Expat Exchange

This site is colorful and has the framework to hold lots of information about relocating to countries all over the world. Unfortunately when I took a look at the "Moving & Relocating" section on the "Portugal Network" page it was empty.

In addition to having lots of pictures and a good foundational framework it seems that if you have information that you want to share you can add it to the site. For example if you have something to sell or you have job to offer someone or if you are looking for a place to rent or for employment, etc.

Bardia let me know that the "post-to-the-future" feature was no longer working. Too bad. Anyway I will be moving this blog to private hosting and it will be on a Word Press platform so there I can actually upload posts and schedule their actual publication. Okay, now that I've posted for 12, 14, 16, I'll work myself backwards to 10, 8, 4. 6 looks like it was already done. ;)

Disillusionment & Hope

Today I was looking for the experience of expats in Portugal and came across the blog of a young man, self described as male and very young. He's from Iowa. Here is an excerpt of what he wrote.

His blog titled Richochet presents a post called "Fooled by Stone" dated May 15 2007. I wonder if he is traveling now.

He writes:

I came to the TAGV (Teatro Academico Gil Vilcente) with the intent of studying, but that quickly faded. [...} In spite of how frustrated i let myself become here at times, academically and socially and with my still constant tendencies of self destruction...I still feel as though I could come straight back in the fall after an Iowa break if I had the funds.

So the dreamy plan that has been paying throughout my mind is to finish the music degree at uni, work at year at jobs and music in des moines as I live with my parents, then return to Portugal... either enrolling in language courses at a Lisboa University, or at a jazz program also within that city. I only have three actual Portuguese friends here, the connections with all never blossoming like I dreamed before...but I still have a handful of contacts, and I will be a few years older and wiser, perhaps better apt for expat wandering and a fresh displacement. There's something about this country that I enjoy even though I'm never completely comfortable, and even though I have no striking interests in the smaller towns.

What might YOU do in his position? What would you like to THINK that you would do? Please visit his site and read the post in its entirety in the context of his blog.

Photograph by Jennifer

Expat Life in Portugal

This photo comes form shared photos at Flickr. For some reason exporting it directly from there to here was not possible so I'll be crediting the photographer in this post shortly.
In May I was busy elsewhere however this month of June I will be posting here regularly in the present there future and the past.
Blogger has a nifty feature that allows publication into the future. Check my "how to MMOL" site on Friday. I'll be publishing instructions with screen shots of how o publish into the future. I found a lovely site which I think is worth checking out. I will be linking it to my side bar at Leave America.

Do enjoy these articles from Shelter Offshore: Living Abroad

Should You Retire to Portugal?

Living in Portugal with Children

Living Life in Rural Portugal

What’s it Like Living in Lisbon, Portugal?

Summer Jobs in Portugal

Living in Madeira Portugal

Working in Portugal

Cost of Living in Portugal

Education System in Portugal

Health Care in Portugal

Moving to Portugal

Guide to Portugal

Expatriates in (and out) of Portugal

Going Around
Originally uploaded by mrita.

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