Category: Expat
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Magical December Lights: Amsterdam, Paris, and Porto
Wishing you joy and peace. 9:15 AM December 25, 2024 It’s a bright, sunny day with a clear blue sky, at 15/59 degrees, forecast to reach 18/64. Christmas music sets a peaceful mood. The coffee is hot and strong, and a cinnamon roll awaits. In early December I traveled to Amsterdam and Pairs, returning home…
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70 Years. I Made It!
Proud to announce that I turned 70 years young on May 27. I’m amazed. It’s been quite a journey, and I’m grateful for most it. Especially, I’m grateful for my current good health. In my twenties I had a chronic illness that left me exhausted every minute of every day. The effort to do simple…
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Letting Go
The Things We Treasure Also Weigh Us Down. Why are humans so driven to collect stuff? A few animals, like ravens and magpies collect objects. Cats collect their favorite toys. Foxes like to steal shoes and cache them. But humans are in another league. Some of it makes our lives easier and civilized. Much of…
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Yeah, Fall is Here
Wow! So much has happened since I came back from Madrid. Here’s a whirlwind recap. Early October was hot and dry. It felt more like August than October. Finally the rains came, and they have not stopped. Normally we get some nice sunny breaks in between the rain, but those have been scarce. When the…
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It’s Coming
Sunday, September 17, 2023 About 8 days ago, the first leaves skittered down the street. You know that sound: it’s a playful, crackling sound with just a hint of menace. Last week the first perfectly gold leaves appeared on the sidewalk. Today is overcast, with off and on rain showers. The light breezes have escalated…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 2
Have you met people? Have you made some friends? It’s easy to meet fellow expats here. There are multiple Facebook groups sharing information, events, and experiences. I joined a group called International Womens Chat. We exchange information on WhatsApp (the must-have app in Europe, everyone uses it). This is an amazing group, hailing from many…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 1
What do you do all day? I’m asked this question a lot, and I’m a little nonplussed as to how to answer. Did you ever have a busy day, but when someone asked what you did, you couldn’t really say? You just know you were busy. I could tell you about the hours spent going…
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APPROVED
Just as I was publishing the December update earlier this week, an email from the Portuguese Consulate arrived: “We inform that your visa was approved and is now ready to be issued, you can send us your passport by mail so we can stamp the visa and mail it back to you as soon as…
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Chasing the Visa
In exchange for a long-term visa, Portugal requires assurances that I can afford to live there and that I’m not a money launderer or similar undesirable rascal. As with any bureaucratic endeavor, it begins with a form, backed up with extensive proof. All in all, about 50 pages of documentation. I hired a professional from…
Mamie Moves to Portugal 