Why would an American family leave the USA and move to Portugal?
In this real-life intermediate English conversation, Camille and Calvin share their honest reasons: the sea, the slower lifestyle, the food, and the dream of a European passport. They also talk about what they miss about the US, what’s hard about living in Portugal, and whether to homeschool their kids. It’s natural B1–B2 English and great listening practice.
English Level: B1–B2 (intermediate, unscripted)
Video length: About 15 minutes
Filmed: Spring 2024, in northern Portugal
Why we moved to Portugal: the short answer
After a year of traveling to nine countries in eight months, we were burnt out and ready to settle down. We made a list of ten countries and chose Portugal because it checked the most boxes:
- The sea and nature. The ocean was a four-minute drive away, and the beach became our family’s happy place.
- We could apply for a visa from inside the country. We didn’t want to go back to the US first, which Italy or France would have required.
- We already spoke Portuguese. That made it much easier to fit in.
- A path to a European passport. Getting a European passport has been a family goal for about ten years.
- Other factors, like tax implications and whether we’d fit into the culture.
Why we left the US
We’ve been travelers for about 15 years. The US was our home base, but we never stayed longer than a year and a half, and that was during COVID. We feel more alive overseas.
Every time we go back, we feel the pressure of the hustle culture: work more, make more money, be busier. We also feel the quality of food is much better in Europe, and we love that we can walk and bike almost everywhere instead of relying on America’s drive-thru culture (drive-thru banks, drive-thru restaurants, drive-thru everything!).
Don’t get us wrong: America is an amazing country. It just isn’t the lifestyle we want right now.
What we miss about the US
Mostly our families. Calvin’s parents and all his siblings live in the US, although FaceTime makes it easier to stay connected. Beyond that, honestly, not much! Calvin misses his king-size bed and his old recording studio lights, and we both miss cheaper gas. Filling up the car cost about $35 in the US and about $80 here. But we drive a lot less, so it balances out.
What’s hard about living in Portugal
The accent. We learned Brazilian Portuguese, so understanding the European Portuguese accent is much harder.
Finding some ingredients. Camille has adapted in the kitchen, and it’s actually improved our diet. Instead of buying canned pumpkin, she roasts a real pumpkin, and it tastes much better.
The slower pace. Things take longer here, from bank paperwork to the immigration process. While our residency is being processed, we can’t travel outside Portugal, which is tough for world travelers. But after traveling nonstop, we’re okay being homebodies for a while.
Homeschooling or public school?
At the time of filming, we were homeschooling our three kids and deciding whether to send them to public school. A Portuguese-speaking babysitter came three times a week to help them learn the language.
Homeschooling gave our kids long, slow mornings, lots of playtime, and creative freedom, and it let Camille focus on each child’s needs, like helping our daughter learn to read. But we also wanted them to learn Portuguese and make local friends. There was no easy answer. In the end, our kids went to school in Portugal, which we talk about in our follow-up video. My son also talks about his school experience in Portugal in this video.
Our favorite things about Portugal
The beach and walking everywhere. Our 10-year-old kept saying, “I can’t believe we live here!”
The seafood. Calvin didn’t grow up eating much seafood, but a local restaurant’s shrimp cooked in butter keeps bringing us back.
Diversity. Camille has been able to speak all five of her foreign languages in our small city.
The kindness of the people. In northern Portugal, people go the extra mile. If you’re short on change, they’ll say, “Don’t worry about it.” When Camille’s card didn’t work at her favorite café, the owner told her to just pay next time.
What we’re doing in Portugal
We’re living a normal life: working online, running our businesses, creating content, being part of our community, and enjoying the small things, especially time with our kids while they’re young.
English expressions from the conversation
| Expression | Meaning | From the conversation |
|---|---|---|
| to put it short | to say it briefly | To put it short, we love Portugal. |
| happy place | a place that makes you feel very happy and calm | The sea is our family’s happy place. |
| epic | amazing, impressive (informal) | I was like, “This is epic!” |
| a big draw | something that attracts people | The sea is a big draw. |
| burnt out | exhausted from doing too much | We were burnt out from traveling. |
| no joke | seriously, I’m not kidding | We had a list of ten countries, no joke. |
| check a lot of boxes | meet many requirements | Portugal checked a lot of those boxes. |
| be drawn to | feel attracted to | We’re so drawn to Europe. |
| pleasantly surprised | surprised in a good way | We’ve been so pleasantly surprised. |
| home base | the main place you return to | The US has been our home base. |
| hustle culture | a culture that values working all the time | The hustle culture is not fun. |
| don’t get us wrong | don’t misunderstand us | Don’t get us wrong, America is amazing. |
| it balances out | the good and bad become equal | We save money in other areas, so it balances out. |
| bottom line | the most important point | Bottom line, we don’t miss that much. |
| homebodies | people who like staying at home | We’re okay being homebodies. |
| the honeymoon stage | the exciting early period when everything seems perfect | Maybe we’re in the honeymoon stage. |
| go the extra mile | do more than people expect | They go the extra mile. |
| short on change | not having enough coins or small money | If you’re short on change, they don’t worry about it. |
| laid back | relaxed and easygoing | They’re pretty chill and laid back here. |
| at a loss for words | unable to think of what to say | I was at a loss for words. |
Check your understanding
- Why were Camille and Calvin burnt out before moving to Portugal?
a) They worked too much b) They traveled to nine countries in eight months c) They moved houses many times - Why didn’t they choose Italy or France?
a) They’d have to apply for the visa from the US b) They didn’t like the food c) It was too expensive - What is “hustle culture”?
a) A culture that values working all the time b) A dance culture c) A culture of big cities - What’s hard about Portuguese for them?
a) The grammar b) Understanding the European accent c) The spelling - What happened when Camille’s card didn’t work at the café?
a) She had to leave b) The owner said she could pay next time c) Calvin paid for her - What does “the honeymoon stage” mean?
a) The early period when everything seems perfect b) A wedding trip c) A difficult time
REVEAL THE QUIZ ANSWERS
Answers:
1-b, 2-a, 3-a, 4-b, 5-b, 6-a
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Americans move to Portugal?
In our experience, the biggest draws are the lifestyle, nature, walkability, food, and a slower pace of life. For us, the visa process and a possible path to a European passport mattered too.
What is hard about moving to Portugal?
For us, the hardest parts were understanding the European Portuguese accent, the slow bureaucracy (banking and immigration), and not being able to travel outside Portugal while our residency was processed.
Can you apply for a Portuguese visa from inside Portugal?
In our case, we could, which was a big reason we chose Portugal. I think the law changed so now you have to apply in your country of origin for most cases, but check with an immigration lawyer for your situation.
What do Americans miss most after moving to Portugal?
For us, it’s family. Beyond that, we didn’t miss much, except maybe cheaper gas and a bigger bed!
What does "hustle culture" mean?
It describes a culture where people feel pressure to work constantly, earn more, and always be busy.
🧳 Looking to move to Portugal? Find your VISA and use our amazing immigration firm, PRISMAAT:
D7 Visa — Passive Income
The D7 is designed for people who can demonstrate a stable source of passive income from abroad, such as pensions, dividends, rental income, or other recurring income. It can be a suitable option for financially independent individuals who want to reside in Portugal without relying on local employment.
D8 Visa — Digital Nomad
The D8 is designed for remote workers and digital nomads earning active income from outside Portugal. It allows eligible applicants to live in Portugal while working remotely for foreign employers or clients, subject to the applicable income and residency requirements.
D2 Visa — Entrepreneur / Business
The D2 is aimed at entrepreneurs and individuals who intend to establish or operate a business in Portugal. It can be relevant if your income or professional activity will be connected to a Portuguese company or business.
D3 Visa — Highly Qualified Professional
The D3 is intended for highly qualified professionals taking up eligible professional activity in Portugal, typically in specialized or high-skill fields. It can provide a pathway for professionals who have an employment or professional opportunity with a Portuguese entity.
Golden Visa — Investment
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program for eligible applicants who meet the applicable investment requirements. Unlike the D7 or D8, it is primarily based on qualifying investment rather than passive income, remote work, or local employment.
Student Visa
The Portuguese Student Visa is for individuals who have been accepted into an eligible educational program in Portugal. It allows students to reside in the country for the duration of their studies, subject to the applicable immigration and enrollment requirements.
📌 Update: We filmed this video in spring 2024, about a year into our life in Portugal. After three years in Viana do Castelo, we decided to leave northern Portugal. Read the follow-up here: Why We’re Leaving Northern Portugal After 3 Years
Your turn!
Have you ever moved to a foreign country? Tell us about your experience in the comments on the YouTube video!
