Hey all!
Enjoyed reading all of the above a lot.
I've moved from the Netherlands to Portugal last October to live with my girlfriend upgrading a three year, long distance relationship. Maybe it's a bit of a head in the clouds thing but after quitting an IT job going nowhere and the wet weather I ended up trying to become a writer (reads: unemployed
) and in far more likable climate. The food is brilliant, the people more relaxed and there is room to spare on the beach. They even sell my deodorant, including my favourite which they practically discontinued up north.
I do miss my favourite brand of peanut butter though, but we’ll drive over next month so there will be a ton of that here soon.
Of course there will be the drawbacks but for now the only worry I have on the horizon is the economy compared to where I come from. But even in that regard I have a Portuguese teacher that has offered to give me a call if there is a need for an English tutor. Something tells me that problem is not insurmountable if I just put in the work.
Of course the dream is to get published and make a decent living being a writer but I’m sure you all know that one.
I have never had any issues with homesickness and started out studying to become a mariner. Maybe better to have one sweetheart in one port though.
Oh, by the way, considering myself amongst the broader minded: Once upon and long ago the Dutch were seen as a very open-minded and tolerant lot. I am dead set on keeping that tradition alive, so, if you happen to come across a bleach blond Dutch politician doing a speech on ground zero on the 11th next month, please ignore him.