Portuguese Love

It felt like the moment I first landed in Portugal in 2020, Teena Marie’s “Portuguese Love” started playing in my mind. What a fitting tune to be the soundtrack to my life here in Portugal as my love for this country just grows deeper by the day. I immediately felt a sense of home. The people were so warm and welcoming. The cuisine fresh, delicious, and distinctly reminiscent of American soul food. The architecture exquisite and the history fascinating. There was no doubt that this is where I was meant to be.

At the end of that trip, I didn’t want to leave. My family and I happened to be here when the pandemic hit and the country shut down. I found myself hoping that we would be stuck in Portugal. Alas, we were able to fly back to the States. As soon as I returned to the U.S., I immediately began packing. I had no idea of how the visa process worked, where the money would come from, or if it was rationale. I just knew I had to begin to move as if my relocation to Portugal was inevitable and the road would rise up to meet me. Indeed, it did. I was able to successfully navigate the visa process for myself and other family members/friends. It took 2.5 years to make my vision a reality but in 2022, I found my home in Portugal, secured a lease and began my formal move process. The period between that first visit in 2020 and making the dream a full-time reality in 2023 was marked by my intense feeling of saudade – a feeling of deep longing. I coped by watching countless videos about Portugal on YouTube and visiting every year before making the move. Those visits helped me to build a loving community full of Portuguese and fellow immigrant friends who encouraged me, educated me and welcomed me home upon my arrival.

Now that I am blessed to live here, much of my joy comes from sharing my love of Portugal with others, whether they are looking to move abroad or simply visit this wondrous country. This blog is my way to document my experiences of living in this country that has given so much to me. Come along with me as I discover new cities and quaint villages, attend festa after festa, eat amazing cuisine, and most importantly, build a life filled with Portuguese and fellow expat friends alike. Courage, culture, community. It’s all here. Subscribe so we can take this journey together.