Seriously, I think I have a better chance of flying to the moon than having any meaningful conversation in Portuguese. If I manage to find the right words to ask a question, I rarely understand the reply. When people talk to me, my brain empties and my mind goes blank, leaving me staring at them... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you it's been a long week with hardly a moment to catch my breath! I don't know about you, but for me, some weeks drag as one day slowly melds into the next, and while I set out with good intentions that a quiet week at home should... Continue Reading →
Do you ever put things away in a safe place and then can't remember where you've put them? A few weeks ago, our family came to stay. The grandkids use my studio/office as a bedroom, so I cleared my desk and put everything away, neat and tidy, including all my Portuguese notes and homework. Two... Continue Reading →
WooHoo! I am doing a happy dance. I have just had a complex conversation (perhaps a slight hyperbole) in Portuguese on the phone with an extremely patient and kind lady from the doctor's office. The purpose of her call was to schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor to discuss the results from blood work,... Continue Reading →
It's been a strange week. Monday saw another trip to Faro, this time to see a dermatologist who was amazed I'd travelled so far for an appointment. I am not keen on Faro, or at least the part we needed. It is dirty, busy, noisy, and parking is hell. But if we lived there, I'm... Continue Reading →
I've toyed with the idea of picking up the 'I must 'Learn Portuguese' lesson' baton I dropped many years ago for a while. When I try to speak Portuguese in shops and restaurants, my efforts are so hopeless that I am encouraged to communicate in English. For example I recently asked a waitress for 'uma... Continue Reading →
Learn the “Lingo” or live life in an “Expat Bubble”!
I am a great advocate of the fact that when you move to a new country you ‘attempt’ to gain, at the very least, a basic understanding of both language and culture. Without this ‘basic’ knowledge so much of everyday life and cultural opportunities are lost, and you effectively live a parallel existence in your new environment; there in body but not quite in mind. You still watch English TV, read English Newspapers and mainly interact with your fellow compatriots or those who speak English.
I accept, everyone is not a natural linguist and I certainly do not fall into that category – far from it! Despite years of studying Portuguese very little has permeated the grey matter and words just float aimlessly in my memory in disjointed sentences. However, on a positive note, I now often read a Portuguese…
Moving to a country where English is not the first language definitely has its disadvantages if you are not a natural linguist. Some people are fortunate to learn a language purely by osmosis, but not me - I have the retentive memory of a gnat. In the past I’ve spent a small fortune on Portuguese... Continue Reading →
Learn the “Lingo” or live life in an “Expat Bubble”! I am a great advocate of the fact that when you move to a new country you ‘attempt’ to gain, at the very least, a basic understanding of both language and culture. Without this 'basic' knowledge so much of everyday life and cultural opportunities are... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 