Joy & Happiness of being amid Friends that are not less than Family!

The ‘Joy & Happiness of being amid Friends that are not less than Family!’ is how I would describe Alamos in a sentence.

I vividly remember 9th February, 2009 as the day when I stepped into Alamos as a shy and distant resident mute to the Portuguese language. At that time, I couldn’t have imagined that in Alamos I  would find a family, lifelong friends and memories to cherish eternally.

Alamos was a small and very welcoming place and with time I realised that it was more than just a place to sleep, study, or eat. I found a family atmosphere which made it an easy place to make friends – not with just those living in Alamos but also with those visiting it often.  The get-togethers after meals, various activities, picnics and festivities also helped me to get to know them better and share my life with them. Slowly, with time, I got involved. I went from being a bit passive to taking a greater interest in the others, in the activities, to help others and to help the residence thus taking on more responsibility. Alamos is the place where my capabilities were lauded and where I gained self-confidence. Alamos brought out the real me from within me.

Alamos was one of those few places that gave me immense happiness and where I lived one of the best times of my life. In the far distant mind I know that I have a family that is in Portugal and I know that I can count upon them at any moment of my life.

Words fall short to describe Alamos because Alamos is a place to experience. Alamos is a place to live which leaves a deep longing to live through again.

A Wafa Arif foi residente da Residência Universitária dos Álamos entre Fevereiro de 2009 e Julho de 2012.