well my dads coming to visit lisbon, and ive got to go meet him in abit so only a short one. well this week hasn't been the most productive, but went to two parties so was fun at least! first one was at our house, as there 13 people who live here, it wasnt too hard to get alot of people to come, so was really busy all night long, met loads of new people, had the neighbours complain about the noise, and had the police round a few, times. after that me luke, and the canadian girl Adonika went to a clib called Jamaica, which was really good, still the club culture is really different to in england, I can't quite say why thought. we left the club at about 6 o'clock, and it was still really busy there so I'm not sure actually what time it stays open too.

Right one thing I found this week, was when I went to print some A4 colour sheets for a lessen it didn't work! for the whole university they only have three computers which you can print from, and these always are pc's not macs, and when I tried to print my documents it send that the system didn't have enough memory to do so. Which was strange, also she said it might have not have worked because I saved my work from my Mac Laptop, which the PC had problems dealing with, so I don't know what I'm going to do when I need to print things of for my assessment. 

Anyways went to Adonikas leaving party last night, as shes doing a trip round europe, so her time in Lisbon has now come to a end, which is a real shame, as shes one of the people I've met which I've got on with the most, but hopefully in september shes going to come to Norwich before she goes back to Canada, so should be fun!

Opps been another two weeks

well been here for about a month now, I know I'm not the best at keeping a blog.. Opps!

well I have been at the university now for a week, and in this first period we get two weeks to decide which course(s) we want to take, as I have quite alot of projects from norwich to be getting on with, I decided to only do two, which is a drawing class, and a etching class. I decided against the illustration class as its only a 2 lessens a week subject, which for the rest of the semester you only have two projects to do, and it does not seem to be the same quality as the one at nsad, therefore I've decided that learning new skills will be more beneficial of my time in Portugal, as this is something I have lack of time to do in Norwich.

 Since I've started university I've noticed some big differences to Norwich. First of all the time table in lisbon seems to be very different to the one in england, as its usual for lessens to start about 30mins or more late, and frequently teachers to not turn up to lessens.

 I've also noticed differences in my drawing class, (which is life drawing) as in norwich we are taught how to experiment, use different ways of producing an image, explore different medias, and are encouraged to work at a large scale. But in lisbon, we have 3 poses to do, first one is a 35mins long pose, and then a short 5minute pose, and then an hour long pose while we do the portrait. I am happy that we are concentrating alot on the portrait as this is something im interesting in myself, but I don't feel as free in this lessen as the one in Norwich. I don't know why but everyone first draws in pencil, which I find odd in a life drawing class, and everyones drawings (even my own) seem very conservative, as the only factor the teacher looks at is that the figure is in the right proportions, and the same with the portrait. I feel like im going to have to make myself do warm up exercises first. But im glad that I have had the change to experince both ways, because I think this will have my drawings become stronger if I consider both techniques.

One great thing about the uni is the lunches, two euros for all your lunch! which includes a drink, batch, main meal, dessert and drink, which I don't understand why we can't have a same system in england. Also I've realised how many countries don't have to pay any tuition fees, and have all their books and stuff payed for, which is annoying!

Well at the moment Im trying to read the text 'Strangers', but as another example of Portuguese culture, I'm finding it quite hard to concentrate, as there is so much going on outside. First thing I can here is one of my neighbours playing Fado music quite loud down the street. Also you can constantly here voices from outside, as in my area there are two gangs that always hang around the streets, no matter what time of day it is. Gang culture seems different in Portugal to England, as I think we are more use to groups of youths hanging around the streets. But from what I've heard from my landlord, there is two rival gangs in my area, but they don't really cause much threat, as from what I've heard, if they cause any trouble the community gets together and forces them leave. I think the most you have to worry about is being pick pocketed (which luke has experienced first hand, with his mobile people stolen). But I have not heard any stories yet about violence being used. 

From what I've started to read in 'Strangers', some factors I've found that link to my experiences in Lisbon so far. 

1. 

'... the remarkable feature of the strangers is that they are to a large extent familiar; ... they are bound to come time and again, uninvited into my field of vision, so that I must watch them at close quarters.' 

Lisbon has a high homeless community, which I've can relate this point to, as they cannot be put in the group, 'us' or 'them', but they defiantly not 'nobodies' as they have become very familiar to me, therefore I guess they do go perfectively in the 'Strangers' category.

 As I've engaged in conversation, with quite a lot of homeless people, but this in no way has gave me an insight into who they are. Homelessness seems to big a bigger problem here, it does seem like there is a higher number, but I do not know if this is just because the way they act are different to in england. Maybe its because in England there are much more stricter with begging laws. It's quite hard to tell if someone actually is homeless or not in Lisbon, as most the time the only indication to this is them asking for money.

 For one instance there is an old lady with a crotch outside the main food store, she doesn't look badly dressed, but she is always begging for money, which maybe its just because I've came from Nuneaton and now live in Norwich, but it seems shocking that a elderly lady is begging, and not being helped in some way by the government, but maybe thats me being naive, because I know it is no where near close in england. But this is not my first time I've had a elderly person beg me for money in Lisbon. 

 Maybe its the healthcare in Portugal from the government which is letting the homeless people down, e.g. a blind woman was begging for money on the metro. And there seems to be quite a lot of homeless people who have some sort of disfigurement.

 

Another example I can think of straight away as people who I class as strangers, are probably the Portuguese Friends of my Erasmus friends. As some of my erasmus friends can speak very good Portuguese, and the Portuguese friends can't speak much english, so sometimes I feel quite left behind. I have a Italian housemate who is studying Languages, and she says in her opinion Portuguese people are quite closed of, and unless you speak the language well its very hard to get to know them. Which can't always be the case as I have made one Portuguese friend, but I think as a whole it might be a little bit harder.

Anyways they are my initial thoughts from what I have read, the Fado music has now stopped so I'm now going to attempt to read some more..

hey well second week here, really not that good at keeping a blog

well as I don't start uni until the 25th everything so far has been based around the house, and the people who live here, they all seem really lovely so far though, theres a german couple, a girl from austria, erm finland, one from norwich! ha! erm italy, and lads from belgium, denmark and some where else but i've forgot.

 Only really met one portuguese person thought so far, but its been really good meeting them, as there seems to be quite a big erasmus scene here in lisbon, but it just seems to be night out in some of the clubs in lisbon, and it just seems to have to aim of getting completely wasted, and seeing who you end up with, so as I've tried to avoid these so far, as they just seem to produce to atmosphere as a big shopping centre does, that you could be anywhere in the world, as it has no personality. i've been shown some really good bars in Bairro Alto, which is the main part where all the bars are. It just seems to be that there is a hundred places to go on every street. they are all quite small, but everyone just stands outside in the street drinking, and moving on to other places.

They really do not have a problem here with binge drinking, and I've not so far seen anything that comes close to the drinking behavior we have in england.

 O and alcohols really cheap here, only one euro for like half a pint.

One thing I've really grown to like, is how you greet people here by kissing them on both cheeks, it just produces a instant closeness with people, and breaks a few uncomfortable boundaries.

 I went to a house party the night before last with my italian friend, and there were mostly italian people there who couldn't speak english, I first felt a little strange, but after awhile, even though I didn't have a clue what any of them were saying, I didn't feel awkward one bit, plus it was really nice as I got to get to know my house mates, and the portuguese lad Neno more, we then went home, with the intention to go back out, but then found ourselfs talking to the early hours of the morning.

Every night here seems to though something new here, stayed up till 6.30 last night putting the worlds to rights with a italian lad and a girl from canada.

We spoke about politics, and I seemed to have basically all the same views as the Italian lad Fabio, and I found it really strange as I was talking to the Canadian girl, and she was shocked when I was talking about racism, and she said she didn't actually think it existed anymore.

Some stereotypes I found are.... well first lads from sweden and finland seem to wear really tight jeans, and are generally abit shyer, a finish girls words not mine...

Everything in portugal is so laid back, everyone I know goes on about a portuguese time, which is basically if you arrange to meet, just add on a extra hour and you'll be fine.

And if the plan to go out at night the bars do not start getting busy until about 12 o'clock, and theres no point in goin to a clube before 2, which then goes on till about 7, and the bars stay open on busy nights until about 4.

There seems to be quite alot of poverty in lisbon though, alot more people begging, and they seem to have quite alot of physical problems.

erm well im not sure what else to write, maybe this just enforces the argument that writing a blog each day is more beneficial than doing 2 in 2 weeks.

well plans for tomorrow are to get up at about 6.30, and then get the 8.15 coach to the algarve for the weekend, the weathers planned to be bad, but oo well im sure we can have fun in the rain!

bye bye 

 

hello, well second day here, seems really good so far, the house is a basic but just seems very art school, got no heating tho so a little bit chilly at night! met a few people from the house so far, but it seems like im in the period were people are leaving and new people will arrive soon, even met a girl from norwich whos staying in the house, who went to the art school a couple of years ago, and did illustration so thats a bit strange..... erm its now the 4th day here, kinda drifted off abit and didnt finish that blog... but yeah so far just really getting settled into the house....

Heres the wonderful kitchen.... bit basic, seems to serve its purpose though, no microwave so that may cause some problems!

Outside area

Living Room

Imagine this is the right way... this is my room