Scott and Amy, I'm loving your updates! They have been my go-to summer reads. This last one really resonated with me because I've been thinking a lot lately about community -- who & what mine is, who & what is missing from it, and how I find/build the community I desire. I moved to a new state 4 years ago, but still find it a work in progress to meet friends and create a community. It's coming, but slowly. Anyway, I wish you great friendships in Lisbon! I know you'll meet people who intrigue and delight you, whose company you cherish, and who recognize the wonderful kinship they have in you.
Deliberately choosing paths to create community is so important - we learned that in St. Louis, and here. For us, we followed our interests (at that time board gaming, contra dancing, church, hiking for me) and ended up with wonderful - but very disparate - networks. I hope you are finding good ways to find your people. MeetUp was a good start for us, but only a start. Initially MeetUp seems different here.
Hang in there! It takes time to build community - particularly when it's not in your first language. You two continue to amaze me. We have plans to visit one day. So glad you got time back in the U.S. reconnecting with people, Scott. Amy, I'm glad you are finding your way around more so now and running into some friendly folks. Have you two met "that guy" yet? :)
I bet it will. When we moved into our home in wintertime, it took us much longer to connect yo our neighbors as everyone was hibernating. Iowa nice, my a**! And we even spoke the language....
Reminds me of moving into St. Louis on July 4. (In a heat wave that would not end.) Other than our neighbor who told us how to park in our driveway (she'd already told our real estate agent, so we had indeed ended the 1700 mile trip by backing into our driveway) we saw No One. Crickets. Well, cicadias, actually ;-)
Thanks for the encouragement, Melanie! We have met "that guy" and it was a bit of a disappointment. He did seem to be slightly interested in Josie, though, on a recent walk so maybe there's hope we can build a relationship.
Amy, one of the things we loved best about Portugal is exactly what you encountered. Portuguese people are somewhat reserved and very polite, so they almost never bug, badger or intrude (as encountered in stores, restaurants and sidewalks of other countries.) However, if you ask for help, they bend over backwards.
Scott and Amy, I'm loving your updates! They have been my go-to summer reads. This last one really resonated with me because I've been thinking a lot lately about community -- who & what mine is, who & what is missing from it, and how I find/build the community I desire. I moved to a new state 4 years ago, but still find it a work in progress to meet friends and create a community. It's coming, but slowly. Anyway, I wish you great friendships in Lisbon! I know you'll meet people who intrigue and delight you, whose company you cherish, and who recognize the wonderful kinship they have in you.
Deliberately choosing paths to create community is so important - we learned that in St. Louis, and here. For us, we followed our interests (at that time board gaming, contra dancing, church, hiking for me) and ended up with wonderful - but very disparate - networks. I hope you are finding good ways to find your people. MeetUp was a good start for us, but only a start. Initially MeetUp seems different here.
Thank you, Mandi. May your community grow and flourish as well.
Hang in there! It takes time to build community - particularly when it's not in your first language. You two continue to amaze me. We have plans to visit one day. So glad you got time back in the U.S. reconnecting with people, Scott. Amy, I'm glad you are finding your way around more so now and running into some friendly folks. Have you two met "that guy" yet? :)
So far community is only being found among the expat community. Hopefully that will change as we (s l o w l y) gain fluency.
I bet it will. When we moved into our home in wintertime, it took us much longer to connect yo our neighbors as everyone was hibernating. Iowa nice, my a**! And we even spoke the language....
Reminds me of moving into St. Louis on July 4. (In a heat wave that would not end.) Other than our neighbor who told us how to park in our driveway (she'd already told our real estate agent, so we had indeed ended the 1700 mile trip by backing into our driveway) we saw No One. Crickets. Well, cicadias, actually ;-)
Thanks for the encouragement, Melanie! We have met "that guy" and it was a bit of a disappointment. He did seem to be slightly interested in Josie, though, on a recent walk so maybe there's hope we can build a relationship.
Dogs can be a bridge for sure!
Amy, one of the things we loved best about Portugal is exactly what you encountered. Portuguese people are somewhat reserved and very polite, so they almost never bug, badger or intrude (as encountered in stores, restaurants and sidewalks of other countries.) However, if you ask for help, they bend over backwards.