Photo of Author in a Christmas-y picture frame

My Second Anniversary in Portugal

I’m Acclimating! Tuesday marked my second anniversary in Portugal. It has been two years of learning and getting accustomed to not knowing things and being okay with that. Moving to a new country—especially when you don’t speak the language—is humbling to say the least. But it’s also stimulating, fun, surprising, and without a doubt, the…

Row of crypts in Tavira's Municipal Cemetary

What If I Die Overseas?

The death of three friends—all younger than I—in the past two months has me wondering what will happen if I die overseas. It’s kind of a morbid thought (kind of, Barbara?) but one that I need to address, probably sooner than later. Normally when someone dies, their family takes care of all the arrangements. My…

Light showing through wood slats

Navigating Blind

When you emigrate to a new country, you’re navigating blind. There are so many more unknowns than knowns. And the second hardest lesson you have to learn is you have no idea what you don’t know. That’s partly because of the sheer volume of unknowns from tiny details to BIG IMPORTANT THINGS! and because they…

Night Walks

One of the luxuries of living in a safe place is that you can walk at any hour without worrying about being attacked. That is no small thing for a woman who grew up most anywhere in the US. I walk home after my Portuguese classes. It’s not very late—around 7:30—and the walk takes about…