Kato Wake / October 26, 2024
Lessons to Learn!
We moved to Portugal almost 3 years to the day. Time flies when you’re having fun and being challenged! It seems that everyday is a mix of both, and gratitude, a sense of humor, and a willingness to make it work all contributed to saying “no regrets”. To say we’ve learned a lot is a bit of an understatement. Here’s a few top-of-the-head reflections.
1. Change is good! Many people told us how brave we were to move, but we didn’t see it like that. To do something outside the box – like moving to Portugal! – is good for the body, mind and spirit. After all, change is life itself. It was wonderful to purge and bring anything that we had heartstrings to – all packed up in a crate 4 x 4 x 6 feet with the help of friends. Cleaning ‘house’ and letting go was transformational. When our belongings arrived two months later it was like a magical Christmas (and actually was Dec 23).
Things I didn’t pack, but later realized how difficult it would be to find them here (at least for me): big stainless mixing bowl, paint stir sticks, tissue paper, scotch tape in a dispenser, plastic wrap in a box with a cutting blade, tarragon, file folders.
2. Take nothing for granted. Being in a new country, one can’t assume that things will be done like it was in your former life. So every day-to- day transactions often present a new learning curve. Banking, for instance. Visits to a doctor. Exchanging your driver’s licence (that only took a year!). The 24 hour clock. Metric measurements. Ordering food in a restaurant. The list goes on.
3. It takes courage, and infinite patience, to be so vulnerable not knowing the language. DeepL translation on my phone and laptop are always close by. Taking Portuguese lessons is humbling and frustrating, taking very small baby steps. But I’m giving myself the rest of my life so I have nothing to lose. And it feels great to have even the smallest conversations with a local. Feeling so vulnerable has also made me be more aware and empathetic to any person immigrating – regardless of their circumstances.
4. The value of friendship. Billy is my number one and our life is very quiet when there’s no Canadians visiting in the winter! I’ve found it hard to meet friends, and appreciate the few that I do have here. And I miss my dearest who are far away. To meet a friend that you feel a real connection to, is pure sunlight. One of life’s greatest gifts.
5. Everyday is a positive one. There’s so much to be grateful for, so many incredible things to see, eat and drink here! The lifestyle is less commercial – there’s no Amazon, for example – and the cost of living is much cheaper. I’m still amazed at the amount of groceries I can buy for under 50€. A coffee (espresso or café) is under a euro, so it is natural to take breaks in public spaces and savour the moment. As mentioned – no regrets!
TO BE CONTINUED…
