On a Monday afternoon in Aveiro, two young girls sit on a city bench overlooking the river that runs through what some tourism bureaus might call “the Venice of Portugal.” As cars pass back and forth in front of the tiled sidewalks, they exchange looks and laughter.

 

Soraia Pimentel Lopes, 21, sits on the back of the bench with her feet up on the seat, exposing her kneecaps through her beige ripped jeans.  Her electric blue jacket pops in the monochromatic cloudy weather.

 

Cristiana Rosa, 18, timidly sits to Soraia’s right in an oversized grey sweater.  While both Cristiana and Soraia grew up in Aveiro, having met in school, Soraia has since relocated to Porto while Cristiana has stayed behind.  The former classmates have remained friends since Soraia left for university.

 

“It was like my dream city,” Soraia says of Porto.  “The work and school, they are better there. We have some better schools here [in Aveiro], but it’s so small, and in Porto, you have more chances to grow.”

 

Between thoughts, Soraia’s shell necklace is eclipsed by her lighting a cigarette, blowing her smoke to the wind along with her cares.

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Soraia’s move to her dream city was in order to further pursue her own dream – becoming a writer and photographer.

 

“It’s like a second love,” she says.  “You have like, a love of your life, like a person, but to me it’s photography and writing.

 

While Porto may be her dream city, in Soraia’s eyes, to keep pursuing her second love, she may have to leave it – and leave Portugal entirely.

 

“There’s no chance to do [writing or photography] here in Portugal,” she says with a sly smile. “It’s really complicated...if you even want to be a musician in Portugal, it’s really complicated.”

 

It’s not just an economic problem that prevents Soraia from following her dreams, she says; it’s an issue of reputation.  

 

“People don’t see Portugal, as much as like...just a touristic point. At least, uh...only fado, fado is known globally.” Fado is a Portuguese genre of music characterized by melodramatic lyrics and a mournful tone of voice.  

 

“The rest [aside from fado] is like...who are you? Oh! The Spanish people!” she says through laughter.

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While Soraia tells of her goals and dreams between cigarette puffs, Cristiana sits quietly by her side.

 

“You’re like, ‘I’m so shy!’” Soraia says to Cristiana, imitating her friend’s reserved posture.  “She’s better at writing than speaking [English].”

 

The two began studying English during primary school, at the age of 6.

 

“We learn English since we are young,” Soraia says.  “There’s a place near here where you can get coffee, there are a lot of teenagers there who can speak it.”

 

Equipped with knowledge of the English language, Soraia intends to leave Portugal after university if she can. Similar to her departure from Aveiro, she sees more opportunities to follow her dreams if she moves abroad.

 

“I was thinking I’d move to Canada or France, so… because of the money,” she says.  “I have more chances to be a writer and a photographer there.”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD0bdpDB0z0

(Video edited by Will Gorman)