Part 2: So, how do you like living in Portugal?

Last week I wrote about being a foreigner, adapting to new places, and embracing differences. As promised, here I will address some ways we adapt to the differences and difficulties.  (I am not complaining!)

Groceries

Every American immigrant I know here has spent far more time in local grocery stores than they wish. In our former lives, we could shop at one supermarket for almost everything. Here our town has only 20,000 residents, yet there are five (!) supermarkets, four or more smaller grocers, and a large traditional farmers’ market. Yet we must search at least several stores each week to find all recipe ingredients or menu items. And because food in Europe has few, or no, preservatives (healthy!), our refrigerators frequently need restocking.

Most American immigrants can share a few laughs about buying something that turned out to be something else entirely.  Labels can be tricky. Oh, and the print is usually teensy. The brand could be obvious (“Pantene”) but the contents obscured by descriptors. “Fresh and Clean” does not tell me if it is shampoo or conditioner.

Brownies in cardboard I recently tried a boxed brownie mix which included a folded cardboard tray to use as a baking pan. Instructions were in metric. No problem, I can convert. But “set oven to medium temperature” baffled me. Instructions call for grams of flour, sugar, noodles, etc. I need to get a kitchen scale.

Telephone

A request:  For the coming week, please send compassion to immigrants around the world every time you use your phone to schedule an appointment, ask a question, or solve a problem. Without fluency, we cannot understand what others say on the phone! I have listened to phone menus multiple times before just giving up. It is easier to drive to the office, stand in line, and struggle through language difficulties in person.

Health Care

It is daunting to schedule a health care appointment. Our privileged adaptation was to contract with a multilingual service that schedules our appointments with providers who accept our insurance, which has spared me many tears of frustration.

Haircuts

Finding a favorite hairdresser in any new community can involve a bit of trial-and-error. Tim just walks into a barbershop and takes his chances. I waited over a year before my first haicut. I admit, these are not very creative adaptations.

Car care

One of our early challenges was finding a gas station that sold diesel, the most common fuel in Europe.  After driving by an embarrassing number of pumps selling only “gasóleo,” we eventually learned that it means “diesel,” not gasoline.

We fumbled with the headlights a LOT before understanding enough Portuguese to decipher that section of the manual – a challenge in any language.

In our town you don't schedule car service. You arrive early in the morning, wait in line, and return when they message you that your car is ready later that day or later in the week.

Cobblestone sidewalks

The cobblestone streets and sidewalks are beautiful and enduring. And they can also be treacherous, confirmed by several friends with consequent surgeries. We wear sturdy walking shoes, and the “cute shoes” gather dust in the back of the closet. Portuguese women favor ténis with their dresses.

Eating out

We never dine out for breakfast because menu options consist of a small cup of coffee and a sweetroll or toast. No eggs or protein available. Lunch is served from noon to 2:00. Then restaurants close until dinner. We are usually the first dinner customers when doors open at 7:30. Portuguese diners arrive around 8:30 or 9:00 pm.

Ruins

I wrote earlier about collapsing buildings next to beautiful homes and modern structures. It takes some getting used to. It is lamentable, especially with the shortage of housing in this country.

Humidity

Older homes lack proper insulation, and many residents struggle with significant mold problems during winter months, especially near the coast. Our rental house is a new build with good insulation.  We bought a portable dehumidifier and leave all closets open if we are away for more than a few days.

Bureaucracy

Three words about the immigration bureaucracy of Portugal: complex, inefficient, and inconsistent. I wrote previously about our long wait and the agony 141 days of uncertainty of our immigration process.  I admire every immigrant to this country for their patience and endurance.

Driving and Parking in Portugal:  I will save this for a future post.

Next up: a Halloween Wedding.

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Love from Tim and Penelope