What every parent knows: your children only stay with you for a limited time. What every emigrated parent knows: when they return to the old mother country – for whatever reason – you can’t just drop by for a cup of coffee and a chat.

For emigrants, it’s mainly digital contact

It’s a blessing that it’s possible. A quick app, maybe a more extensive video call, but there’s really nothing like seeing and speaking to each other in real life. In person for a bit longer than those few hours of facetiming or calling – there’s nothing like it. You notice again what someone is really like, how they feel, how they smell. And how well they can cook.

This year started very well with the ten-day visit of eldest son Fausto. Born in Rotterdam, raised in Termas-da-Azenha, and moved back to the Netherlands at the age of twenty. Initially for a study, and then stayed because in the Netherlands you simply have more opportunities to set up a company and earn a nice income.

In that respect, it is a lot less easy in Portugal, especially here in the rural areas. If you do not run your own shop or business here, it is not easy to find a job. That is why all classmates from high school have left, to Lisbon or Porto, or to some other foreign country.

“In the last year of high school, all the boys were discussing what was best: France, England or Luxembourg,” says Fausto during one of our pleasant dinners. Luxembourg is a popular destination for portuguese people – a quarter of the population is originally portuguese.

A great many portuguese emigrants in Luxembourg

“Only Guillerme is still here, that is to say in Soure, but everyone else has left. It is partly a brain drain, partly a craft drain – how you say that, well-trained welders, mechanics and such also all leave to earn much more elsewhere,” says Fausto. Brother Broes: “But with the introduction of all those remote workers, it has become a bit easier, you know. You can now just start a business online, sometimes even in a day. Unheard of.”

“Certainly!” I agree with him, “A lot has changed in all those years in terms of bureaucracy and technology…” but I don’t get the chance to continue, because both sons start sighing loudly and shouting and laughing that they already know that it took 7 years for the licences to be in order … that you have to collect a ridiculous amount of reports and stamps … and that the pinnacle was the acoustic report that was most likely immediately thrown in a drawer after submission and never looked at again …

Yes indeed, here we are again. As if we’re back 15 years. I’m thoroughly enjoying that good old “the three of us” feeling.

It’s already over, yesterday he flew back home. To his home. We’re here at home. All three of us at home in two countries.

Also a feeling all emigrants know

Apparently Father Time didn’t make any good resolutions, because time’s still flying just as fast as it did last year.

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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, Holland to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.

A big step, especially with two small children.

We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.

You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.

Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.

Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation

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