“TIME OUT” FROM POLITICS AND ECONOMY-- IT'S SOCCER TIME! By Jose Arrais-Velez

Portugal has a big passion for soccer, because it’s our national sport and, although we are a small country, we have excellent players that are in some top-soccer teams around Europe including Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and in the past also in Inter Milano, Milan, Barcelona, Paris S.G., etc.

Everytime our national soccer team makes it to the final tournement, either the EURO or the WORLD CUP ( and lately, we have always been...) the country “stops”, with no more talks about politics, or economy, or sadness, because IT’S SOCCER TIME!!!

People will hang-out in friends of family homes, outdoor events, barbecuing sardines, porkchops, portuguese sausage...anything will go, during this soccer event. It is fun, it’s very relational, and above all it’s PORTUGAL that is playing!!!

You can imagine that Portugal’s expectations are different that the “big guys”, like Spain, France, England, Italy, Germany, Rússia... for all these teams, if they are not champions it’s always a loss, but for “little” Portugal, that we are in the semi-finals is already “our championship” and so getting to this level in the Euro Cup is huge, and puts our country into high spirits, with lots of excitement. We are so proud of our country!

 Tomorrow, once again, we will be playing to get a place in the EURO 2012 finals, and with what country would we have to again play? Our good old “enemy” for centuries (of course it doesn’t get actually to that level, and normally everytime we play it’s always very calm and respectful)---Spain.

It will happen one of two things:

·         If we win, Portugal will stop and celebrate until the final game, and everybody will forget our situation right now, and it will be extremely good for our “ego” and maybe our economy actually will get a boost!!!

·         If we lose, well, we will be a bit sad, because we lost, and lost once again, to Spain.

But, we’ll be fine, pleased, because we did once again great in soccer, and we, once again, will be in the TOP 4 best soccer teams in Europe...and that’s very good for us. If we didn’t win, we will be on the top.

And this is the way, us, the Portuguese see soccer and sports and life!

What is the True Cost of Economic Austerity in Europe? by Randy M. Ataide

The other day I was out for a morning walk, and made my way past a beautiful golf course that held a small development of homes, most manicured and well tended. At the end of the block, I noticed one home that appeared empty, with a piece of white paper stuck on the front door. Curious, I made my way up the sidewalk to the door, and saw that the paper was a notice from a bank that the home had been foreclosed. From the inside, brown paper was taped over the windows, but I found one window where the paper had fallen to the floor. What I saw shocked me.

In the kitchen, the countertops had been wrenched from the cabinets, leaving huge tears in the cabinets, defacing and likely ruining them. All of the light fixtures, fans and other items were removed, and there were various holes in the walls of unknown purpose. I had seen such activity before on television, in homes in Las Vegas, Phoenix and elsewhere, but was shocked to see it myself first hand. What would cause the behavior to cause harm to the home? Revenge on the bank? Frustration at oneself for a bad investment? Sheer anger at the “system’ for causing a foreclosure? Embarrassment? I am not sure.

The global economic downturn continues to grind on, and there are actually signs that many countries and regions are beginning to fall back into recession after very tepid recoveries. We catch headlines of cryptic symbols and data points which economists, pundits and politicians fret over, but we are often unsure of what it all means. A colleague of mine has articulated the principle of “frugality fatigue” where large segments of populations simply shrug at continue thriftiness in the midst of no improvement of their economic situation, and begin to return to old habits of spending pre-recession. And while the economic challenges Americans face can be painful and even wrenching, in most instances they have not turned into tragedy. The same cannot be said of some other parts of the world.

In Greece, the focus of so much commentary and conversation of the past months, it has been lost on most of us that there is a higher cost for many Europeans. When Apostolos Polyzonis's bank refused to see him last September, the 55-year-old Greek businessman had just 10 euros ($13) in his pocket. Out of work and bankrupt, he thought all he could do with his remaining money was to buy a gas can. Desperate and angry, Polyzonis stood outside the bank in central Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, doused himself in fuel and surrendered to the flames. There are many reports of a rapid rise in suicide rates throughout all of Greece. For Spain, unemployment for those under 25 years of age has now climbed to approximately 50%, a stunning number by any possible measure. The same data point for Portugal, Italy and other countries, including those in the more prosperous northern European countries, is often beyond 30%, with a resultant rapid rise in civil unrest by these same young people.

In a recent New York Times article, Nobel Prize winning conomist Paul Krugman moved beyond the scope of individual suicides in Europe, and wonders if the larger story isn't so much about individuals as about the apparent determination of European leaders to commit "economic suicide" for the continent as a whole. Much of the European economy is contracting, and Krugman claims that “Instead, they doubled down on their failed policies and ideas.”

There are certainly positive merits and attributes to the European experiment of the E.U.  But in my view, the diminishment of the free market and the corresponding destruction of the entrepreneurial mindset in most of Europe (much of it through ‘top-down’ economic policies, banking restrictions, social norms and restrictions, with resultant emigrations to other countries), makes me hope that the response to the economic situation can soon begin to move past the failed policies of austerity. We need to encourage self-sufficiency, reasonable risk taking, and a freer marketplace for entrepreneurial ideas. And non-profits, ministries, NGO’s, many of them based in North American, will likely need to modify some of their policies, procedures, visions and goals as well to adjust to the needs of the people in the countries in which they serve.

It is not too late to take steps to reduce the true and tragic cost of the economic downturn but it will take new levels of collaboration and cooperation that does not presently exist. Friends of Portugal hopes to be a part of this effort towards a new Europe, composed of stronger and more economically vibrant countries, including Portugal. Will you join us in this journey?

'Shocked About Portugal!' By Randy M. Ataide

Who was shocked? Me? Well, not really but many others have been. Leading European blogger Robin Wauters covers technology entrepreneurs and startups worldwide admits in a new blog post that he was ‘shocked’ by significant technology entrepreneurship going on in Portugal. (The link to the blog is posted at the bottom of this page.)Wauters was also shocked at the striking similarities between San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge, pictured above, something that many visitors have shared with him.

 

Does this mean there is some great startup ecosystem alive and well in Portugal? Not hardly. But what blogger Robin Wauters says is that it doesn’t really matter…because “like in most countries and cities around the world, when you look for them you will always find people that just can’t resist the entrepreneurial bug inside them, that build companies even if the circumstances are far less than ideal.” This is indeed good news for Portugal.

But in my experience this sense of ‘shock’ goes far beyond discovering that there are tech entrepreneurs in Lisbon. The majority of people I talk to who visit Portugal frequently tell me that the quality of Portuguese products, including their famous olive oil, wines (not just Port!), linens, ceramics, and overall cuisine is absolutely first rate and often the source of great surprise. Compared to much of the rest of Europe, visitors to Portugal often find excellent bargains in travel any time of year, and the lack of crowds is always a positive thing. From ancient Roman ruins to gothic cathedrals, or quaint fishing villages,  Portugal ranks near the top of giving tourists Europe for a bargain.

Even more importantly than all of these wonderful things, the friendliness, the courtesy and respect shown to all people and backgrounds, the concern for your well being and happiness, is what can ‘shock’ visitors the most in Portugal. Travelers to other European countries often attest to the indifference or even rudeness they can experience, but this is usually not the case in much of Portugal.

 Often a genuine interest is taken in visitors, especially among the young Portuguese, but I have found this to not be limited to youth. (For an example see Drew Lambert's recent post.)

So yes, blogger Robin Wauters, there is indeed much to be ‘shocked’ about in Portugal! And as Wauters noted, “I came back home feeling confident about Portugal’s startup talent and its ability to build great companies even under difficult circumstances, and curious about how the many people I’ve met will fare over the next few years. And in case you’re wondering, the seafood and pastry were indeed amazing.”

Amazing, indeed!

(To read Robin Wauters blog post on Portugal in its entirety, see:

 http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/06/17/i-was-shocked-shocked-to-find-out-there-are-tech-startups-in-portugal/)

Stoked About Portugal! By Drew Lambert

 So stoked right now!  That’s how I felt as I
drove home from the Friends of Portugal (FOP) event at the Ataides’ home in San Diego, CA last Friday night.  And I’m still feeling it!  …FOP is making a significant impact and I am proud to be a little piece of the puzzle that has helped create this wonderful aid organization for the disparaged in the small, crisis-laden country of Portugal.


If I were you, I know I’d be asking myself “Why Portugal?” and “What’s so awesome about the Friends of Portugal?”  Well, this past Fall I was lucky enough to travel to Portugal and France with my MBA program at Point Loma Nazarene University and long story short, I fell in love with Portugal… the people, the food, the history, the culture, the land, and of course the surf!  I think I like Portugal because it reminds me of California in many respects, but the thing that really drew me in is the people.

One of my favorite stories to tell people about how nice the Portuguese are is that of  a little old lady, the sweetest thing I’d seen in a long time (wish I had taken a picture with her) – I just wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home with me.  A couple of my colleagues and I were waiting for our ride to catch up with the rest of the crew outside Loures, and the lady just starts talking and joking with us like we were her long lost grandchildren, chuckling away.  We couldn’t understand a single word she was saying (she didn’t seem to mind), picking up enough through gestures and facial expressions, but we connected and she brightened our day.

The most wonderful part of the trip, however, was the creation of new, meaningful (hopefully lifelong) relationships.  I had the privilege to befriend the Ekks, Jose Arrais-Velez (and family), and others involved in the leadership and support of FOP projects in Portugal.  They’re the kind of people that will clothe you, feed you, shelter you, show you around, and show you a good time.

 John Cosby (PLNU MBA, Entrepreneur) and I, with the guidance and support of our Entrepreneurship professor Randy Ataide and after research and meetings with the Ekks and Velez’s, wrote a strategic business plan for the Massama Project(http://www.friendsofportugal.net/projects.html), the first of many projects to come that combine the skills of young entrepreneurs and MBAs with the hearts of gold and experience of seasoned pastors and missionaries.  It was a unique experience for me and a new experience for these pastors, missionaries, and counselors to apply business principles to their charitable efforts, all too often the fact in nonprofit ventures.  That’s what’s so awesome about the FOP though.  The organization has literally just begun, yet it has already brought together people of very diverse backgrounds to create innovative solutions for charitable projects.  I am so encouraged by the cheerful fortitude and faith of the FOP leaders here in the U.S. and on the ground in Portugal. 

The FOP event I attended only increased my “stoked level” and excitement to be a part of the process.  Witnessing the FOP leaders talk about FOP’s next steps in front of the little crowd in San Diego was inspiring and really got me fired up!  Even more so, it gave me confidence in what they’re doing, the kind of feelings that make you say to yourself, “You know what?  There’s something special going on here in Portugal!"

If Greece Falls will Portugal Follow? Should We Care? By Randy Ataide

There is a widespread belief that the Eurozone crisis has little impact on those of us in North America. It is tempting from a non-European perspective to say that these issues don’t affect us, or that they really are none of our business. Let the Europeans deal with European problems as we have enough trouble of our own, we may say. (Sounds almost like a bible verse!) What possible impact can a collapse in the Spanish real estate market have on us? A devastating Italian earthquake? Greeks withdrawing hundreds of millions of Euros from their banks in a single day? These may be interesting pictures on the news, but not really anything that impacts the issues affecting us in San Diego, Vancouver, or Fresno.

I think this is a mistaken and potentially dangerous impression, created only by our refusal to look deeper into the interrelationships between the rest of the world and our own corner of the world, no matter where that is. Do you have an account at JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America or Citibank, each with huge loans and reinsurances to European investments? Do you attend a university or college that has its endowment invested in Europe? Is your retirement fund invested in global companies such as G.E., Apple or Intel with large European markets or operations? Does your life insurance company have exposure in Europe? Odds are the answer for many of us to these questions is ‘yes.’

There has been much written about the rapidly escalating political, economic and social crisis in Greece in the past weeks, as the country’s populace appears fully prepared to ignore solemn warnings about the implications of rejecting the terms previously negotiated for continued funding of Greek debt. After several years of austerity, many Greeks seem to be content to watch the playing out of an epic game of “chicken”—on the one hand, they minimize the dangers and pain and turmoil awaiting their exit from the European Union and on the other hand they seem to insist that the Union will somehow not let them go their own way apart from the rest of Europe.

What about the rest of the so-called “peripheral nations” of the EU, including Portugal? Would a Greek departure signal a similar course of action for Portugal and Ireland or eventually the much larger nations of Spain or Italy? Should people of other countries even care about this? After all, we have plenty of problems of our own, right?

It is here that the Portuguese national character will likely serve them well. The solutions to these difficult problems that have ensnared both sides of the Atlantic will take significant time to resolve, likely much longer than most are predicting. But to the credit of the Portuguese, I predict that they will survive this massive and deepening crisis. Their national character is patient, contemplative and ordinarily non-volatile, and will likely be a refreshing and sharp counterpoint to others who advocate dramatic, combative and possibly even violent actions. Unlike many others, they are often not as easily swayed by fiery political rhetoric but rather put current difficulties into a much longer view of history and life.

Fado it seems may in this instance assist the Portuguese in the new and very important context of globalization.

Seven Surprises About Portugal By Randy Ataide

I first started visiting Portugal almost ten years ago. Although I am a Portuguese American, I had never had any great desire to visit the land of my grandparents, and thanks to the insistence of a good friend I finally succumbed to an 8 day visit with several other people from the Fresno area. That was a life-changing visit and since then I return frequently, on average at least once per year.

In these trips, I have been surprised by Portugal. What do I mean? I mean that Portugal is full of unexpected encounters, settings, history and of course, people. Here are just a few of them, in descending order:

Surprise #7 – Portugal looks and feels a lot like the Central Coast of California! For those of us who have traveled the area from Santa Barbara to the San Simeon area, and all of the lovely ranching and agricultural areas and coastal towns then Portugal is your ticket! Much of the topography and climate is similar and no likely helped draw many Portuguese immigrants to California.

Surprise #6 – Portugal’s roads and infrastructure are in better shape than the U.S! When people ask me what Portugal is like, I often say “Like California except the roads are far better.” Huge investments in surface streets, highways and bridges make travel around Portugal pretty easy. And yes, they drive on the “right” side of the road!

Surprise #5 – The Portuguese people are friendly and accommodating to visitors! Have you felt like a pariah in Paris, a stranger in Stuttgart or simply lost in London? You need to visit other parts of Europe, more off the beaten track. I have found Portuguese (with only a few exceptions), to be extraordinarily friendly, gracious and amiable hosts.

Surprise #4 – Portuguese are very sincere in their religious beliefs! While it is often easy for we Americans to criticize other culture’s religious practices, through much of Portugal we observe a deep cultural and historical tradition of honor and respect for Christianity. Most towns have charming nativity scenes in public squares for Christmas and there is little effort to “sterilize” personal and public language, culture and history from Christianity, like we see in the U.S. and elsewhere. I really appreciate this about the Portuguese!

Surprise #3 - Don’t practice your Spanish (or ‘Spanglish’) in Portugal! Californians and other residents of the western U.S. often have some form of crude Spanish to employ. We are surrounded by town names, food and influences from Spain and Mexico. But the Portuguese are not Hispanic—properly speaking; they are Lusitanian and proudly separate from the Spanish. They celebrate their victories over the Spanish (war, football, checkers, anything really!), and often prefer you speak English over trying your Spanish on them.

Surprise #2 – Portugal is an incredibly multi-cultural country! If you think you are going to find in Portugal a bunch of monolithic and isolated people, your impression will be shattered. As a former colonial empire, the fragments of their far flung territories has brought millions of Africans, Brazilians, Asians and many others to the country in the past decades. Its proximity and long influence from the Moors of North Africa has further imprinted the southern and central part of the country, providing a unique and curious cultural experience for visitors.

And the number one surprise is Portugal is something all of us in these economically challenging times can really appreciate…

Surprise #1 – Portugal is cheap! I recently talked to friends who returned from two weeks in Italy (off season). He said there was no way to get out of Italy for less than three hundred dollars a day. While getting to Portugal is inevitably an expensive proposition, staying in Portugal (especially outside of Lisbon) for under a hundred dollars a day (for two) is quite easy and allows you to stay, dine and tour well. Are you a student thinking of drabby hostels in Europe? Go to Portugal and find a private home or small hotel to stay in, a café to dine and a charming coffee and pastry house for a few dollars instead!

God Had Other Plans! By Elizabeth Anjos

Armenio was a boat boy…..Elizabeth worked in the office...

At the age of 18, in a very poor and very small fishing village in Sao Jacinto Portugal, Armenio came to know Christ.  His enthusiasm for Christ quickly spread to a number of his friends.This small group of friends grew and became a Bible Club and Armenio began to attend a Bible School in Lisbon, but he didn’t have the funds to continue. An opportunity arose to work in the States and study in the U.S. but there was problem….he didn’t speak English! But God had other plans...

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Connecticut, Elizabeth, at the age of 17, decided to work for the summer before deciding her future. At a Christian summer camp in the U.S., Armenio was a boat boy and Elizabeth worked in the office when met... and soon this young couple knew they wanted to marry, but there was another problem... Elizabeth’s Mother forbid the very mention of Amernio's name! But God had other plans...

As soon as her parents met him, they loved him, and for the next several years Armenio and Elizabeth attended Word of Life Bible Institute, but not always at the same time. Armenio returned to Portugal for work and returned to the U.S. just ten days before their wedding, marrying on May 27, 1983 and a few months later with little more than four suitcases Elizabeth arrived in Portugal, at the age of 19...knowing about 3 words in Portuguese! But God had other plans...

  Armenio led several Bible clubs most weeknights in separate cities and the weekends were even busier, with teens from the local church to travel with him. A generous man from New York gave  the young couple funds for their first car.  One problem…Armenio didn’t know how to drive! BUT…somehow he knew how to shift, so Armenio would tell her when to step on the clutch and he would shift while she steered. But God had other plans...

As a teen, Armenio was a very dedicated long distance runner who had a dream of one day participating in the Olympics, but full time ministry slowed his training and had to give up on his dream.  In 1985 Andre was born in Coimbra in a simple clinic with nurses who were nuns. Josiah followed in1988 and was the exact opposite of Andre, with his thick black hair which stood straight up and olive complexion.  Growing up with Portuguese friends and in Portuguese schools, they learned the Portuguese language very naturally, even though we always spoke English in our home. While his own dreams of running seemed at an end, God had other plans...

In 1988, he received an invitation to participate in the World Congress on Sports just prior to the Seoul Korea Olympics and in 1994, God called us to focus our work on athletes and we joined International Sports Ministries based in Wheaton, IL. Armenio has had the privilege of participating in the Olympics, not as an athlete, but as an official chaplain.  He has also been able to serve as chaplain for the World Championships in Athletics, as well as help out as an assistant coach for professional runners. Clearly, God had other plans...

Almost thirty years later, we live in Porto and Armenio remains active in ministry and Elizabeth is an artisan handcrafting tile inspired jewelry called 'Atrio' (Courtyard in Portuguese), for sale to customers throughout the world. Years ago, someone walked up to Elizabeth and asked "why are you going to waste your life in Portugal?"  Has it been a waste?  Absolutely NOT! It's been a privilege! God had other plans!