10/27/2004 - Fifteen Minutes of Fame in Portugal
At the AFS Portugal orientation, AFS staff and volunteers proudly hosted 53 students coming to Portugal from 18 countries around the world.
During the Arrival Camp, students participated in activities prepared and developed by the AFS Portugal volunteer team. The intensive arrival orientation tackled issues like Portuguese culture and language, living with a Portuguese host family and leaving behind almost everything familiar to make a new start. The students talked about their hopes and fears, practiced some important Portuguese phrases and learned the custom of saying hello and goodbye with a kiss on each cheek.
22 volunteers also had a Counseling Training, an opportunity to meet their AFS students in these crucial hours and a chance to participate in some of the Camp activities.
The highlight of the Camp/Training was the Talent Show. Everyone had his or her fifteen minutes of fame on the open-air stage. A very spirited audience, shown in the above photo, applauded the AFSers who displayed their many talents.
The second day was full emotion and excitement as the host families crossed the country (and sometimes the ocean) to be there for their new AFS sons and daughters. The students introduced themselves in Portuguese to their host families and embarked on a new, life-changing intercultural learning experience.
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