Cristina Rodrigues

"My name is Odete Rodrigues; that's how I'm known professionally. Among friends and family, I'm Cristina. I am 50 years old, I am married and have three grown children, a dog, and a turtle. I have been teaching mathematics for 27 years and have been in Odemira for 25 years. When I completed my degree, I thought I would move around like most teachers, but fate decided that I would stay in Odemira."

We met Cristina in early 2022 when she attended a session at Cineteatro Camacho Costa. She had seen the show the previous year and wanted to join the group. At that time, there were only male migrants, and Cristina was the only Portuguese and the only woman. She spoke little English. She continued to come regularly throughout the year, and the relationships grew.

"Migration and the arrival of new people to this area are not new. Before this population, we also had other migrants arriving from Northern Europe, as well as all the teachers, and nurses who came from other places in Portugal. The arrival was never easy. People don't welcome newcomers with open arms, and the initial impact is difficult, but with time, we occupy space, and communication paths open up. Those who arrive adapt to the way of life, and those who receive them eventually understand the positive aspects. It takes time."

Cristina lives in Boavista dos Pinheiros and often gave rides to other participants for rehearsals and sessions. Initially, she said she didn't dance, didn't sing, and would be unable to wear a sari due to her shyness and fear of being misunderstood. However, months later, she participated in the show in Odemira.

"The BOWING project came to do just that; it came to mix the 'colours,' and wherever it went, it left a trace. This is seen in the streets, in the show, and in schools. I see that, in school, those who went through BOWING and those who saw the show have a different way of being, and it influences others. There is an openness, a change, and a closeness."

Cristina shared with us that she already saw new couples in school: Portuguese girls with Indian boys, teenagers holding hands with contrasting cultures.

"Actions and projects with the nature of BOWING make sense inside and outside schools. The arts are spaces that, in a way, solve the lack of language knowledge in the first year. Schools should fill the schedule of migrant students with alternative activities that work on integration, access, exposure to Portuguese, and the well-being of these students. They feel lost when they arrive, and there are no specific reception responsibilities or strategies. As a teacher, I have been pushing for the implementation of reception and integration strategies. The small changes are already late; they should have been made many years ago. The existing laws were created to respond to the needs of those times and unfortunately were not applied. The demands are greater now, and that is why it is necessary to remodel these laws, which are far from being in the right place. However, all the pressure being exerted is paving a way. What is important is that schools have strategies focused on the integration aspect and, above all, that laws are put into practice. We have to move from talking to doing. I had the pleasure of seeing the first BOWING show in São Teotónio. The beginning entered me in a very pronounced way. It started with a meditation between the cast and the audience, eyes closed, followed by a moment where two dancers danced on top of a house, forcing us to look at the sky. The entire show led us to take our eyes off the ground, to look around, to every corner of that town. In every corner, every old wall, every door or window, in every square, something artistic was happening. We tend to spend our lives looking at the ground, afraid of falling, lost in thoughts, avoiding looking at those around us. In those three hours, we were invited to look around. I kept that taste, those smells, and images. I realized that it was a space where I could dialogue and somehow help the community speak Portuguese, which is an extremely important step. The migrant community needs that help. In 2022, I called you and did not hesitate to attend the sessions."

We remember an afternoon at the Odemira Market, with men from Punjab, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Cristina, all sitting around a table discussing the names of clothing items in different languages. Cristina was seated between two Punjabi men: Gagan and Gurpreet. The three of them talked, gestured, and responded without speaking each other's language. Cristina, confident, with her small body between two big men, explained many things in Portuguese as if she was being understood, and they, with certainty, responded in Punjabi.

"Your way of being, looking, and communicating united us, by itself. Every day I joined you was a discovery in the way of teaching. I learned about how to relate to my students. You managed to create a space where we all felt equal. Each one within their difference, with an awareness of individual stories and the value of that sharing. I discovered a lot about people and various cultures and had the space to share my story too. Whether it was the first time or the tenth time one entered that room, we felt at home."