Saudades

The Portuguese have a word that is said to have no direct translation in the English language. This word, "saudade", is often used to describe a deep longing for something that once was. It originated from the time when men went out to sea (many of whom died and never returned), and the wives left behind had these feelings that went beyond simply missing their husbands.

I can say that outside of a few cultural things that still bogle us, we have adjusted quite nicely to life here. But there are still some things that we have "saudades" for. And as we prepare to make a trip back to the states for vacation, I find it rather appropriate to recollect these things.

Small talk

While our language is continually improving, every day we experience some kind of difficulty in communicating with others. We can say something to one person, and we are understood. We say the exact same thing to a different person, and they have no idea what we are saying. And man, do people speak so fast! Even after asking them to repeat themselves and speak more slowly, they begin again with the same speed and gusto, if not with more speed and gusto. And while we have passed the point of becoming embarrassed, sometimes, we still get snickers from those around us when we speak Portuguese, whether we did so perfectly or sloppily. All of this can make it difficult at times to talk to strangers, especially those who have no patience for our attempts at speaking a foreign language or those who overestimate our understanding of the language. Sometimes, it can be difficult to hold even the simplest of conversations, which is something we did quite often in the states. Small talk conversations with people at the dog park, with the person standing in line next to us, with the baristas at Starbucks, etc. You can actually get to know a lot about a person in a short amount of time. So, while we will continue to study Portuguese on our vacation so as to not fall behind, the residents of Florida and Tennessee better be ready for some hardcore small talk! 

Hugs
Outside of close family and very close friends who I consider family, I have never been one who is fond of giving or receiving hugs. Physical touch is definitely not my love language. But hugging is a cultural thing where I grew up. As such, often times, you are expected to hug those people you know or have met, if even just once. So, I would give hugs to meet cultural expectation, but I didn't always enjoy it. Because of my discomfort with physical touch, moving over to Portugal and adjusting to the kisses was a big deal for me (see previous post here). But honestly, after two years, I can say that I have adapted to the norm here. And because I consider many of my Portuguese friends like family, I enjoy showing my affection in this way. However, because my body was trained for so many years to hug in order to show affection, sometimes I just want to give my friends here a well-deserved hug. Heck, I would hug a stranger if it meant I could just give someone a big ole' bear hug! (O you know the kind that I am talking about... I'm looking at you Stephanie.) So, I say this to all the friends and family that I will be seeing soon, prepare your arms and your necks!

Smiling and Eye Contact
When we first moved here, we immediately noticed how most people generally turn their eyes towards the ground when passing someone on the street. To us, it seemed strange and just plain cold. Growing up in the south of the US, we would smile and say "hi!" to everyone we passed. For awhile, I was determined to stick to my southern roots and continue to greet those around me in this manner. Because, to quote Buddy the Elf, "Smiling is my favorite!" I love smiling, especially at strangers. A smile can have a powerful effect, not only helping to make someone just feel good, but also making them feel noticed. Well, I think my bubble burst shortly after when my repeated attempts to catch the eye of those passing failed, Of course, not everyone is like this. We are often pleasantly surprised when a smile or a greeting is returned by a stranger. And I do know that it is a cultural phenomenon, so I don't blame anyone. But it will be nice to interact in this way with strangers again while we are in the states for three weeks.

Favorite Restaurants
Our guilty pleasures for the good, the fatty, and the greasy. While our diets have changed for the better here in Portugal (opting for fresh fruits and veggies as well as freshly cut meat from the butcher), for awhile, it was difficult not being able to satisfy a craving quite like we used to. For us, it was truly an amazing thing to discover an American store in Porto where we could find and purchase a few American items that we missed, but even at that, for many of our favorite foods and restaurants, we went cold turkey making the transition to Portugal. Don't get me wrong, we really do enjoy Portuguese food and the two fast food chains we used to frequent quite often (Burger King and Subway) have now become obsolete in our dietary life. However, admittedly, we have already prepared a mental list of restaurant we want to hit up when we are back. While we do anticipate some weight gain and repercussions introducing certain things back into our diet temporarily, we also anticipate it being worth it!

While I'm sure there are far more things that could be said here, these are just a few that stick out in my mind. It does go without saying that we miss family and friends and being able to gather with them regularly, but with technology these days, we are thankful for the opportunity to stay in touch.

greeting the world (part two)

On June 13, Hodge and I greeted Hodge's mom as she arrived after a long journey from the states. Little did we know, we would be greeting somebody else the very next day.

I started going into labor that Friday night. Never having gone through full blown labor, I questioned the pains. Is this it? As the pains started getting closer together, I knew something was up. So, I woke Hodge at 5 am. He then instructed me to call the doctor. I called and the only words I got out of my mouth were, "I have pains..." before my doctor said, "It is time." I was curious how she really knew after only saying those three words. Perhaps, she heard something in my voice. But even on our way to the hospital, I was still questioning the legitimacy of it. I'd heard about false labor. What if this isn't really it? Or maybe, I just wasn't ready for the reality of it.

But it was real alright. We had woken up Hodge's mom, grabbed our bags, gave Leeloo kisses, and headed to a hospital located 30 minutes away. Before leaving, my doctor also instructed me to call the nurse that she works with. So, I did. It was a bit strange talking to this woman for the first time and then, consequently, trusting her and leaning (quite literally at times) on her to get me through this moment in my life. I'm just grateful my language didn't fail, and that was probably only by God's power.

I'm also grateful that when we arrived and were taken to a room, we learned that the nurse, like our doctor, was incredibly sweet, encouraging, and made us feel very comfortable. She also made sure to speak clearly and slowly so that I would have a better chance of understanding her. After she helped me settle in, we played the waiting game. Eventually, our doctor arrived with a big smile and open arms as she entered the room. I cannot stress enough how thankful I am to the Lord for this woman. Well, she quickly got down to business checking on my progression. Not very far along. More waiting. When she came back maybe 30 minutes later, she announced that the dilation was speeding up. Another 30 minutes later, I was almost there. The final 30 minutes, and it was time.

As she announced the news, giving the nurse instructions to have me wheeled down to the delivery room, it became very surreal. I know I don't have to tell any woman who has ever given birth what that feeling is like. As I thought to myself of the significance of this moment, both nervous and excited all at the same time, the doctor was there telling me to push as Hodge was on one side of me and the nurse on the other. And as that little baby made his arrival, I bawled like, well.... a baby! And then, I look over to see Hodge doing the same. One of the most emotional and best experiences in my entire life.

That day replays in my head as I look at the photographs. It makes me stop and marvel at the miracle of it all. And, I cannot help but thank God for this little baby almost every time I look at him. And the whole experience just leaves me thankful for God's provisions.

When, Hodge and I were considering names, we honestly didn't put much thought into. I wasn't one of those girls who grew up naming her kids years before they even existed, and Hodge already had some names he wanted to pass along. So, when we came across the name Zeke, we initially liked it because it is different. But when I looked up the meaning coming from the name Ezekiel, it means "God is my strength." Now, that is just... perfect. My prayer is that one day this little baby will proclaim that God is his strength, too.

His middle name, Eric, comes from Hodge's older brother who died almost 10 years ago. It's a way to remember him and pass on his legacy, and a way for Zeke to feel connected to an uncle he didn't have the chance to meet.

So, there you have it. Zeke Eric Hodge.

greeting the world (part one)

I am truly amazed at how a moment can live as vivid in memory as the day that it occurred. Heck, I can re-watch movies and still be surprised by the ending. My memory is not one to place a bet on, that's for sure. But this moment I speak of that will forever remain in my memory happened at 11:45 am on June 14, 2014. The moment we met our son.

His arrival story is a pretty typical one, but because we live overseas in the midst of a differing language and cultural setting, we think almost anything we encounter is worthy of a good story-telling. So, here it is. From almost the beginning, this is what happened.

When Hodge and I first discovered we were pregnant again, we mostly kept it a secret. I think most people can understand why. But we did end up telling our families as well as a few close friends in Portugal. One of these friends is a lady who owns a local shop. She had shared her experience of miscarrying her first child, and now, she has two handsome sons. So, I wanted to share my joy with her. She was happy for us and then proceeded to recommend a doctor to us. What's more, later that week I go into her shop again, and she hands me a piece of paper with an appointment date and time. She had called the doctor and set it up for us without us even having to ask! We are continuously amazed at the kindness of the people in this country. Because honestly, at that time, it was still difficult to do such a simple task as call an office and set up an appointment, what between the language barrier and the inability to hear clearly over a phone call. So, after thanking her a hundred times over, we went to our appointment.

The doctor was nice enough, and we were grateful that he wanted to keep a close eye on the baby. Initially, we had checkups every two weeks. At one of these visits, I made the realization that this doctor was one of the doctors who was working in the hospital and attended to me the night our miscarriage happened (yet another moment that lives vividly in my memory). He confirmed my theory when I asked. Why he didn't mention it before is curious, but he is a quiet guy, so we didn't think much about it.

Nevertheless, after several more visits, we became less and less pleased with his bedside manner. So, we ended up visiting a different doctor that another friend had recommended, and we loved her! She was so kind, made us feel very comfortable, and spoke better, more clear English. The only problem was her office is located about an hour and a half away by public transportation. If we didn't have the car and needed to get to her, it would pose a problem. So, we thought it over and made the decision to stick with the doctor we had been seeing, whose office was a short ten minute drive down the road and a bit easier to get to by public transportation.

The pregnancy continued to progress normally, and we were thrilled to receive good reports at every ultrasound and checkup. Eventually, as time got closer, we started discussing the delivery. Now, this part of the story definitely reveals a bit of the culture. Initially, when my pregnant self caught the eye of someone nearby, the question was always, "How far along are you?" But when the question started to shift because it was quite obvious the baby was coming soon, it didn't transition to, "When is the baby due?" Instead, the question was, "When have you scheduled the birth?" I am unsure of the percentage of c-sections that take place in Portugal, but it has got to be pretty high considering the fact that I was often asked this question. And because of this, I learned it is fairly normal here to schedule your birth, regardless of the woman's or baby's good health.

In our circumstance, however, our doctor suggested a c-section because of their estimation of the baby's weight, which was right at 3 kilos a couple weeks out (that's about 6.5 pounds). To us, this didn't seem like a significant weight or a risk at all. In fact, at first, we thought the doctor was crazy to suggest that he was an overweight baby at 3 kilos, but then we reconsidered that maybe portuguese babies are tiny, and they just aren't used to american-sized babies. So, we made it clear that we only desired a c-section if it becomes an emergency. Because I do know that, sometimes, c-sections are medically necessary. But our doctor refused to hear us on it. To be quite honest, it seemed as if he were trying to make us feel guilty for wanting a vaginal birth. He spoke of the supposed risks and discouraged us from what we wanted. And to be quite honest again, we think he just wanted to schedule the delivery to his convenience.

So, I was pretty upset. Our doctor wasn't listening to us, and he wouldn't even consider a vaginal birth. Hodge and I talked it over, and we then made the decision to contact the other doctor we had visited months past. We wanted a second opinion. After arriving, we told her the ordeal and what our doctor was saying. She examined me and the baby and came back with the opinion that she believes a vaginal birth would be no problem at all. The baby is not too large, and I have plenty of space. After discussing the information some more, we ended by asking if she would deliver the baby. She graciously said she would as she told us, "I will take care of you." Praise God.

Before leaving, we scheduled an appointment to see her a week from then. Well, we never did make it to that appointment. Zeke decided to make his arrival just three days later.

(to be continued with photos)

Airport Duty

Growing up, I never spent much time in airports. I can count on one finger the number of times my family flew to our vacation destination. Given the cost of plane tickets with the added fact of having four kids, it's no wonder that our chosen method of travel was by road trip. Yes. Hours in the car playing games, playing other games when those got old, inventing new games, reading, falling asleep reading, listening to the book on tape that dad thought was a good idea.... well, you get the point. Besides, this post doesn't contain traveling tips.

My point is, now, I can't even count on two hands the number of times I have been in an airport within the past year. We traveled to Portugal via 3 airports, we flew to a company conference held in Germany, we've greeted new colleagues, we've picked up and dropped off teams that came to work with us, and we've picked up and dropped off friends and family that came for visits.

It seems at least a part of our life here revolves around the airport. And the airport has become almost a physical symbol of the connection we have with our previous life as well as a symbol of our current life, that is to say, a life of foreigners living in a foreign land.

Beyond this, our local airport has been a pretty consistent gift giver, and in December and January, it gave us some of the best gifts.

Mid-December, we received Hodge's parents as they came for a two week visit. As we waited, watching the flight status change from late, to landed, to first bag, to last bag... We were excited, happy, anxious, practically jumping up and down. After they walked through that big hole in the wall and towards us, I kept my eyes on them to make sure they were really real, here in the flesh, and that they weren't going to disappear as if a figment of my imagination. It was weird, but a very good weird in which two worlds became acquainted after many months of hearing about one another. On the heels of their departure, we were right back at the airport to pick up my sister, who also came for two weeks. Again, the giddiness and the stares had their roles.

Showing his parents Guimaraes, a city located just east of our town.

As we played the tour guides and showed the sites, we found it quite exhilarating to be able to share with each of them this country that we have become quite proud of and a people that we have come to love. The "oh"s and "ah"s only filled us with more pride as we received their approvals everywhere we went. We could have showed them a crack in the sidewalk and there would be pictures taken. After all, they were in Europe. And us, well... we were with family.

Now, our lives have gone back to "normal". While, for the time being, we have returned to emails and video chats, we cherish those moments gathered around the table, talking and hanging out with no means of technology to transmit our conversations. It was a great time, but more than that, it was another introduction to what life just might be like for the next several years if we continue on this journey of life overseas.

In April, our local airport will once again prove itself worthy as it brings us more gifts from the States as we welcome my parents.

The post that I've been meaning to write for quite some time.

It's been awhile, and I apologize for the absence. There is no excuse other than that I have been slightly lazy. But now, with fingers anxious to type and a mind ready to spit out words, where do I begin?

As many have heard by now, we are expecting again. And as many of you know, I wrote a post describing the experience of and the emotions that occurred immediately following our miscarriage, but that was just the half of it. With intent to come back to this topic in the future, I only wish to say for right now, it is an experience that continues to grow me, teach me, cause me pain, and cause me to reflect. But I remain healed and hopeful, and needless to say, we are thrilled about this second chance.

Beyond this, for the past couple of months, life has been quite simply life. We have moved forward, learned some more Portuguese, and made new friends. We have been living life with our friends and through our faith. With a family we met through a local church, we have started an English group that meets once a week in their home, during which we eat, play games, and help those who come practice and learn English. I started a crafts group at a local coffee shop that also meets once a week. Never have I ever been on Pinterest so much.

A couple weeks ago, we officially started using heat again in our apartment, and as we move from room to room, we close doors behind us in order to keep warm those rooms that we've deemed worthy of heat. And since the time change, we still get freaked out when the sun sets at 5, and 7 o'clock then consequently feels like 10 o'clock.

We've stayed busy but have also managed to get some Lego DC and Marvel gaming in at times. Hodge continues to hang out with guys by shooting them during Airsoft games, my stick-shift driving skills have improved significantly, and Leeloo has enjoyed having an empty beach to run on again.

At Halloween, we taught some friends how to carve pumpkins. For Thanksgiving, we celebrated with food and games with our little Northern Portugal team. And to prepare for Christmas, we put up a tree and have turned up the Christmas songs and hymns.

We are anticipating the arrival of Hodge's parents next week, and then after that, the arrival of my sister in the first days of January. We are a little more than excited to see family and show them around our new life. We're also looking forward to indulging ourselves in some American goodies.

We are grateful for those who keep up with us and love on us from afar (and if you are reading this, that includes you).

Whew. Now that that is done, time to start the next post...

Psalm 107: The God behind the Storm

I love the ocean, the vastness of its depth against the vastness of the sky above it. With the two next to each other in my peripheral, it is hard not to think about just how small I am and just how big God is. And with oceans, it seems the opportunities for literature comparisons and metaphors are simply endless.

Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters. 

They have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. 

For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.

They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery.

They reeled and staggered like a drunken man and were at their wits' end.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses.

He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

Psalm 107:25-31

What I find most interesting in this passage is the fact that God is the one who created the storm. He is the one who lifted the waves high above their heads causing them to lose their wits. As I meditate on these words, I grow in my understanding that God allows the storms and, sometimes, creates them. Because while I fully believe in the weight of sin and its effects on this world and the fact that we face spiritual storms and battles more than anything (Ephesians 6:12), I also believe that God is in control. 

So, why would He put us in the midst of these storms? As an opportunity to cry out to God and experience His deliverance. As soon as the people on the ship cried out to God, He saved them: attending to their distresses, subduing the storm, bringing them to safety. 

Storms are opportunities to grow in faith and draw nearer to God. After all, He calls for our reliance, our trust to be in Him alone (Proverbs 3:5-6), and what sweeter thing than to constantly be crying out to our maker. My hope is that not a day goes by that I don't cry out to the Lord: for His help, guidance, comfort, peace, wisdom, strength, grace, mercy, and love. Those things which He will not withhold if I would just simply cry out. Those things I know I need in order to face each day and do what I have been called to do. What's more, while I believe that we are saved eternally from our sin when we accept and believe the truth of Jesus and consequently follow Him, I also believe that God continues to save us throughout our lives from trials and from ourselves. This might mean He calms the storm, but it could also mean that He empowers us by His Spirit to bear the storm. The point is, He is in control of the storm, and He knows the purpose for which the storm exists. It could be to teach something, or it could be to simply draw us away from ourselves and to Him.

Living in a foreign country has brought me to many moments of utter desperation for God, where I am at my wit's end crying out His name. It truly has become a day by day of wavering emotions and learning experiences. While we do have many good days and we truly have made some great friends, we also carry the constant weight of trying to communicate in another language whilst breaking cultural barriers, missing and missing out on the lives of family and friends back home, and fleeting moments of nostalgia for certain aspects of the way our life used to be. We have encountered some painful trials, and not only that, but when we encounter the smaller trials of everyday life, it can often be as if we look at them through a telescope. The things that seem so small appear much larger because of the difficulties aforementioned. 

But I have said it before, and I will say it now. I don't blame God. Everything I have is from Him, and everything I go through is an opportunity to cry out to Him, trust Him more, experience His deliverance, and ultimately, grow closer to Him. He knows what I need, and He knows just how high to make the waves. When all is said and done, I love my job. I am here to tell people about this God. Not a hateful god who makes us suffer and doesn't care about our pain, but the God who has been here, suffered with us, and lovingly brings us to and through trials in this sinful world. Because, Christ follower or not, we all go through trials, and we all suffer, but we don't have to do it alone and without purpose.

Beyond everything, I love that God continues to remind me that I am weak and He is strong. It sounds crazy, but I thank Him for the storms. Like the Psalmist exclaims, I give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and for His wonders to the sons of men. I give thanks to the Lord for controlling and helping me through the storms which I encounter.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing 

that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1: 2-3

Portugal? Isn't that somewhere in South America?

Before moving to Portugal, we will admit, we knew very little about the country. But it seemed most of the people we spoke with knew even less. It was unbelievable the number of people who, when discovered that we were moving, asked:

"Ooo... Do you know Spanish?"  

Maybe I (Tiffany) had the advantage since I studied Portuguese for 2 years, but come on.

Another favorite of ours was:

"O wow... are you going to get all your shots?"

I think because many people are unfamiliar with or had never heard of Portugal before, they picture it as a third world country in the middle-of-nowhere South America. To be fair, there are A LOT of countries on this planet, but to set the record straight:  No, we didn't need any shots. Yes, we do have running water and electricity. And no, we don't know Spanish.

Because Portugal is a smaller country and rarely talked about in world news, it is often misplaced on the globe. And then when it is found on its correct continent, it is often misrepresented because of its proximity to Spain. But Portugal is very different from Spain, not only in language but in its way of life. So, this is our attempt at informing some about this beautiful country and unique culture. 

We have lived in Portugal for 7 months, and while that does not make us experts,

it does make us observers.

So, these are our top ten observations about life in Portugal (northern Portugal, that is).

1. Catholicism

Given its history, Catholicism runs wide and deep in Portugal. Evidences of the Catholic faith can be found around every corner. Numerous churches, statues, crosses, and other religious images decorate the entire country. It seems most Portuguese are Catholic, and this is mostly because their parents are/were Catholic. However, many will admit that they do no actively practice this faith or go to church except for christenings, weddings, and funerals. And despite the fact that many do not like the church and strongly disagree with their scandals, they still hold onto the title of "Catholic".
What's more, a good number of Portugal's national holidays are Catholic holidays. When we have asked our friends why the day is celebrated, the response generally ends at, "It's tradition." While the original meaning of the holiday may be overlooked, they will still gather as friends and families and enjoy it anyway.

Corpo de Deus: celebrated with carpets
of flowers and a procession through the city
carrying the body of Jesus.

Gathered for Sao Joao, a festival held for Saint John
the Baptist. Each town has a patron saint that they
celebrate once a year with dancing, fireworks, food,
and more. It is the biggest festival of the year.

2. Coffee

Life seems to run on coffee (i.e. espresso), and it is no exaggeration to say that there is a coffee shop on every corner (these cafes will also sell various pastries, snacks, and meals). If people are in a hurry, often times, they will stand at the counter to drink their small coffee and head on their way. Other than that, coffee is an event that might last up to 3 or 4 hours. What's more, coffee mugs seem to be foreign and laughable concepts here. I was once asked what I was holding and shortly after I replied, "A coffee mug," my friend snorted and gave an incredulous look.
Hodge likes to joke, "You can run a car on Portuguese coffee." Their coffee is strong, and they are proud of it. We have been told more than once (accompanied with a look of superiority) that Spanish coffee is two sweet and weak compared to Portuguese coffee. And don't get them started on America's water-coffee.

3. Driving

Portuguese are statistically proven to be bad drivers. While they are not the worst in the world, they don't match up well against their neighboring countries in western Europe. One of our friends even told us to inform our friends back home about how fast they drive. And they do drive fast. However, on the contrary, there are also people how drive incredibly slow. On the highway, it is often this vast difference in speeds that can cause problems. A driver may going 30 mph when someone else flies by doing 100 mph.
And when it comes to parking, anything is fair game. Cars can be found parked on highways, behind other cars, and sometimes right in the middle of the road on smaller streets. Need to run into a store? Need a caffeine kick? Just pull over, throw your flashers on, and go do your business. But drivers should pay attention because if the person they are parked behind needs out, the drivers are supposed to go move their car. However, this is not always the case. Hodge was once blocked in for 45 minutes waiting on a car behind him to move.
Other fun or not so fun facts: They drive on the right side of the road in the left side of the car (like the States). Automatics are a rarity. Roundabouts are an extremely common construction. And pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks except when traffic lights direct.

Parked.

Parked.

Of course, mopeds are another
popular choice for transport.

4. Late Nights

You might have heard about the "late night life" in Europe. Well, this definitely holds true in Portugal. One night, as we were heading back home around 11 at night, we noticed families walking around town with their very young children as we thought aloud to each other, "Aren't they supposed to be in bed at this hour?" What's more, dinner is generally eaten around 9 or 10. On the weekends, when it is more likely for Portuguese to eat out, many will make it an all night event by going to the cafe afterwards to have an adult beverage. While there is a percentage of people going to the discos, most will just chill and make conversation at cafes (which really start to fill up around 1 in the morning).
On another note: One aspect that I really like about Portuguese life is that when people get together, they really get together. They can spend several hours just sitting around a table, eating and talking into the night.

8:30 pm: Arrived at the restaurant.
9:30 pm: Food was served.
10:30 pm: Finished dinner with a coffee and conversation.
1:00 am: Arrived at a cafe for more conversation.
3:00 am: Arrived back home.

5. Shopping

Malls are a frequent occurrence, especially in the bigger cities. There can be two malls within 5 miles of one another, each equally large and impressive. Going to the mall seems to be a favorite pastime for many Portuguese. Not only are they full with a variety of stores, they also hold the large Walmart-like grocery stores as well as movie theaters. Each has a food court offering a large variety of dining options including a few American fast food places like McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, and KFC.
What's more, the Portuguese are very fashionable dressers. Many women wear high heels no matter the occasion and sweatpants are virtually nonexistent.

5. English

English is literally everywhere. Walk around town, English can be seen in company names, on advertisements, and in graffiti. Turn on the TV, a large majority of networks play shows and movies from the US which are accompanied with Portuguese subtitles. Turn on the radio, it is flooded with English music (recently, radio stations were told that they had to play something like at least 50% of Portuguese music because they were playing too much English music). Go to the movie theater, movies are played in the original English format with Portuguese subtitles. Go to a restaurant, your server is bound to speak or understand basic English. In fact, many young people know at least some English if not practically fluently. Many others can understand some English given the saturation of it within their culture. With nearly a 70-80% bilingual culture, this country is a paradise for American tourists. But for those of us trying to learn Portuguese, it has proven a hindrance at times.

6. Homes

What do you image in your mind when you hear the words "European home"? Do you see clothes hanging on a line? Or maybe brick walls with hardwood floors? As you imagine, allow me to help direct your image by providing a few details about Portuguese homes.
Homes are generally equipped with fireplaces, gas stoves, bidets (which our Portuguese friends have found bizarre that we don't use) and hardwood floors lined with rugs. While central heating is increasing in certain areas, central air conditioning is much less common. So, in winter time, we snuggle up with extra blankets and electric heaters, and in the summer, we rely on fans and breezes. Most clothes undergo nature's dryer, but for those who can afford it and desire it, drying machines are an option. In the cities and smaller towns, most people live in apartments. Houses with small yards and more privacy are reserved for the rich and for those who live in the countryside.
A friend recently told me that in many aspects Portugal has been slow to enter the modernized world. That being said, while there will always be very old homes with less commodities, we have seen extreme opposites of apartments and homes that seem out of place because of their very modern and contemporary appearances.

.

7. The Beach

Because we live on the coast, it is easy to overgeneralize and say that Portuguese love the beach. So I won't say that, but I will say that for those who are close enough or come to vacation, going to the beach is a favorite activity. In the winter time, beaches lay vacant, but as soon as warmer weather creeps in, beaches have constant company. Little cafes/bars are built for the season to cater to those who spend all day on the sand and in the water.
Tanning could be considered a sport. As soon as the sun makes an appearance after the rainy season, people are laying out. Even though it might be 60*F outside, they are committed to the tan. And on windy days, they just put up protectors to keep the chill off their skin (remember, we are in the north which means cooler temperatures and colder water).

8. Food/Grocery shopping

When I first arrived, one of the most frustrating and time consuming activities was grocery shopping. I spent hours with a dictionary roaming the aisles and then backtracking trying to translate and find what I wanted. Beyond that, since being here, my food-buying habits have changed drastically due to the culture. Instead of spending 45 minutes at the local Kroger doing all my grocery shopping for two weeks, I have adjusted to visiting the butcher, the frutaria (with fresh fruits and vegetables), and the small grocery store every couple of days if not more frequently. I freeze less food, buy less in bulk, and eat more fresh product.
Frutarias and butchers are almost as frequent as cafes. It amazed us at first as we wondered how each one stayed in business. But because many people, especially older folks, don't go far from home to get everything they need, they visit the same stores most of their lives, keeping the shops in business.
Other fun or not so fun facts: While cold milk can be found, it is most often bought at room temperature in a carton. Eggs are also found and kept at room temperature. The tap water is safe to drink in cities and smaller towns, but many people still buy bottled water. And like most European countries, wine is a regular companion with meals and often costs less than water.

9. Special foods: Bacalhau and Francesinha

Bacalhau (codfish) is probably the most popular and/or traditional dinner choice in Portugal, which is curious because it is imported from Norway. In fact, Portugal is known to be the biggest importer of this fish. But imported or not, Portuguese love Bacalhau. Every grocery stores carries this fish which is dried and salted, and it is easy to find given its potent smell.
The saying goes, "There are 1,001 ways to cook Bacalhau."
The francesinha is a very popular dish in northern Portugal (more specifically, Porto). For many, it is a ritual to eat at least once a week and/or with friends before or after a futbol match. It consists of beef, ham, and sausage between two slices of bread, covered with cheese and a unique sauce, surrounded by fries. Often times, it is also topped with a fried egg.

10. The 3 F's

The dictator Salazar used to say that Portugal is "Fado, Fatima, and Futbol."

Fado is the distinct Portuguese musical style which is characterized by mournful tones and lyrics. It is often said to be the soul music of Portugal, and it also represents a word very important to the Portuguese, "Saudade." This word is unique and has no direct translation into the English language, but it refers to a deep emotional state of nostalgic and a longing for the way things once were with the repressed knowledge that it will never return. "Saudade" is a state of mind that has come to encapsulate Portuguese culture and is often referred to as the "Portuguese way of life".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARS7Zi-Zpkw

Fatima seems to be the most notable and recognizable aspect of the Catholic faith. Located in central Portugal is a shrine dedicated to "Our Lady of Fatima" where it is said the Virgin Mary appeared to 3 pheasant children. Every year, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to this shrine to worship, give money, and plead for help. Beyond that, while many people won't step inside a church, there are a large percentage that have statues of Fatima in their home (which is who they pray to).

And of course, the love of futbol is most evident in Portuguese life. The rivalries run deep and the competition is never-ending. At one point during a conversation about futbol, a friend said, "I can be friends with someone who supports a different futbol club". That statement alone epitomizes the deep-rooted passion for futbol, as if most people cannot be friends with someone who cheers for a different club. Beyond that, we were told a story in which a family was on their way to a futbol match when fans from the home team saw the 3-year-old daughter sporting the visiting team's jersey. The fans proceeded to rip the jersey of the child and burn it in the middle of the street after punching the parents in the face. While this is not representative of all Portuguese, circumstances like this still happen. Some of our Portuguese friends have even told us that they envy American fans because they do not take sports to such extremes.

There is so much more we could tell you about this wonderful country and people. Some things interesting and really fascinating and other things just plain funny as foreigners. But just maybe, you will be curious enough to visit this country and see for yourself :)