Thank you for sharing the lows along with the highs of your experience. Personally, I think 6 weeks is a blip and you are so smart to say we’ll revisit issues in 6 months. Good luck!
Such a smart decision to put off until February the whole 'revisiting the decision' conversation. Just in the same way that most unhappy-at-arrival college freshmen are "at their perfect college by Halloween", you are likely to be very settled in by February. In the meantime, don't be too hard on yourself about hanging out with English speakers. There is a lot of unfamiliarity going on..... making some good friends without the language struggle might ease the transition a bit. There is plenty of time to work on the language. You're retired!
It makes total sense that there is a little bit of "what have we done?" happening at six weeks. It's not a vacation, it's not really home yet either. Having lived abroad a couple of times, I remember that phase. But it will get better! You are being so thoughtful and intentional, and will gain so much no matter how long you end up staying. You've got this!
The way people talk about Lisbon prices, I am not entirely sure it is much more here. The average is probably higher because there are crazy high-end properties here (there is a house currently listed to rent for 30,000 euro per month!!), but there are also MUCH more modest places like ours. But I did really mean any of the great towns within easy driving distance of the Lisbon Airport, assuming that access is important to you like it was to us. Either way I wish you the best in figuring it out, and the offer stands to show you guys around Cascais if you care to visit (whether as a prospective place to live or just a beach/sight-seeing day). This move is no small endeavor!
I don't think I realized you had never been to Portugal. Had you been to Europe before? It is quite an adjustment... Things are definitely different here, but often in subtle ways that don't seem like much, yet add up to create a constant background level of stress/exhaustion.
Also, you're probably already cognizant of this, but maybe part of your adjustment has to do with Big City life? You mention the late-night culture, but we do not experience that here where we are; it's certainly available, just a few minutes walk away even, but at night the streets around us are quiet. You have the occasional loud motorcycle or the like... but mostly it's just the calling of seagulls that we hear at night. It is quite serene here most of the time. Maybe you would be happier in a town outside of Lisbon. We would be happy to entertain you in Cascais if you care to visit some time! :)
Thank you for sharing the lows along with the highs of your experience. Personally, I think 6 weeks is a blip and you are so smart to say we’ll revisit issues in 6 months. Good luck!
Such a smart decision to put off until February the whole 'revisiting the decision' conversation. Just in the same way that most unhappy-at-arrival college freshmen are "at their perfect college by Halloween", you are likely to be very settled in by February. In the meantime, don't be too hard on yourself about hanging out with English speakers. There is a lot of unfamiliarity going on..... making some good friends without the language struggle might ease the transition a bit. There is plenty of time to work on the language. You're retired!
It makes total sense that there is a little bit of "what have we done?" happening at six weeks. It's not a vacation, it's not really home yet either. Having lived abroad a couple of times, I remember that phase. But it will get better! You are being so thoughtful and intentional, and will gain so much no matter how long you end up staying. You've got this!
The way people talk about Lisbon prices, I am not entirely sure it is much more here. The average is probably higher because there are crazy high-end properties here (there is a house currently listed to rent for 30,000 euro per month!!), but there are also MUCH more modest places like ours. But I did really mean any of the great towns within easy driving distance of the Lisbon Airport, assuming that access is important to you like it was to us. Either way I wish you the best in figuring it out, and the offer stands to show you guys around Cascais if you care to visit (whether as a prospective place to live or just a beach/sight-seeing day). This move is no small endeavor!
I don't think I realized you had never been to Portugal. Had you been to Europe before? It is quite an adjustment... Things are definitely different here, but often in subtle ways that don't seem like much, yet add up to create a constant background level of stress/exhaustion.
Also, you're probably already cognizant of this, but maybe part of your adjustment has to do with Big City life? You mention the late-night culture, but we do not experience that here where we are; it's certainly available, just a few minutes walk away even, but at night the streets around us are quiet. You have the occasional loud motorcycle or the like... but mostly it's just the calling of seagulls that we hear at night. It is quite serene here most of the time. Maybe you would be happier in a town outside of Lisbon. We would be happy to entertain you in Cascais if you care to visit some time! :)