Traditional holidays tend to evoke a sense of nostalgia. You remember the loved ones who are no longer with you. You long for the familiar — friends, foods and traditions.…
Over the last several years, we have seen a steady drumbeat of news stories documenting the mass human diaspora that is occurring around the globe. Over five million people have…
We have moved into our new apartment. At long last, we can unpack our luggage and settle into being residents of this city. The apartment is in the heart of…
There are a few milestones in the life of an expat that move you further away from being a “visitor” to being a “resident” of a new country. Examples might…
As I wander through the streets of Lisbon and the coastal towns that follow the Tejo river south toward the sea, I occasionally come across signs like this one: They…
A month into my mini-sabbatical and the idea of rest is percolating across my field of view. It started with a meditation from poet David Whyte: REST is the conversation…
As I have visited various Lisbon apartments and condominiums in search of our next home, one thing that has struck me is the (tiny) size of most kitchens relative to…
One of my favorite things to do in a new country is to visit the grocery store. You can learn a lot about a culture there. The most mundane errand…
Today makes two weeks that I’ve been here, but I’ve been upright for only about half of it. I still have a lingering cough that is manageable as long as…