Little Portugal-experience

Northerners are known for their efficiency. Well-organized societies where well-organized people live in well-organized houses and work in well-organized companies. Well, yeah, there are also things that need improvement, of course, but generally speaking, it’s a go-go-go mentality.

People with Portugal-experience know it’s a bit different here

Don’t get me wrong, everything is well-organized in Portugal too! The cultural difference isn’t huge, but it’s definitely there. Very subtle. And that has to do with, for example, holidaymakers who sigh that it’s so relaxed here. Yes, true. Very relaxed sometimes.

Now, hopefully, you’re especially relaxed yourself when you’re on holiday, so that helps a lot, but the average encounter with a Portuguese person is usually very relaxed. Most people don’t seem to be in a hurry. Traffic, at least here in the rural areas, is also relaxed. You get priority, a wave if you’ve waited a while, or a big smile.

That’s one Portugal-experience

You only realize how much influence that has on your daily life when you know the difference. A raised middle finger is a rarity. I suddenly saw it happening a year ago, in traffic, and I’m still talking about it. Go figure.

Even in shops, you hear very little whining and complaining when you have to wait in line at the checkout. Or when you’re asked (for the umpteenth time) to wait a moment. Or to come back tomorrow. It seems like everyone is incredibly patient. And yes, we are, actually. You’ll learn that of course. (Or not – and then better go elsewhere … ) Probably the first word every Portuguese baby learns isn’t mãe or pai, but patiência.

Efficiency isn’t in the Portuguese dictionary. The very first time I sat on a terrace on a prime location in Porto, the only waiter shuffled in or out with one cup or glass at a time. Looking back, I think that was a very typical event. It’s a different way of life—I’m not judging, and I know I’ve lived here happily for 25 years now. The flip side of the coin is simply a part of life too.

Now, of course, things are changing because of the internet; online stores, online orders, and instantly accessible information via AI. That’s happening just as fast here.

Anyone with an uncontrollable dopamine rush can get instant satisfaction in Portugal too. But in everyday life, things often move a bit slower, and you need your patiência a bit more. Especially if, like the main character in the previous blog post, you’re planning to renovate a ruin. Then you need permissions and things from officials and various professionals.

With that comes a lot of opportunities to gain a lot of Portugal-experience

Now I’m really curious about the Portugal-experiences of my fellow emigrants and former compatriots. Is it the same in the Netherlands? Does it make any difference: England, Germany, France, Portugal? Other Portuguese people, what are your experiences?

Leave a comment; it’s very informative for those wanting to realize dreams!

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(Disclaimer: I’m a bit tired of the keyword stuff and Google’s dictatorship. So here they are, and I’m also hoping for the cleverness of AI in this matter that it will still be found and read, but that I don’t have to force myself to use the right terms in the title and headings.#Portugal #dreams #turtle )

We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal. We started to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa.You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.Since Covid we rent the houses for a longer period of time, not as holiday houses anymore.

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.

In the weekend we publish it on Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.