Arts Lab 7.0: Monica Lourenco | Month IV

This month was a mixture of feelings as well. It will be a short report.

We started the month with the preparation of an intercultural event at the Ion Creangă School, where we were separated into classes, and the goal was to do activities with the students and guide them in preparing a table related to our country, with food, crafts, and information. We had three hours with them on December 15th, and the event was on December 18th. “My students” did really well and even cooked sweet rice, which was really delicious. They didn’t sing but participated in the train song (“Apita o Comboio”).

On December 16th, we were invited to go to Trinitas School for the Christmas event, where we saw traditional costumes, a shadow theatre, and listened to Christmas songs. We also sang “Florile Dalbe,” and they were very impressed.

On December 17th, we went to Iași to visit the contemporary art museum to see the exhibition related to Cucuteni, by international artists who were enrolled in a residency at Ionela Sandrina Studio. They used materials and techniques I had never heard of or read about before, like paper clay. Everything was very beautiful. We also visited the Roma association, where we got to know the coordinator and her stories, as well as the Roma community’s mindset, traditions, and values.

Then the holidays came. Although I was excited to go back to Portugal, I felt really sad and wanted to come back. Maybe because I knew the project wasn’t over and there were still things to do, and I really enjoy working.

After the reunion, we started working on the residencies. I was with Salma this time, and I really appreciated her energy when working with the students. We had some setbacks, like changing schools and students, but in the end, we managed it. We didn’t do everything we wanted (even though we prepared everything!!), but the students were happy and satisfied with the activities. Once again, I learned how to adapt faster to constant changes.

This monthly report was written by Monica Lourenco, our Portuguese volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.