Little did I know that I would become lifelong friends with some of the local Portuguese that I met there. The volunteer staff consisted almost exclusively of young adults right around my age. This was in stark contrast to my team, which consisted of mostly women in their 40s and 50s, some of which I also became friends with.
So in May of 2009, while I was still in Europe, I decided to stopover and visit my good friends who I have not seen in about 2 years, with whom I still chatted with on a daily basis. It would turn out that my "stopover" would turn into nearly 3 months of reflection, recovery and participation in one of the most beautiful places in the world - northern Portugal.
Portugal is such an interesting place and very close to my heart. When most people travel to Europe, the common destinations are generally Paris, London, and bits of Spain, Italy and Germany. There's also a certain type of person that really loves Amsterdam. But rarely do you hear someone desiring to visit Portugal! This is a great mistake...
There was a time when the empires of Portugal and Spain literally divided the world between them, ever expanding. And you can sense this somewhat when you visit. Ancient buildings, bridges, castles and waterways older than America herself are still standing and in excellent condition, adorning this beautiful country of wine, cod and rolling hills. Anything you can think of, is somehow related or finds its roots in this place. One of my favorite Chinese desserts - the egg tart - originated here! Portuguese natas are a flakier, lovelier version of what eventually found its way to Macau, Hong Kong, and then the rest of China. Amazing that something so traditional in China now would have its origins in Portugal.
I have always favored Braga, the 3rd most populous city in the country located in northern Portugal approximately 1 hour outside of Porto, with its beautiful green scenery, farms and animals being raised at every home, and close family relationships. Lisbon, the more famous Southern city, is busier, dirtier and seems to have less identity (and by that I mean it feels like most large European cities) and community than its Northern neighbors. North Portugal boasts clean (but cold) beaches, amazing food and the most friendly people in the country.
There are limitless things to do just in Porto - one of my favorite things to do here is shop. You will discover the most refined handbags, wallets, jewelry and fashionable clothes. And unlike what you find in the US, the goods made here are of high quality materials made with high quality hands. Approximately half the population does very well here, so you will find every delightful thing imaginable at your feet. But the other half does not live so well. Not so much in squalor and oppression, just very much a hand-to-mouth existence. And these are precisely the people that Habitat for Humanity helps.
It's really a shame that such a beautiful country has something like 40% unemployment! Government expenditure is a large portion of GDP and bureaucracy is thick and layered. There is little innovation, but perhaps that will change with the construction of huge Iberian International Laboratory of Technology in Braga. Portugal needs to stop resting on its beautiful and high quality laurels and take a stab at innovation, or raise its profile for tourism. How this isn't one of the most coveted places to go on vacation is beyond me! Luckily inflation is low so it's not quite as difficult to get by and doesn't hit me in the gut the way the rest of Europe seems to. And there is no doubt that the Habitat for Humanity organization makes a crucial difference.
The Habitat team here is particularly kind, fun and thoughtful. If you have always wanted to participate in a Global Village trip to do something positive and character-building - don't give it a second thought and sign up for a Global Village trip to Portugal. You will be so very glad you did. The environment is exceptional, the air is clean, most people speak English (perhaps because the younger generation has some strange obsession with our show "Friends"), and the food and drink are delicious. If you have any questions at all or want some help getting a team together, please feel free to contact me. I would like to return with a team and introduce as many people to this beautiful country as I can.
Here is the link to the official habitat for Humanity Global Villages site: Habitat for Humanity - Global Village
For some reason there aren't any trips scheduled for Portugal, so once again feel free to contact me. They currently have two sites that need volunteers in some of the most beautiful towns in Northern Portugal: Amarente and Braga.
