Thank you for this baker's dozen of your observations! Thank you also for sharing how keeping your cool and persevering through your initial setbacks and challenges helped give your neighbors time to see that you are serious about this property and about being people worth knowing and having as neighbors and friends. Those first 60 days could have made less doughty people never want to talk to anybody, but you kept your eyes on the prize and stayed open to the people around you (and also to all the surprises on your property!). Thank you for the example, and for sharing your stories! For someone who writes horror, I find your calm, thoughtful tone a tonic.
My wife and I immigrated from the US to Portugal in January, and live in a pleasant apartment in Tavira, a small city that we love for its beauty and its vibrant civic life full of music and poetry. We're both introverts, and we're making friends in Tavira about as slowly as we did in the States (ahem). We really appreciate the lively Academia Sénior (we retired early, rapidly approaching our 60s), which is mostly Portuguese speakers. You're so right about taking advantage of all the language learning tools and strategies, and having actual conversations as much as possible. We've been shy about the expat groups, and busy with various tasks settling in, but I know we need to be deliberate about making friends of all kinds and building a social life.
New reader here. I love this post! We moved to Portugal about 15 months ago and I’m in agreement with your point about attitude. I’m so glad your sticky situations have mostly resolved. The people here are kind and relationship ships are important to them. I’ve subscribed so I’m looking forward to more of your writing!
As someone who's pulled up stakes and moved to France, this sounds so familiar and so true. Esp #1, #7, and #8. And that tree full of beautiful chickens. Tellement jolie!
Reading my first 4 of your posts with utter delight and admiration. The chickens are such characters in your stories! I hope Jake wasn't too overwhelmed when he arrived. I too love sprinkling in the French I know as a kind of dual track when I have faltering conversations with townspeople in my local cafes. Growing 'fluency' is continually interrupted by going home to London. I have to start again in grinding first gear when we return.
Thank you for this baker's dozen of your observations! Thank you also for sharing how keeping your cool and persevering through your initial setbacks and challenges helped give your neighbors time to see that you are serious about this property and about being people worth knowing and having as neighbors and friends. Those first 60 days could have made less doughty people never want to talk to anybody, but you kept your eyes on the prize and stayed open to the people around you (and also to all the surprises on your property!). Thank you for the example, and for sharing your stories! For someone who writes horror, I find your calm, thoughtful tone a tonic.
My wife and I immigrated from the US to Portugal in January, and live in a pleasant apartment in Tavira, a small city that we love for its beauty and its vibrant civic life full of music and poetry. We're both introverts, and we're making friends in Tavira about as slowly as we did in the States (ahem). We really appreciate the lively Academia Sénior (we retired early, rapidly approaching our 60s), which is mostly Portuguese speakers. You're so right about taking advantage of all the language learning tools and strategies, and having actual conversations as much as possible. We've been shy about the expat groups, and busy with various tasks settling in, but I know we need to be deliberate about making friends of all kinds and building a social life.
Thanks again for Under the Jacarandas!
New reader here. I love this post! We moved to Portugal about 15 months ago and I’m in agreement with your point about attitude. I’m so glad your sticky situations have mostly resolved. The people here are kind and relationship ships are important to them. I’ve subscribed so I’m looking forward to more of your writing!
I so look forward to reading of your adventures!
I agree with all your wonderful advice. Love the chickens!
As someone who's pulled up stakes and moved to France, this sounds so familiar and so true. Esp #1, #7, and #8. And that tree full of beautiful chickens. Tellement jolie!
Reading my first 4 of your posts with utter delight and admiration. The chickens are such characters in your stories! I hope Jake wasn't too overwhelmed when he arrived. I too love sprinkling in the French I know as a kind of dual track when I have faltering conversations with townspeople in my local cafes. Growing 'fluency' is continually interrupted by going home to London. I have to start again in grinding first gear when we return.