Thursday I had coffee with –oh my gosh, seriously—the loveliest couple who have just arrived from the States. (And I’m not just saying that because they brought me coffee and candy.) We have been corresponding via Facebook messenger for months. They are originally from Columbia, lived in the States for decades and were last in…
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It’s a rainy day here in The Algarve and it promises to be a rainy several days. There’s a storm system off-shore that is doing its best to come onshore. My tranquil little channel has whitecaps. There’s a shutter banging next door. Winds are coming in at about 50 mph with gusts up to 60.…
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Adjusting to the expat life in Portugal happens gradually and then… just like that. I have very much settled into my expat life in Portugal. I have my residency permit, I have my health insurance and my doctor, I have a long term apartment. I have decided to forego a car for another year or…
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Some foods are hard to find in Portugal. Blinding newsflash: That’s because it’s a different country with its own culture and its own products. Fair Warning: The bagels from the Costco in Seville are basically bread in the shape of bagels. #disappointed You might be surprised at the things you can find here. Oreo cookies…
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The idea of making that big leap—a move to a new country—is exciting and shiny and full of possibilities. Many of us yearn for adventure—or at least daydream about leaving our humdrum life behind and starting over in a new place. (Usually with a new wardrobe, slimmed down figure, fewer wrinkles, and more money—hey, it’s…
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Can Values be Physical? There’s a gull screeching—he seems more angry than mournful. A noisy flock of sparrows swoops onto the empty restaurant deck below, hunting for crumbs left behind by yesterday’s diners. My daily walk includes magpies and herons and I think a couple of cormorants. In spite of spending two years working on…
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Here’s What You DO have to be You don’t have to be brave to move abroad. (Okay, maybe a little.) There are other traits that you need much more than courage if you’re going to make the leap to living overseas. As it turns out, the better you are at these, the less courage you…
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First world problems in a first world country I am amazed by the people who move to another country (or even another state in the US) and then spend their time complaining that “That’s not the way we do it back home!” No kidding. You ain’t in Kansas anymore, Scooter. I fully expected things to…
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My morning routine — coffee, figure out my day. The croissant is long gone. I am frequently asked how I spend a typical day as a working expat. It’s the second most frequently asked question after how much I spend on groceries. I’m a single person who doesn’t like to cook. My grocery bill will…
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When you discover you need some cover(s). I am book naked. I have so few books here with me in Portugal that it’s embarrassing. Image Credit: John Richardson I moved with one large and one small suitcase, plus my computer bag and a Nantucket bag, which held the stuff I accumulated during my week long…
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