A beautiful 9 days at a youth exchange in Oeiras, Portugal. I didn't know what to expect, at one point I wasn't even sure I wanna go and it turned out to be a thousand times cooler than I ever imagined. My first time in Portugal. Such a lovely country, beautiful warm, people seem carefree and chill. Oeiras is a small city next to Lisbon, right on the coast of Atlantic ocean. We definitely enjoyed our beach days, the water was cold, but as the weather was over +40 C, it was refreshing and the waves, we had our fun. There were people from all over Europe. Next to the useful, the jams, get-togethers and themed nights were very memorable.
Did some sports, but the main thing was the hiphop culture. There were three ways to go, one could specialize in graffity, dj'n or dancing. As I’m a dancer and not so much a music maker or a street-artist, I went the dancing direction. Fellow dancers were awesome, at first there was supposed to be bboy'n but in the end we did a routine in hiphop/newstyle as well. Got so much new information and just training with these dancers felt great. At last we did an almost 6 minute choreography (although on the event everything that could go wrong with the music went wrong, we at last performed and it went great, the reaction of the spectators was very positive.) The battle and performance day was absolutely amazing. I didn't expect such a high level in dance nor the warmth and sincerity of the dancers. (there's nothing alike in Estonia!). Really good vibes, after the battle people who didn't know each other started talking, sharing, and jamming together, that's the unity that should come with dance! Of course it is not that perfect and ideal in there too, but that's the emotion that really came through. Huge gratitude and respect to Natural Skillz crew, firstly for being such great hosts and secondly, during the event truly a lot of things went wrong, but Sam and the others stayed calm and positive through all of it.
I’m gonna miss the warmth, loudlyness and crazyness of the southern people, all the spanish phrases and just the overall positivity. Venga venga!
Another new find: slackline, a kind of rope to be put between two trees and try to balance and walk on that Quite impossible at first, but after heaps of practising.. well on the last day we did pretty good.
One night went clubbing to Lisbon, that city can definitely party, the streets full of bars and clubs, people dancing on the streets. I also am sorry for the people who had to be with us on a train there, most of us went and we were a little loud maybe.. Lisbon is beautiful daytime too, had a whole day for sightseeing. A city tour, few picnics, some free time. Had to walk a lot and it 's basically a hike in the mountains, up and down in the heat.
Thank you ProAtlantico and Natural Skills Crew, but especially all the participants of the exchange! It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had. Peace, love, unity and having fun!
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