In this video Calvin and I talk about our first two years living in Portugal. We talk about what we love and what has been challenging. We hope this video will give you loads of new vocabulary and listening practice! Thanks for watching.

This video has 24 minutes of Intermediate English Conversational listening.

2 Years living in Portugal — Do We Still Like It? 🤔

Welcome back, friends! It’s Camille (and most of the time, Calvin) here, fresh off celebrating two whole years living in Portugal. In this detailed post, we’re sharing the real-life highs, lows, and quirky surprises we’ve experienced as an American family settling into a new country. If you’re learning English, living abroad, or just dreaming of a European adventure—this one’s for you. Get comfy, and let’s chat!

Who Are We? Our Journey in a Nutshell

Before diving in, you might be wondering, “Who are these people?” Well, we’re both born and raised in the USA. We lived what you’d call a nomadic lifestyle, spending about three months at a time in different countries across the globe, always with our three awesome kids. After moving around, we finally decided to put down roots in Portugal. Are we a little crazy? Maybe. But it’s been a wild, wonderful ride!

If you want to know even more about why we came here, check out our earlier video: Why We Moved to Portugal.

Table of Contents

1. Why Portugal?
2. Drifting to Home: The First Impressions
3. Raising Bilingual Children
4. Learning Portuguese — Progress and Challenges
5. Finding Community and Making Friends
6. Getting Around and Daily Life
7. The Good Stuff: What We Love
8. The Tough Stuff: Challenges and Frustrations
9. Healthcare Adventures
10. Travel Perks
11. Culture, Services, and the Little Things
12. Wrapping Up: Would We Do It Again?
13. Questions? Let’s Chat!

Why Portugal?

Let’s start with the big question: Why Portugal? We’ve both always loved Europe—the history, the culture, the sense of adventure that just seems to fill the air here.

Top Reasons We Chose Portugal:

• Proximity to the Sea: Most European countries have access to the ocean, which is a huge plus for us.
• Language: Portuguese sounded fun (and challenging) to learn. Raising bilingual kids felt like an amazing gift.
• Tax Incentives: Portugal’s tax perks for expats definitely made the move easier.
• Lifestyle: We felt a real peace about Portugal. God was leading us; it felt best for our family in this season.
• Raising Bilingual Kids: See above!
• Political Reasons? Nope! People ask if we left the US for political reasons (like President Trump or school shootings), but honestly, no. We still love America, visit frequently, and run businesses there.
• Missing Family: Of course, we miss our family back home. But we have a house in the States we visit, and thanks to technology, we keep in close touch.

So, two years later—how’s it going?

Drifting to Home: The First Impressions

Time flies! Honestly, moving to Portugal felt like a whirlwind. Both Calvin and I agree, the older we get, the faster time seems to go. Our oldest is about to turn 12—how did that happen?

Moving here was a risk. After nine months of nomadic travel, we arrived with just three suitcases—one basically filled with rollerblades and helmets from Barcelona!

We found an incredible rental home overlooking both the sea and a river. Our first year, I homeschooled the kids; now they’re fully in the local schools. Setting up a new life from scratch is always a leap of faith, but we were ready for a new adventure.

Raising Bilingual Children

One of the biggest perks of living in Portugal? Our kids are being raised bilingual (or maybe even trilingual)!

• At School: Kids learn Portuguese naturally by playing with friends and studying in class.
• At Home: We speak English and sprinkle in Portuguese as we help them with their homework.
• Why It Matters: Learning a new language opens doors and broadens horizons. Plus, it’s fun to hear the kids switching between languages!

We’re huge advocates for learning languages, and it makes us proud to see our children thriving in Portuguese (even if they’re shy about speaking it when we’re nearby).

“It’s amazing to watch our kids grow up learning Portuguese, English, and hopefully, more languages to come!”

Learning Portuguese — Progress and Challenges

So, has our Portuguese improved?

Camille’s Story:

• I spent about a year intensely studying Portuguese—speaking with Brazilians, watching YouTube videos, reading and writing every day.
• My level now? I’d say it’s “okay”—I can communicate pretty well, but I’m definitely missing words sometimes. For example, at school meetings, I understand about 80%, but hey, that leaves 20% more to go.

Calvin’s Story:

• Calvin feels “intermediate.” He can get by in most daily situations—shopping, appointments, casual chat. But when it comes to expressing feelings or complex ideas, he sometimes gets stuck.

Tips for Learning Languages:

• Write down words and phrases you don’t understand.
• Practice reading in the new language.
• Listen to conversations and music.
• Be intentional—don’t get lazy with practice!

In church, everything is in Portuguese—sermons, worship songs, discussions with friends. It’s like getting a four-hour Portuguese lesson once a week. Not a bad way to learn!

Finding Community and Making Friends

Settling in a new country, especially one where you don’t speak the language perfectly, can feel lonely at times. For us, finding community has made all the difference.

Church Life

Our greatest gift here? Our church, “A Casa.” It’s a small, Christian community (about 50–60 members) where we’ve met some of our closest friends.

“Settling into Portugal, having a community and group of friends to hang out with, exercise with, or share a meal with, has made it all feel like home.”

We found people to connect with—join for Sunday gatherings, coffee, even workouts. For English learners, church (or any club built around shared interests) is often the best way to meet people and get comfortable in a new country.

Building Relationships with Locals

Portuguese people are often very family-oriented, so making friends outside our church group isn’t easy. At school, I have one local mom who actively pursues friendship (our kids are in the same class). But beyond that? Not much with the Portuguese—though we do have Argentinian friends!

Finding Your Own Community

If you move abroad, look for:

• Clubs (sports, reading, pickleball, etc.)
• Religious groups
• WhatsApp groups—pickleball connected us with people from all over, including locals.
• Social events—barbecues, parties, community gatherings.

Making friends takes time, especially as adults. (Thanks for pointing out I’m 41, Calvin! 😅) But if you put yourself in the right environment, it happens.

Getting Around and Daily Life

Life in Portugal is slower-paced, but in a good way.

• Walking is King: We walk almost everywhere—school drop-offs, errands, markets.
• Small Town Feel: Everyone knows everyone! Someone saw me at a local bakery and recognized me from the market. I love the familiar faces and sense of belonging.
• Daily Routines: Walking to pick up the kids, shopping for fresh flowers, buying produce—it’s healthy and active. I regularly get 10,000 steps a day just living life.

The Good Stuff: What We Love

Let’s gush for a moment. We really do love living here.

Why We Love Portugal:

• Laid-back Lifestyle: Life feels a little slower. Less stress, more time for family.
• Nature: We live close to beaches, rivers, and beautiful historic towns like Viana do Castelo.
• Our Home: Comfortable house (though I wish it had better heating and a sauna!).
• Gardening: This year, my garden produced tons of tomatoes, and Calvin made fresh salsa a few times. The soil is super fertile.
• Proximity to Spain: We’re a quick drive from Spain and lots of cool towns.
• Walking Culture: Daily activities get us moving and help us stay fit.

All of these little things add up to a great quality of life.

The Tough Stuff: Challenges and Frustrations

Of course, living in Portugal isn’t all sunshine and nata. There are challenges:

Feeling Like an Outsider

Every culture has its own rules, traditions, and ways of doing things. Sometimes we feel behind, especially when it comes to:

• School systems — missing out on important info and groups.
• Taxes — figuring out the documentation can feel overwhelming.
• Government — dealing with bureaucracy and long waits.

“It’s a constant battle, always feeling a bit behind, trying to catch up with how things work here.”

Slow Services and Bureaucracy

Let’s be honest: compared to the US, government and technology systems here are slow and complicated (not to say it can always be amazing in the USA!). Things just take longer—sometimes much longer.

• Residency: It took about a year and a half to get our residency cards. The day they arrived, I literally ran into the house screaming in happiness!
• Healthcare (more on that below): Appointments are not instant. Be prepared for wait times.

Everyday Annoyances

• Returning something simple, like an Amazon order or shoes at a store can turn into a multi-day quest.
• Some places are closed when they say they’re open. You learn patience (and maybe a bit of frustration).

Healthcare Adventures

The Portuguese public health system is… complicated. While it’s great that healthcare is available to everyone, it’s often slow and hard to navigate.

Our Experience

• General Appointments: Relatively easy to get for common illnesses (like strep throat).
• Specialist Care: Much harder. Our son had ongoing foot pain, and getting him through the system was like a maze—waiting for appointments, needing the right paperwork, and being told we’d have to wait a year for a specialist.

Eventually, we had to go private and pay out-of-pocket for a physical therapist (thanks to a tip from an Argentinian friend). The therapist was able to help right away, and our son is doing better now. I have found insurance for private healthcare isn’t so costly. Sometimes banks include things like tele-consultations or even check ups free if you pay monthly.

Cost Comparison

Even with private care, things are generally 20–30% (sometimes more) cheaper than in the USA. Prescription drugs and services don’t break the bank. Routine things like haircuts, medicines, and cleaning the house are much more affordable.

Lessons Learned

• Accept slow systems as part of life here.
• Be grateful for what does work.
• When you need something quickly or more specialized, be ready to pay for private.

Travel Perks

One of the reasons we picked Portugal was its location in Europe. Travel is easy, fun, and surprisingly affordable.

• Flights: Quick and cheap flights to other European countries (but getting to the airport takes time; factor in hours for the journey).
• Residency Cards: Allow us to move around the EU with ease.
• Trains: Portugal has good trains, but being on the edge of Europe makes longer train travel a bit tricky. From here, we usually take a train to Vigo, then Madrid, then maybe Paris.

Being “on the edge” of Europe makes Portugal feel like its own little world—unique, cozy, and different from central European countries.

Culture, Services, and the Little Things

We love observing cultures—selling cars, shopping, navigating everyday life. Each time, we see little similarities and differences with the US.

• Selling Our Car: Just like in the US, buyers haggle and point out every little thing.
• Services: Getting haircuts, hiring cleaners, or having help around the house is much more affordable than in America.
• Quality of Life: Because things are cheaper, we can enjoy perks we wouldn’t have in America.

“Overall, our quality of life is better here. We’re spending less and living more.”

Would We Do It Again?

So, after two years—do we still love Portugal?

YES. And here’s why:

• The lifestyle suits us perfectly.
• We feel safe, welcomed, and inspired.
• Sure, there are some slow processes and paperwork, but they’re worth the reward.
• Our kids are growing up bilingual, with beautiful places to explore.

On rainy days, we might feel a little less energetic (that’s when the weather can affect our moods), but most days, Portugal just feels like home.

Are you interested in moving to portugal?

If you have any questions about living in Portugal, learning English, moving abroad, or anything else, please drop your comments below the video on YouTube.

Use our amazing immigration firm:

Passive income visa: https://dashboard.prismaat.com/d7/chanson
Digital Nomad, Freelance, Remote Worker Visa: https://dashboard.prismaat.com/d8/chanson

English Learning Tips and keywords — Special Section for You!

Because this blog is for American English learners, let’s break down a few words and phrases we used in this post:

1. Nomadic Life

Nomadic describes a lifestyle where you move frequently from place to place without a permanent home.

Example: “Our family lived a nomadic lifestyle before settling in Portugal.”

2. Put Down Roots

This means to settle into a place and make it your home.

Example: “We finally put down roots in Portugal after traveling for months.”

3. Leap of Faith

Taking a risk without knowing the outcome.

Example: “Moving to Portugal was a leap of faith.”

4. Proximity

How close something is.

Example: “We love Portugal’s proximity to the sea.”

5. Bilingual / Trilingual

Bilingual means knowing two languages; trilingual means three.

Example: “Our kids are growing up bilingual, speaking both English and Portuguese.”

Moving to Portugal has been full of surprises—some delightful, some challenging. For those learning English, remember that every new adventure (or word!) gets easier the more you practice. Whether you’re planning a move, dreaming of travel, or just curious about expat life, I hope our experiences encourage you to take your own leap—big or small.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and website for more English learning conversations and tips. We’ll see you soon!

Other Portugal videos:

Why we moved to Portugal?

An interview about school in Portugal with my son

Our Portuguese House Tour

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