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..
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