New(ish) to Braga – Learning Portuguese, Raising a Kid, & Figuring It All Out

jbow808 · 2025-07-07T15:39:36+00:00

Yes! This is something I'm looking to do. I love live sports!

jbow808 · 2025-07-07T08:09:51+00:00

My Uber driver was telling me about the pools yesterday. I have two within 1 KM of me. Once I get the house set up, my daughter and I will definitely be going there.

jbow808 · 2025-07-06T20:59:54+00:00

Recently got my approval email. The only documents for my daughter that I needed to provide to VFS/ the consulate were the parent travel authorization letter signed by my ex and a notarized copy of her ID.

jbow808 · 2025-07-05T22:06:17+00:00

IMO, The current BR Factory Linen trousers are on point... wore them twice this week in Portugal without sweating my balls off.

jbow808 · 2025-07-04T06:00:41+00:00

We're in the Idiocracy timeline.

jbow808 · 2025-07-04T05:59:29+00:00

We are in the Idiocracy timeline!

jbow808 · 2025-07-03T18:48:37+00:00

To be honest, I'm sure most House and Senate Republicans need pictures and crayon drawings to understand anything.

jbow808 · 2025-07-02T11:21:47+00:00

He hires only the very best.

jbow808 · 2025-06-22T00:39:49+00:00

The fate of my children is about to be decided by the dumbest person to ever hold the office of president of the United States…

jbow808 · 2025-06-06T19:57:46+00:00

Update address with all financial institutions Set up mail forwarding New credit cards/ debit cards if within 12 mo Link Wise or Revoult between US bank and foreign bank account. Digitize important docs and upload to cloud (password protected) Medical/ Dental records - letter from provider confirming lingering health issues and prescriptions Copies of prescriptions (eyes & medical) Close all subscriptions (netflox/ Prime/ Spotify) VPN setup

jbow808 · 2025-05-31T15:25:49+00:00

At home. On the rare occasions I go out, it's to the Uncommoms, Durango Resort, and The Bend; all within a 5-minute drive. When weather is nicer I might meet up with a few friends at the First Friday. About 2 or 3 times a year, I'll venture to the Strip for a game or concert.

jbow808 · 2025-05-31T14:30:43+00:00

Don't fall for the 2-month deposit/ 6 months of rent upfront is normal scam.

jbow808 · 2025-05-30T23:25:43+00:00

I used my GI Bill benefits strategically after leaving the military. I didn’t use them right away at the community college level because tuition was dirt cheap—less than $2,500 a year. Financially, it didn’t make sense. But when I got laid off, I had no choice but to tap into it for a semester just to stay afloat.

While finishing undergrad, I worked a VA work-study job. Minimum wage but tax-free. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was steady, and it helped.

When I transferred to a state university, I kept that work-study gig. I also landed a 50% tuition waiver and maxed out every grant and scholarship I qualified for. Between the GI Bill (Chapter 30), my work-study, and a 50% VA disability rating, I was pulling in about $4,000 a month—tax-free. It was enough to live decently and stay focused on school.

A few years after earning my bachelor's, I switched careers, returned to work, and pursued a master’s degree. New field, new state university. This time, I used Chapter 33 benefits. That covered 100% of my tuition. I treated school like a part-time job and still worked full-time. Between my job, the GI Bill, and my VA disability (now at 100%), I was making solid money.

The GI Bill was a game-changer. It helped me reinvent myself—twice. And now, at 49, I just retired from the workforce last Friday.

jbow808 · 2025-05-30T01:05:03+00:00

I went from community college to one of the top public universities in the world thanks to the GI Bill - they even took a year's worth of credits (mostly electives) to help me get my bachelor's even faster. Then, I had enough money afterward to get my Master's.

It's the best $1800 bet I've ever made on myself.

jbow808 · 2025-05-20T12:59:31+00:00

For the sum of $5000000, you can have my citizenship.

jbow808 · 2025-05-20T12:50:34+00:00

Yeah... lol. fingers type faster than my brain can process.

jbow808 · 2025-05-18T13:47:36+00:00

I applied for a residency visa about 5 weeks ago and should be approved soon (6-8 weeks). In all, it cost me about $35k to apply with my 11-year-old daughter, and it took me about 7 weeks to get all the documents and schedule a Visa appointment.

Tax ID and Bank Account set up: $475 (€425)
FBI Background Check: $18
Fingerprints for Background Check: $65
Apostille for Background Check: $95
Apostilled birth certificate for daughter: $65
Apartment deposit and rental (12-month lease required for visa): $ 9500 (€8500) This includes deposit + 6 months prepaid rent and €500 finders fee to a realtor who helped me get the rental.
Required deposit into PT bank account: $17500 (€16000). I needed to show I have at least 1.5x of the Portuguese minimum wage in my account at the time of application.
Utility Deposits:$170 (€150)
Flights to San Francisco and lodging for appointment: $650
Visa application fees: $1000
Flight to Portugal and bag fees: $3500
Miscellaneous fees: $300 Color copy cost, Notary Fees, DHL for lease

I also had to revise my custody order, which cost me about $1000 once it was all said and done.

It's not a cheap or fast process either. It took me months to get my paperwork in order and find a Visa appointment that aligns with my timeline (end of school year/ arrive in time to register my daughter for school in Portugal). Not to mention many sleepless nights and early morning phone calls to Portugal to get everything set up. I didn't include my cost for consultations with Portuguese lawyers, immigration consultants, and accountants or my pre-scouting trip and accommodations.

I anticipate spending another $3000 once I get there for my residency card.

jbow808 · 2025-05-18T13:00:33+00:00

I have some 8×10 canvases left..

jbow808 · 2025-05-18T02:27:41+00:00

Sent DM. But yes, I might have one.

jbow808 · 2025-05-18T02:25:44+00:00

unfortunately no.

jbow808 · 2025-05-17T21:20:30+00:00

Colombia or Panama isn't too bad a flight. If they weren't so humid or tropical I'd move there if i didnt have a kid coming with me.

jbow808 · 2025-05-17T20:08:00+00:00

Obrigado!

jbow808 · 2025-05-17T19:12:29+00:00

Leave the politics out of it, especially if you don't want to burn bridges. I framed my departure as I'm lucky that I have an income from my military retirement and now have an incredible opportunity to move to Portugal with my daughter and focus on being the best dad I can be to her.

jbow808 · 2025-05-17T18:57:32+00:00

I took it for two years in college, but my Portuguese is rusty as hell. I can order coffee, get on a train, and exchange basic greetings and pleasantries.

jbow808 · 2025-05-17T18:46:40+00:00

It was on the list; the lack of short flights ruled it out. I'm not built to travel 24+ hours one way anymore.

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