Another "life: examined" that was exactly on time. I've been thinking so much about the "bloom where you're planted" metaphor lately, and my camera roll has for years been dotted with plants growing in the most unlikely of places...tenaciously persevering, quietly thriving, gently teaching.
I, for one, love the weather-as-baseline discussion. It sets a tone for context, especially for those who are reading this wondering, "Could I one day possibly be sitting in the very place she's writing from?" Been there. :)
And muito obrigada for another brilliant Portuguese-to-English translation and a SMIDGE SIGHTING!
Hiya, Emily! Thanks for being a dedicated reader of, and commenter on, my words--I appreciate your thoughtful reflections. We are blooming, here, aren't we? :) #TeamSmidge
I enjoyed your writing as usual. I think you already know this, but we're in the category of volunteer weeds that really love it here and happy with the new challenges we've found.
Hi Shanna, I enjoyed your post. We've been here almost two years now and have experienced much of what you describe. Before we moved from Indiana, I adopted the mantra "Portugal will teach me patience, Portugal will try my patience". (That inspired by the experience of doing the D7 visa application.) Your words resonated because I realized that tenacity is the flip side of patience. We have to have tenacity to keep going and the patience to push through the rough spots. Thanks for expanding my thinking this morning. Obrigado!
Thank you for this post. Your comments on the language - the humiliating feeling of being reduced to a toddler - spoke to me. We've been here for about seven months now and, overall, it's been a really good experience. We lived nomadically for several years prior to moving, so many of the challenges that other recent immigrants feel - leaving friends and family, finding their way in an unfamiliar place, etc. - were not as difficult for us, but speaking and understanding Portuguese is a daily struggle. Like your little, tenacious weeds, I'll keep working on it, but honestly, it's the one thing that, if I can't get a hold of eventually, will make me want to throw in the towel. I simply cannot imagine living in a place where I am unable to effectively communicate.
Hi Laura. Thank you for reading and commenting on my essay. I understand the language struggle--and all the "shoulds" that run around in my head, chiding me for not speaking Portuguese in any significant way.
BUT, do remember, that communicating is so much more than just verbal language. We use our bodies, eyes, expressions to convey much sentiment and meaning--try not to be too hard on yourself :)
The British are known for talking about the weather, perhaps not much else! When my wife and I travelled Australia and Euorope from Britain in 1991, after being in Oz for 6 months, in Europe we were mistaken for Australian and when a young British couple came in they quitly passed everyone by and found bunks in the corner. Another person present quitly commented, Brts!. Were not all that quite honest, but maybe thats why we start with talking about the weather. We can sum up our weather in one word "changeable" or write tombes about it. Shana Thanks for the write up, love the connection with the weeds! (AKA Local plants).
Very well written. I could totally relate. I left my comfortable life in Toronto 3 decades ago to go and live and work in Paris. It wasn't easy. But now, I'm so happy to be a European citizen. I love Europe.
The Portuguese language is hard to learn, much harder than French, Spanish or Italian. Tenacity and endurance, as you said, is required. Courage too! Good for you.
Thanks for reading my words and for your comment, Juliet--I can't wait to be a Portuguese citizen (first that damn language proficiency...) Enjoy your day!
Hi Shanna, As always, I enjoy your writings and your thoughts on living abroad. It does take courage and tenacity, and my hope is that in time, you have settled into your new surroundings and they have become home. I loved your comment on why you moved - to live outside the comfort zone, all too often we stay in the comfort zone. But life truly happens when we challenge ourselves, as it's in those challenges that we truly grown and develop a deeper understanding of our capabilities. May the rain pass soon and you get the sunshine back. Many thanks for your lovely photos as well. Take care, Erika
Hi Shanna, I meant to comment on your last one about your birthday, Happy Birthday and welcome to the club (the 60 club that is!) My mum has been very ill and we thought we were going to lose her so I've had other things on my mind lately. What did you think of Madrid? I never visited when I was there, I really wanted to visit Barcelona but never got round to that either! Still, that seems such a long, long time ago now! Being the age that I am and mum being very ill and 91 years old!! This has made me re-evaluate so I've decided I have to do more, go out more, visit places and experience as much as I can now before it's too late! You enjoy yourself and live life to the full! Your friend looks very nice, hope you had a great time in Spain! xxx
Are we allowed to reply to other readers' comments? I just wanted to say to Anne Shirley that I was recently in Spain, and I totally recommend Valencia as a fab city to visit. Barcelona and Madrid too, but Madrid is HUGE and Barcelona very touristy.
As for Portugal, I recommend Porto in the summer. Take care.
Definitely allowed to reply to other reader's comments--in fact, I encourage it! We have a lovely community of kind a thoughtful people, here (and I'm happy you are one of them). And Valencia? It's on my upcoming "to visit" list!
Hiya, Anne! So nice to find your comments, as always. And thanks for the birthday wishes. I think it's going to be a great decade! Get out there--don't wait--see and do life the way you want to.
We liked Madrid! I had been there decades ago--but wasn't in love with it at that time. Now, my travel style is much different than my early years. It's slow and go, pick one thing to do or see (that's it) and otherwise enjoy café sitting and coffee sipping, while watching the world go by. :)
And finally, I'm sorry to hear about your mum--it's so hard, these things. We all know our time is limited on this planet, but that doesn't make loss/impending loss any easier. Sending hugs.
I, too, have always admired the tenacity of plants that take root and make a home in the oddest places. Thanks for the lovely photos and essay. Always a welcome treat.
The part about "being reduced to linguistic two-year-olds" is exactly how I felt when I lived in Mexico for a year. The feeling was made worse knowing that I started my life speaking Spanish. I think I could have made it, but family and work brought me home. You were the first person that got me to look toward Portugal when you first left is so many years ago. Now that my kids are grown, I'm considering a year there just to see. Will I have the tenacity to stay? Who knows. But I don't want to keep wondering.
Another "life: examined" that was exactly on time. I've been thinking so much about the "bloom where you're planted" metaphor lately, and my camera roll has for years been dotted with plants growing in the most unlikely of places...tenaciously persevering, quietly thriving, gently teaching.
I, for one, love the weather-as-baseline discussion. It sets a tone for context, especially for those who are reading this wondering, "Could I one day possibly be sitting in the very place she's writing from?" Been there. :)
And muito obrigada for another brilliant Portuguese-to-English translation and a SMIDGE SIGHTING!
Hiya, Emily! Thanks for being a dedicated reader of, and commenter on, my words--I appreciate your thoughtful reflections. We are blooming, here, aren't we? :) #TeamSmidge
I enjoyed your writing as usual. I think you already know this, but we're in the category of volunteer weeds that really love it here and happy with the new challenges we've found.
From one volunteer weed to another... Thanks for reading and commenting, Clyde :)
I aspire to be one of the weeds. We expect to land in Lisbon June 14. 🥳
Oooh, cool! Good times and challenging ones coming your way. And welcome (soon) to Portugal!
Thanks! We like to think we are ready for good and challenges.
Hi Shanna, I enjoyed your post. We've been here almost two years now and have experienced much of what you describe. Before we moved from Indiana, I adopted the mantra "Portugal will teach me patience, Portugal will try my patience". (That inspired by the experience of doing the D7 visa application.) Your words resonated because I realized that tenacity is the flip side of patience. We have to have tenacity to keep going and the patience to push through the rough spots. Thanks for expanding my thinking this morning. Obrigado!
Hi Mike--thanks for reading and commenting. And from one kindred spirit to another: keep going! :)
Always inspiring and a pleasure to read; thank you for your beautiful descriptions and thoughtful suggestions. 😊
Thank you, Pamela, for your comment and for reading my words. I appreciate it (and you)!
Thank you for this post. Your comments on the language - the humiliating feeling of being reduced to a toddler - spoke to me. We've been here for about seven months now and, overall, it's been a really good experience. We lived nomadically for several years prior to moving, so many of the challenges that other recent immigrants feel - leaving friends and family, finding their way in an unfamiliar place, etc. - were not as difficult for us, but speaking and understanding Portuguese is a daily struggle. Like your little, tenacious weeds, I'll keep working on it, but honestly, it's the one thing that, if I can't get a hold of eventually, will make me want to throw in the towel. I simply cannot imagine living in a place where I am unable to effectively communicate.
Hi Laura. Thank you for reading and commenting on my essay. I understand the language struggle--and all the "shoulds" that run around in my head, chiding me for not speaking Portuguese in any significant way.
BUT, do remember, that communicating is so much more than just verbal language. We use our bodies, eyes, expressions to convey much sentiment and meaning--try not to be too hard on yourself :)
The British are known for talking about the weather, perhaps not much else! When my wife and I travelled Australia and Euorope from Britain in 1991, after being in Oz for 6 months, in Europe we were mistaken for Australian and when a young British couple came in they quitly passed everyone by and found bunks in the corner. Another person present quitly commented, Brts!. Were not all that quite honest, but maybe thats why we start with talking about the weather. We can sum up our weather in one word "changeable" or write tombes about it. Shana Thanks for the write up, love the connection with the weeds! (AKA Local plants).
We're all weeds until we find our purpose/use, don't you you think, Pete? Thanks for reading and commenting!
Very well written. I could totally relate. I left my comfortable life in Toronto 3 decades ago to go and live and work in Paris. It wasn't easy. But now, I'm so happy to be a European citizen. I love Europe.
The Portuguese language is hard to learn, much harder than French, Spanish or Italian. Tenacity and endurance, as you said, is required. Courage too! Good for you.
Thanks for reading my words and for your comment, Juliet--I can't wait to be a Portuguese citizen (first that damn language proficiency...) Enjoy your day!
And don't forget ... once you get Portuguese citizenship, you're a bona fide European!!
You can travel, work and live wherever you want within the EU!!
How lucky we are.
Hi Shanna, As always, I enjoy your writings and your thoughts on living abroad. It does take courage and tenacity, and my hope is that in time, you have settled into your new surroundings and they have become home. I loved your comment on why you moved - to live outside the comfort zone, all too often we stay in the comfort zone. But life truly happens when we challenge ourselves, as it's in those challenges that we truly grown and develop a deeper understanding of our capabilities. May the rain pass soon and you get the sunshine back. Many thanks for your lovely photos as well. Take care, Erika
Hi Shanna, I meant to comment on your last one about your birthday, Happy Birthday and welcome to the club (the 60 club that is!) My mum has been very ill and we thought we were going to lose her so I've had other things on my mind lately. What did you think of Madrid? I never visited when I was there, I really wanted to visit Barcelona but never got round to that either! Still, that seems such a long, long time ago now! Being the age that I am and mum being very ill and 91 years old!! This has made me re-evaluate so I've decided I have to do more, go out more, visit places and experience as much as I can now before it's too late! You enjoy yourself and live life to the full! Your friend looks very nice, hope you had a great time in Spain! xxx
Are we allowed to reply to other readers' comments? I just wanted to say to Anne Shirley that I was recently in Spain, and I totally recommend Valencia as a fab city to visit. Barcelona and Madrid too, but Madrid is HUGE and Barcelona very touristy.
As for Portugal, I recommend Porto in the summer. Take care.
Definitely allowed to reply to other reader's comments--in fact, I encourage it! We have a lovely community of kind a thoughtful people, here (and I'm happy you are one of them). And Valencia? It's on my upcoming "to visit" list!
Hiya, Anne! So nice to find your comments, as always. And thanks for the birthday wishes. I think it's going to be a great decade! Get out there--don't wait--see and do life the way you want to.
We liked Madrid! I had been there decades ago--but wasn't in love with it at that time. Now, my travel style is much different than my early years. It's slow and go, pick one thing to do or see (that's it) and otherwise enjoy café sitting and coffee sipping, while watching the world go by. :)
And finally, I'm sorry to hear about your mum--it's so hard, these things. We all know our time is limited on this planet, but that doesn't make loss/impending loss any easier. Sending hugs.
I, too, have always admired the tenacity of plants that take root and make a home in the oddest places. Thanks for the lovely photos and essay. Always a welcome treat.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Christopher. Plants are amazing, aren't they? :)
The part about "being reduced to linguistic two-year-olds" is exactly how I felt when I lived in Mexico for a year. The feeling was made worse knowing that I started my life speaking Spanish. I think I could have made it, but family and work brought me home. You were the first person that got me to look toward Portugal when you first left is so many years ago. Now that my kids are grown, I'm considering a year there just to see. Will I have the tenacity to stay? Who knows. But I don't want to keep wondering.
Beautiful. Just what I needed.
Absolutely. Still searching, or just not seeing what is already present!