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. You seek a sense of home and belonging. As we head into our first holiday season away from “home,” we find ourselves navigating questions of tradition, […]
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 fled civil-war torn Syria, creating one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. An estimated seven thousand-strong “caravan” is making its way north from
Expats, Immigrants and Refugees Read More »
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 old Lisbon, in one of the oldest neighborhoods. The neighborhood was established around 1559. We are within stumbling distance of a dizzying array of restaurants,
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 include opening a local bank account, seeing a new physician, or getting a local driver’s license. High on the list is finding a new hairdresser.
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 are pointing the way for two pilgrimage routes, one on the well-known Caminho (or, in Spanish, Camino) de Santiago and the other to Fátima. The
Journeys, Road Trips, Treks and Pilgrimages Read More »
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 a typical U.S. kitchen. It seems that kitchens here are merely an afterthought. One kitchen in a completely remodeled apartment — everything completely brand new
My Minimalist Kitchen Read More »
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 becomes an anthropological study. We have visited a variety of types of grocery stores, from the corner green grocer to the big, bustling supermarket. Even
Grocery Store Field Trip Read More »
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 I stay hydrated. Despite the generous use of 50 SPF sunscreen every day, I’m getting a nice toasty tan. The slightly humid weather is fabulous
After 12 weeks of manic purging, organizing and cleaning, the house is finally empty. We have lived here for 17 years, longer than anywhere I have ever lived in my life. I have reflected in earlier posts about the process of evaluating each possession and trying to ascertain some insights along the way. This was
Your Stuff = Your Values Read More »
