Creating Change in Lisbon Through CAS

How does a city maintain community and identity in the face of gentrification and an economy based on tourism?

The beautiful city of Lisbon has survived earthquakes, tsunamis and wars but today faces a different challenge: the struggle to maintain community and identity in the face of gentrification and a tourist focused city center. This trip will allow students to explore everything old and new about Portugal’s fascinating culture. While this is an opportunity for full IB students to focus on their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experience, the trip is open to ALL students. Creativity experiences include cooking and tile making classes, Activity experiences include a surf lesson in the coastal bay of Costa Caparica, and Service opportunities include ‘shadow a granny’ as local “grannies” take students on a morning tour through the markets, coffee shops and community hubs.

Day 1

After a long first day traveling, students were thrown right into the immersive experience that the city of Lisbon has to offer. Our tour guide Theresa has welcomed us with open arms, immediately engaging the students in lessons regarding the history of the city.

We started off the day by learning how to navigate the metro station as a group, sharing the responsibility of notifying the others when we should be getting off so we do not miss our stops.

After a quick bite to eat at a local food court, our first official stop took us to the center of the city. Along with some of the artwork and historical architecture, we learned that many of these areas that hold a significant place in the city's history have since been turned into more of a tourist attraction. The city center was lined with restaurant and tile/ceramic shops that now makes up a large part of the city's economy.

Sam Elliot with a Seagull. First one we saw all day.

Theresa presented us with a challenge, to ascend the major hill of the city and make a few stops to reflect on some of the historical significance of the city. Our first stop was in a square which included the sights of a cathedral as well as a "small" church which is most known for being the birthplace of St. Anthony. Students learned how Lisbon was a major city involved in religious war in dating back over 3000 years ago.

Students sketched, wrote, or reflected on our stops along our trek up the hill; An activity designed by the CAS group where students will be receiving these reflections in the mail from themselves a few weeks after we return from the trip.

Many local vendors populate the streets along with petty cabs and "mom and pop" shops/restaurants out of some of what used to be lower class residential parts of the city. (Carter S. pictured with some local artwork)

We ended our walking tour just outside the city center where we began before returning to the metro station and back to the hostel for some rest before dinner. As it is only our first night in the city, Theresa organized a dinner at a Chinese Buffet for some familiar eats. Over the next few days, all of our meals will then be centered around traditional Portuguese food.

Tiles and Pastry

Day 2

Day two was much more active for the group. Students traveled back into the heart of the city in the morning for a lesson in how some of the tiles seen throughout the city are made. Each student was given an opportunity to design and create their own tile with the help from a local artist. From there, the group returned to the city square, and after a quick bite to eat, they were given a scavenger hunt by Theresa. Students were given an hour with their groups to go and complete certain tasks such as: "Lisbon is a famous tourist destination, making it difficult to spot a local. Find someone who lives here and ask them what their favorite thing about the city is." After about an hour and a half, the group met back at the famous stage of Praça de Luís de Camões where they were given an opportunity to do a moment of shopping. Next, we traveled again through the metro to the Lisbon Cooking Academy. Students were given a lesson by two local chefs on how to make the traditional Portuguese pastry "Pastel de Nata". This pastry is a staple of the city and can be found in any of the many bakeries located in Lisbon. We finished the night at a family style restaurant where we were served Portuguese roasted chicken and potatoes; this is a meal eaten at least once a month by families in Portugal.

The City of Sintra

Day 3

The day was filled with adventure as the group traveled 40 minutes west by train to the City of Sintra. This city is home to some of the most famous castles and palaces in the region. Now government preserved, these structures were once owned by past monarchs and government officials but are now open to the public. After stopping in the gardens for lunch, students spent the day completing a scavenger hunt around the properties reflecting on the architecture and attempting to draw meaning from the symbolic features. Once completed, each group presented their evidence and interpretations. We then traveled back to Lisbon's city center to end our day with a dinner at a medieval restaurant with a beautiful ambiance.

Carcavelos Beach Cleanup

Day 4

The group had an amazing day traveling to Carcavelos to the Nova School of Business and Economics. Within this school, they have a surf school program that empowers students by teaching them lessons that will prepare them for success through surfing. After donning their wetsuits and being equipped with boards, students traveled down to Carcavelos beach where they were taught the basics of how to surf before they were brought out to try it for themselves. After the lesson, students were given some time to explore the campus and enjoy the beach for some down time.

We then began our beach cleanup project. Portugal was devastated by some incredibly powerful storms this past winter that damaged a large portion of the country. In addition to this, the storm washed up trash throughout the coast. Students learned that through their effort, even though they may not make a massive impact on the overall pollution of the beaches, it is enough just by doing their part.

Granny Workshop

Day 5

Credits:

Created with images by dudlajzov - "Aerial view of the national pantheon in Lisbon, Portugal" • rh2010 - "Street view with famous yellow funicular tram in Lisbon during the sunny day in Portugal" • Auttapon Moonsawad - "manual screen printing shirt" • ilolab - "delicious portuguese egg tart dessert" • Yakobchuk Olena - "Women's hands holding tool for mosaic details in the process of making a mosaic" • rawpixel.com - "Surfers running towards the sea" • alimyakubov - "Traditional old ornate portuguese decorative tiles azulejos."