The lessons of the crisis in Portugal

HI,

I was in Portugal early January for a month as my daughter had just moved there with her  husband and my grandchild . I had the opportunity to go either early January or a little later. With it being a very emotional time for my daughter and one of  the hardest decision she ever had to make, she needed the emotional support in moving to a new country... so I went early January...

Had I gone a little later, I could still be there with her now...thus making it easier for the plans we had in preparing my move to Portugal....If only I had known,
I would certainly be a whole lot happier right now.

We have spoken about businesses they wish to open  so that they can sponsor
me, also My CV was handed out whilst I was there.

My plan is to move to Portugal as was intended before lock down, I also know my capabilities, and with my determination and my daughters, it will not be long before I can be with them permanently.

Thank You and Stay Safe

Hello Jacquih for your kind reply,

I hope your projects in Portugal will rise and that success will be at the end of the tunnel



Stay safe and good luck

Regards,

Loïc
Expat.com team

"Did this period lead you to make changes in your lifestyle that you would like to maintain in the future?"

Yes Loic, and @all. It did, to my surprise.

Meanwhile I find it not AS bizarre anymore to wear my mask: when shopping. I don't wear it in the car, like I see here others doing.

As for form of greeting, I always liked the Japanese way more anyway: a bow that pays respect.

And as for hygiene, never in my life have I touched say a bin lid, WC facilities, etc with bare hand. I was educated to use a paper tissue between every item and my hand, and hence I have always sufficient in my pants.

"The right hand stays clean to shake hands, and to eat a fruit etc only ever use the left hand".  Nonetheless, I've always been washing my hands at every opportunity.

Simple rules like that really.

The bow (or similar) I'd love to see to replace that outdated handshake: it means "show me you have no weapons". Gosh, are we in the US here??

That's just MY view. What's yours?

Thank you for your reply ThisIsParadise,

Japanese "Bow"is the most efficient way to greet one another with shaking hands or anything else, it is respectful but not very popular in western cultures.



Wishing you a great day

Regards.

Loïc
Expat.com team

Yeah, well Loic, your gipphie?? admittedly is not a great representation of the bow, you know. This one rather looks bizarre. Like wearing a mask ;-)

I rather meant a standard "nod-type" bow, a simple gesture of respectful greeting. This could replace the outdated handshake.

That what the guy in that thing there does, I find offputting too, lol.
Then I'd prefer Leonardo's way that you posted earlier.
Only problem: I rarely take a bottle with me everywhere....
How about you guys?

Hello Loic,

I am an American who is thinking about moving to Portugal in 5 years for retirement. I do plan to visit soon after things quiet down. I would like to know how are things with people in Lisbon right now with the Pandemic? I guess what I am asking is how is everyone dealing with the crisis. Is there mass outages in public services, etc

I got a link to this, but I am not Loic, no.
bpatter67, End of the month I'll be (back) to Lisbon (too), can't speak about Lisbon now, but can say with certainty: Except for maybe the larger towns (others say?) Portugal is taking it EASY, with the virus too, doesn't affect us much here.
I am currently for example 30km outside Porto, and hardly anyone cares much about that: ONLY in shops, cafes, etc (where it's mandatory) people here wear masks, and all the people I know here talk close up, share car/truck, etc like nothing could be wrong with that. Partly explained by the fact that - so far still - Portugal has very low numbers of infections, compared to pretty much any other country.

There's no need to think you "have to" move to Lisbon, anyway. Portugal is truly AS VARIED AS THE LARGE USA (I know both of course, yes). Portugal has so much to offer, outside Lisbon and Porto too, indeed. Do your research, and travel a month the country before you decide on any location. That's my advice to anyone. You'll be glad you did.