being in public places such as airports, public transport, and retial settings is completely different then in Canada. They are generally to the point and could seem very standoffish if you were not adjsuted to it. I didnt realize it was something I adjusted to until I came home. A few times when ive been out a coffee shops I almost feel as though im being bombared with their kindness, its like a forigen concept to me now.

I thought I was going to have reverse culture shock but I didnt think it would be quite as noticible as it has been. Anytime I go out I get caught of gaurd by the shop workers speaking english. I swear the first time it happend it took me a minute to realize what was happening and that I could converse with them no problem. I went to a movie the other night and while I was standing in line, bascially observing the people around me, it shocked me that everyone around me was speaking english. I have come so accustomed to no one speaking english around me that I was a little overwhelmed by it. It was almost a case of sensory overload, I just didnt quite know what to do. The first time I ordered something at a coffee shop and it was so simple I was like thinking to myself that I forgot how easy it is to do normal every day things such as ordering a coffee when you speak the language. Its something that you didnt know you took for grantued until it was taken away. The learning curve of adjusting to being the minority in a country was quite the adventure. I enjoyed learning about myself in many different ways when I was put into this situation. I now understand what its like to go to a country and not speak the language but still need to do everyday things.

My thoughts on driving after five months of not driving at all? It was actually a little stressful, I didnt expect it to be. I mean driving is pretty simple, its not something you forget how to do but obsevering the crazy drivers in europe and then getting behind a wheel is a little intimidating. I was sort of expecting everyone around to be driving the way they do in Europe, which put me on edge. After driving a few times though I realized that people here dont drive like lunatics!

Coming back to the real world was quite the adjustment, one in which Im still trying to get used to. I think it will be ongoing for the next little while of my life. As I sit here and look through my photos from my trip it almost feels like a dream. I cant beleive that was my life for the last five months. Being home was not something I was looking foward to, dont get me wrong I loved seeing all of my family and friends again but I do not enjoy being back. Not because I need to get a job and join the "real" world but because I became so accoustme to the lifestlye of the Europeans that I dont want to go back to the way I was before I left. I know that on this trip I have changed dramtically from when I left, But as I see my photos its feels like that trip almost didnt happen. its surreal to be reminising about such a big part of my life. I know that after a while I will get used to being back, but as of right now every time I go out I feel as though I dont belong. Experiencing reverse culture shock is not something I thought I would ever get the chance to experience, and what and experience it is turing out to be.

As things keep changing I will continue to update my blog.

Don't you just love airports?

Cuz I sure as hell don't! Talk about a hectic, stressful two days. Where to begin...well let's see I arrived at the bus stop and the bus almost left without me. Luckly he seen me and stopped, even though I made sure where I needed to stand in order to catch the bus.

I arrived at the bus terminal in Lisbon all set to take the airport shuttle to the airport...I asked where to catch the bus and guess what? The bus doesn't run that late at nights! It was only 11:30 what kind of airport bus doesn't run all night? Flights are at all god awful times during the day and night! So I asked how am I saposed to get to the airport he suggested taxi, or metro (subway) so I asked how much the taxi was and it depended on the size of your luggage and because mine is huge it was going to be 20€ which I was not about to pay. So I opted for the subway...I get t the subway station and go to buy a ticket only to notice that the machines don't take change, only bills and not 20€ which is all I had besides a new 5€ bill which they also do not take. Well at this point I was a little freaking out luckly a man who worked there came out and asked if I needed help, he changed my 20 into change of 2€ yay! But at least I had money to pay for the subway. Usually thr subways are not hard to figure out but this one was tricky I'm happy the guy helped me because I really don't think I would have figured it out. 

After an hour subway ride I finally got to the airport. I had quite a bit of time to kill before I could check in for my flight so I hauled up a seat and waited. Finally it came the time that I could check in, which I didn't know where to do that, but after a bit of wondering around I found it and checked in. My luggage wasnt over weight, my carry on wasnt to big so I thought hey this is great! No problems with my weight of suite case. So I proceed to fly from Lisbon to Frankfurt where I had a few more hours to kill, I went through the border patrol only to have a mini stroke. He informed me that I have been in Europe to long! Wtf! I checked into it before we left and add sure that if I didn't spend any more then 90 days in each European country it will be fine...he then proceed to tell me this was not true, even then I read it on the embassy website. So and this point I was thinking great I'm gonna get arrested or something...guess I'm not going home after all. He sat there and asked me questions of where I've been and how long I stayed and he said your Lucky your a Canadian citizen because other wise there would be legal action...so finally I made it through border patrol.

And guess what I had more time to kill so after claiming down from my freak out, because if I would have had to stay I have absolutely no money to stay with...I went to my next gate once it was on the board and have to weight in two lines, one because I was a transfer from another flight and then another to walk through to security. I waited in line for security and went through, I didn't beep so I figured hey I'm all good!...nope they took eight hours to examine my bag and then finally decided it was nothing, instead of just searching it they just stared at the screen debating what it could be. So I walked on...I get to the gate and there is a man standing there weighing your carry on bag, which apperently with this airline can only be 6kg! Wtf! What kind if international flight only has a 6kg weight restriction! Easyjet which is one of the lowest of the low planes has a 11kg weight for carry on! So I had  take stuff out. Luckly incase this happens I keep clothes I can out on if nessicary. So now I am wearing two pairs of pants, leggings and jeans, two tank tops, one t shirt, three sweaters, and a leather jacket, with stuff in the pocket of my hoodie! Come on! This is rediclous. Although the other passengers watching me another guy out on all see cloths has a good chuckle and we all chated for a while afterwards and discussed how stupid it was. If I wouldn't have put all the clothes on it would have been 100€ for the extra weight! It's not even that much for over weight in your luggage! Who are they kidding! Now at this point I am so ready to be on the damn plane and be on my way it's not even funny...just get me in the air! Lets hope once I get to Canada I don't have and problems going through security! 

But hey guess what? That would be to much to ask to not have problems even in your own country! I got to security got the third degree while they were checking m passport, finally got through so I figured I was in the clear...apperently not. I had to go back into security so they could search my entire suite case, as in rip all my shit of and go through every single thing in it! And all I wanted to do was see my family at this point! I Mean the women checking my stuff was perfectly nice and friendly but still, when your so excited to see your family that's all you want to do. With out futher adew I walked out of security and finally I'm home! 

Ending of a new beginning

Wow where has the time gone? It has seemed to have flowen by. As I'm sitting here on the verge of departure I can't help but feel many mixed emotions. I'm very sad about having to leave this beautiful continent and it's wonderful cultures, but I'm also excited to see all of my family and friends that I have not seen in six months. 

Reflecting on this trip I have come to realize a lot of different things about myself. I'm leaving here with a better understanding of myself. Which I was hoping to achieve before returning to Canada. I have growen and broadened my mind significantly since being over here. I have leaned how it felt to the minority, I have felt the unbending, deep love of families, I have become more educated as a whole, and I have changed for the rest of my life. Reflections is a key tool to understanding yourself, and knowing your mind it a very powerful tool. To harness the minds power is an incredible gift, one it which I hope to accomplish. 

Being on this trip has given me some great insight of what I needed to change about myself, in order to become the person I want to be. I have had the great experience of having many different cultures to influence me over the past few months. I sincerely believe that the people I have met on this trip have impacted me to and incredible degree. I can't particularly think of one main person that I've meet that has impacted me greatly. It's the small things you learn from them that leaves the lasting impression. Sometimes and often the people you meet while traveling will be a brief incounter, just a passing by, but then you meet the ones whom you will remain in contact with for the rest of your life. 

Learning about cultural differences and similarities have shaped my perspective on the world as a whole. Creating many lasting impressions that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life. At the beginning of the trip up until now, I can see such a change in myself it's incredible. If someone would have told me that this trip was going to change my life I would not have thought it possible. I knew I would gain many valuable lessons, but I did not account for the way they would change me. Change is always welcome in my life, and I hope to keep broadening my mind with more traveling of the world. 

This trip has solidified the fact that I want to keep traveling the world. When you get out of your comfort zone and break through that initial nervousness, you really begin to realize that there was nothing really to be nervous about. If someone would have told me before I left that Kristy and I would become closer, I probably would not have believed them. I knew deep down that we would remain friends but I did not antisopate that we would grow closer as friends. We have been there for each other the entire trip even when things got though. I am glade to say that we have beat everyone's assumptions that we would not remain friends after this.

This is an end to a chapter in my life, but it is also the beginning of a new one. 

If anyone has any questions or comments I would be more then happy to hear them, either comment below or drop me a message on Facebook. 

Reality check

I have finally come to the realization after many weeks of being in denial about going home, that I am indeed heading home in four days. I am not looking forward to going back, don't get me wrong I want to see my family and friends but I do not want to leave this wonderful continent. More specifically Portugal, but Europe in general also. 

I have absolutely no idea where the five months have gone, honestly I doesn't feel like I've been away from home that long. I keep thinking about all the things I've seen, the things I've done, and the people I've met, and I keep wondering how it took five months. It's also weird to think that I've missed out on friends and families lives for five months, busy doing my own thing here in Europe. I think it will almost feel like I lost half a year in my "real" life when I get home. 

I'm not looking forward to having to face the music when I get home...by getting a job, I thought by now I might have actually figured out what I want to do with my life. This was kind of my hope while I was away. That some how I would figure out my career goal while I was over here. But at last I have not figured it out, which makes the task of finding a job even more complicated.  Well I know I want to get into photography but I also need a job to support myself on while I'm getting into the field. I absolutely hate looking for jobs, and the fact that I know I don't want to live in NS is also making it very difficult to try and commit to something.

I knew that when I got over here that I wouldn't want to come, I've always known that NS is not the place for me. Coming over here and experiencing everything Europe has to offer has solidified this for me. Like I said before this isn't good bye it's see you later...because I will be back here premently, this I can garuntee. I have never wanted something so much in all my life. 

Convinces that I will be glade to have back;

Hair dryer 

Curling iron

Straighter 

Hot shower 

Heat in the house

There's something about Portugal

There's something about Portugal 

There's something about Portugal as a country and as a culture that just gets under skin and takes a hold of you. It's infectious in every way possible making in impossible to ever want to leave. During my travels I've been to 20 different places and none compete with Portugal. It is absolutely without a dought my favoriate country out of the whole trip. 

So what is it about Portugal that is so infectious? Honestly I have to pin it down to two things; the people and the landscape. Portuguese culture is so different compared to north American culture. They don't stress, their never in a rush, and they enjoy the small things in life. As a general populous they are a very generous people, their not worried about the exect change you own them, they feel as though one day you will pay them back. For example if they treat you to lunch and you offer to pay them back they will refuse, knowing that you will repay the favour by either treating them to lunch or coffee or something of the sorts. 

Portuguese people are also very affectionate, family oriented people. They are always spending time with family members, weather it be going for a walk on the beach with the kids or going to lunch at a cafe. Sunday is the day to be with your family and go for a drive to the coast if they do not love near by. Something even as simple as greeting one another is more affectionate then in North American. As a North American when we meet up with someone generally say hey, or how are you, with absolutely no physical contact. But in Portugal and most of if not all of Europe all greet the same way, with a kiss to both cheeks, which as a foreigner can be quite shocking. However this slight show of affection is all it takes to make you feel at ease, even if its someone you don't particularly know. 

Coming from personal experience I can tell you how much of a shock it was to be kissed on both cheeks. My first experience with such a thing was in Portugal, I met this women while surfing and we got to talking for a few hours and then we began to part ways, next thing I know she's leaning in and I have no idea why!  Figured I would just go with it and see what happend but halfway through her leaning into me I realized oh right they kiss on both cheeks here! Although I realized last minute what was going on it took me by complete surprise, and I'm sure my face to those who were watching was priceless, it was one of panic and stress. 

Not only are the Portuguese people probably the friendliest people I've ever met, but the countries landscape is also one to be reckoned with. There are so many small towns that ate absolutely beautiful, so very quaint and charming. The ocean views, the city life, and the small towns and villages really make Portugal appealing in so many different ways. No matter where you are, weather it be a city of a village there is always a bar near by, and most of the time many many bars. Bars which are always packed no matter what time of day it is. Because the word bar here is a little different then North America. A bar in Portugal serves anything from coffee, food, to liquor. But generally when someone says bar in North America one associates it with drinking, partying and something that is open late. Whereas in Portugal their bars are more like cafes during the day and bars at night. 

I have met so many people from all over the world on my travels and so many people who visit Portugal either always go back, or end up moving there for good. It just has something about it that draws you in, it gets into your very soul and never let's go. 

The black market meets the buskers

The black market meets the buskers 

For any of you who are familiar with the black market, a store in Halifax, and the buskers which come to Halifax every year. During a stay in Lagos Portugal I encountered just the thing I am referring to. It was a protest of sorts which brought people from all walks of life to band together for one single cause. It was a sign of union between street performers, gypsies, hippies, and what all North Americans call run of the mill people. 

The protest was due to the fact that a local market that has been running for more then ten years, was shut down by the police. This market was held every weekend on a plot of land that is used for recreation. The vendors at the market don't pay any sort of fee to set up a stall, people who want to contribute to the community come sell and trade the things they need.  Keeping in mind that most of Portugal is suffering right now due to the economic down turn that is reaping havoc on most if not all of Europe.

 Over the many years this market has been running, the people who sell knew that one day it would come to and end, but what they didn't know was that it would come to a dramatic, hurtful end. Sometime last month while the market was set up the police showed up with guns and brut force, expecting problems from the people. Don't underestimate people's reactions to things was the mentality of the police. The police came in confiscated all the goods being sold, and fined each person whom was selling products. 

What you have to understand is the people selling at this market strictly rely on that income alone. They are a community of people whom have chosen a lifestyle of simplicity, meaning they construct, bake, cook, and grow everything they sell, including and not limited to repairs of any types of things you can imagen that needs to be repaired. 

To see the population of this community band together in a show of pride, and defiance of local authorities was quite the experience. The people are so down to earth and generous, they would give you the cloths off their back if you were in need. Their mentality towards life is if you can't afford to pay for the item in which you seek, they are more then willing to trade with you. For example if you needed bread but couldn't afford it, but knew how to repair a bike then the two parties would come to and agreement to do a trade. Bread for manual labour. 

The protest was not necessarily an act of uprise but just a general show of unity between the community members sticking up for what they believe is right. If the police just showed up without so much as a warning to shut something down in North America people would not stand for such an act. But this is where North American culture and Portuguese culture differs, they just take what happens and deal with it the best way they know how, which is to just bow down to authority. I'm not saying they should have caused a problem but something should be done. To come in without warning, claim that what they are doing is illegal only for the sheer fact that the government isn't getting a piece of the action if you please. There is no fee in which the vendors have to pay, which means the people who run the town are not seeing any of the benefits of such a thing. 

Southern Portugal

I feel like all I'm doing lately is apologizing to you guys about not updating my blog enough, once again I am sorry but this time it was beyond my control, we have no wifi. 

We finished up surfing, which I might add was absolutely the best day we had the whole two weeks being there. The conditions were perfect, it was sunny, and Kristy and I were catching greens left right and centre! Yay! Over the two weeks being there the beaches progressively got more and more busy with surf schools and locals alike. On our last day we finally got a taste of what it's like to not be a local and to try and surf. We've already had the rules explained to us so it wasn't a shock. We know that you have to pay fealty to the locals, which means they get priority of the waves. There are so many different rules but that is the most important. If your paddeling for a wave and someone else is you have to yield to the person on the inside, unless of course your on the inside. We got our first taste of the locals shutting us out and blocking every wave, if even he didn't catch the wave they would still paddle for it and make you back off. I got yelled at by one guy telling me to get of his wave, so we decided best course of action was to just move spots, so we moved over and they followed, so we moved back to where the were before, and yet again they followed. I understand the rules like I said but your not saposed to block every wave, if they get a wave it's your turn to get the next, it's just the way it works. But they were both dead set on not letting us get waves. I wouldn't have been so annoyed if they actually were good surfers but they weren't, they were learning just like us. Other then that little tricky bit we had an amazing last day surfing!

Leaving areia Branca was honestly the most sad I've been to leave a place, it is most def my fav place in the world. We said our good byes to all the surf guys and went out to aquarius for one last time. But at last it was not good bye it was see you later...because I will be back. 

And this is where our journey began to the southern most past of Portugal, we hoped on the bus and away we went to our next workaway in Lagos. Like always we didn't really have any idea of what to expect of this workaway like the last, so we were just going with it. They picked us up at the bus stop and right away we knew we were going to have an amazing time with this family. They welcomes us into their family with open arms, they are two of the nicest people I've ever met. But the funny thing is that neither of them are actually from Portugal! One is from France and the other from newzeland. However they have adapted to the Portuguese laid back kind of life style quite well. The workaway is very lot key and amazing. They have two houses, on in the tiny village and the other which is literally out in the middle of nowhere on 48 acres of land. The first week we went out to the house in the middle of nowhere, and it's absolutely beautiful out there, so peaceful and quite. We don't have wifi out there which is why I haven't been updating my blog. 

Who would have ever thought that I would be working on a farm in the middle of nowhere? If someone would have told me that a year ago I would have said they were crazy. Only downside to this workaway is that there are so many ticks! The other day I found 4 on myself, and were constantly picking them off the dogs. Anytime you come in from outside you have to check your self over. It doesn't help that we take the dogs for a walk in the bush. This weekend until Tuesday we will be at the other house, which is near Lagos. We are off Saturday and Sunday so were going to get to see some of the town which will be awesome. Tomorrow were going with the family to the market to do some shopping and then were going to head out to see the town. Looking foward to the next week, and can't wait to go back to the cottage. 

I seriously can't believe that we go home in a little more than a week, it doesn't seem like we've been away for six months! I have no idea where the time has gone. Going home feels like a foreign concept to me, I feel like where I am now is home. Going to be fun with reverse culture shock, even being over here I can see the difference in lifestyles. Oh and not go mention jet leg hahaha.