"The no is a yes to me"
By age 21, hopes to recover his sight after an operation. Fruitless! Always determined, he continues to displease him because she is 'dressed up' in a village. Then moved to Porto, home of some friends of his parents. Starts attending the School of Braille, paying her own course.
Aged 24, makes the 3 rd and 4 th classes and learn, particularly solfege. New difficulties are overcome. Is finally admitted to the Conservatory of Music of Puerto who attends for three years.
Later, opens in Lisbon 'School Sain, at the initiative of a poor Romanian who considers the conditions under which the blind live in Portugal. This is where you learn more deeply Braille, activities of daily living and mobility. In the latter, is at first difficult. However, after three months, with the help of a teacher who refuses to accept your fear, begins to walk alone on city streets. Since then no longer be afraid. "When you want, you can. Crossing your arms, sit on a sofa is distressing. Affect the intellectual part, being with others. You do not learn geography with his feet on the ground. "
Life goes on warrior. At 27, she has a chance to work as a telephone operator in "Ports of Douro and Leixoes' in Porto. However, he discovers that the blind in Portugal can not, by law, work on the Civil Service. Without being 'embarrass' wins over this adversity. "I was the first public official in the port and a blind of the first in Portugal," he says.
Despite having a job can find time to continue studying in their principal objective. Thus ends the evening, the 7th year of high school.
At 32, he returned to Lisbon. Is chosen to take a crash course in special education for the blind, the first held in Brazil is the only blind from 34 colleagues, all teachers. "They studied for greasy and books. I had no stuff, just heard ".
At the end of the 1st year, by agreement between the Ministry of Communications and Education, is released from her job as a telephonist. That way, you can complete the course with the best experience. Moreover, it begins to receive the salary as a teacher.
"Here comes the light of the blind"
Graduation, is placed in a School of Special Education for blind children in Porto. A pilot project in education and rehabilitation in this area. Always innovative, uses the typing. The other blind write in Braille. Transfer so your students what he learned in the course of specialization.
The trip continues to struggle. At 37 years, called on to teach at the School of Rehabilitation Areosa on the outskirts of Porto. An institution created for the rehabilitation of the late blind, innovative initiative that still exists. With emotion, recalls the many memories left by his disciples. "It was and it is gratifying that some of them followed his college career. In my classes never said I'm not able. Never created a tough environment. I wanted to give students encouragement to live. One of my great joys was when, upon opening the room door, I heard a student say: Here comes the light of the blind. "
Remains at the school until retiring. Eternally restless soul, once again does not cross your arms. In practice today Senior University creative dance, yoga, choral group, history, computer science. And still has time to help others.
The reform as a teacher allows him to achieve another dream. The travel. "For me, travel is not just seeing sights and monuments. The most important thing is human contact, the discovery of other cultures, "stresses.
Maria Sameiro Alvaro donation is blowing. Audacity. Inspiration. And strength. As she finishes off: "The human being it must be crushed by a society that does not understand."
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"The key is to look at the difference with naturalness "
One of the biggest challenges that faced the street was to be seen as different. "When I was younger, people were not used to seeing the blind to walk alone on the streets" he says. He continues: "One day, without realizing it, I drop my stick on the bus. A man appears at the output port and asks - who lost a bunch of pipes? For him, a blind man's cane was closed a bunch of pipes. "
Another situation that recalls fun, it moved in Matosinhos, while in a queue waiting to enter the bus. "Suddenly, someone says, Let in this girl who is blind boys. Immediately, two women cry, little blind girl? This? This is only blind eye ... "
Maria Sameiro Alvaro emphasizes that in everything there is a difference. "In things. In humans. But the key is to look at the difference with ease. "
