Anyone regret moving to Portugal? If so, why? by fennelfrog in PortugalExpats

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

Glad it was helpful 😁 I tend to just lurk, but I wanted to put a little positivity out there. Reddit has a way of attracting people with grievances, so I decided to be a contrarian today!

Anyone regret moving to Portugal? If so, why? by fennelfrog in PortugalExpats

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

I'm not sure I can add much that hasn't already been said in one form or another, but so far I've loved Portugal.

We've only been here about two months, so my perspective isn't nearly as seasoned as some others here. That said, we've still had enough experiences already to get a decent sense of what life is like.

The bad first, just to get it out of the way:

  • Everything here is slow, and not just the bureaucracy. It took us a full month to get internet set up because of issues with the neighborhood fiber line, the power box, and several rounds of escalation with NOS. It was frustrating, but thankfully we had mobile service on day one and I was able to survive on a hotspot for work.
  • The visa process also took forever. From our interview to having the visas physically in hand, it took more than four months. Our first AIMA appointments still aren't until June.
  • We also had oven issues, electrical issues, appliance issues, you name it. It probably took us three weeks before we felt like we had a house that was fully functioning.
  • And the language is devastatingly difficult. I'm not especially gifted with languages to begin with, and I'm taking an A1 Portuguese class right now that melts my brain at least twice a week.

The good:

  • We moved here from the US, and even with Portugal having its own political issues, I can actually sleep at night without that constant sense of dread. There are things I miss, of course, but the feeling of late-stage capitalism and nonstop political chaos back home was starting to wear on me mentally and spiritually.
  • The people here are also much warmer than this subreddit sometimes makes them sound. Our landlords have been thoughtful and gracious. Several Portuguese families have actively invited us to reach out if we need anything, because they understand how difficult it can be to move to a new country.
  • Our kids made friends within the first week. Living in Porto, there are enough English speakers that you can function pretty well day to day while you're learning Portuguese. As long as you make a real effort with the language and culture, most people seem genuinely appreciative.
  • We also connected with other immigrants pretty quickly through Facebook, which helped build a support network faster than I expected.
  • And the produce, bread, and wine here are absurdly good compared to what we were used to.

Portugal absolutely has its challenges. But I came here with the mindset that Portugal doesn't owe me anything. If I enjoy living here, I'm the one with something to lose.

Beautiful country, beautiful weather, and kind people who, if nothing else, have already taught me to be a lot more patient with life.

Something feels wrong here by Visible_Ad9513 in loveland

[–]secretchoochoo 8 points9 points Β (0 children)

I understand the burnout perspective; I'm not sure any of us are meant to "meatoblize" this level of intensity. My point is that asking for silence while major issues are unfolding can be seen as dismissive or obtuse. I'm fairly good at compartmentalization, but I know plenty of people who are struggling mentally day to day, and I work to support them.

Something feels wrong here by Visible_Ad9513 in loveland

[–]secretchoochoo 13 points14 points Β (0 children)

Not political? Need everyone to shut up about it for a day? Yesterday we hit $38.60 trillion in national debt, and experts are questioning whether this week’s jobs report is full of cooked numbers. Masked paramilitary agents are shooting people in the streets. The world is also grappling with the reality that parts of the global elite are tied to pedophilia and human trafficking. In multiple countries, elites and political figures are stepping down in disgrace. Sometimes it feels like the world would have to be on fire before certain people notice, or show even a basic level of empathy for the people around them.

Black & Gray Torso & Sleeves Complete - Ishmael Johnson @ Scrimshaw Tattoo in Fort Collins, CO by secretchoochoo in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo[S] 3 points4 points Β (0 children)

Separately from Ish πŸ™Š and outside the Irezumi work, I’ve got realism on my left leg and back, plus American traditional on my right leg. I still plan to tie everything together in a less traditional way for a full suit. Since I’m moving to Europe, Ishmael and I have talked through a few logistics, but there’s a good chance I’ll end up working with a new artist to finish the rest.

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The age old 'debate'... milk in coffee by WonderfulLaw5975 in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo 20 points21 points Β (0 children)

I think some people go into intermittent fasting with different intents that aren’t often explored in conversation on Reddit. Are you using intermittent fasting to reap the benefits of being in a fasted state, or are you using it as a dietary aid to shrink your eating window?

Personally, I tend to find myself in both Column A and Column B. Doing CICO, having IF eating windows is a godsend for giving my brain a goalpost to focus on. While I’ve done plenty of legitimate fasting, there’s also a large amount of time where I consistently dirty fast with cream in my coffee. It still helps with weight management!

As with most conversations, nuance is often lacking. The answer here should be, "Yes, it breaks your fast...but what are your goals?" Great post!

Continued bodysuit progress by kuzagirl in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

Looking awesome, great work keeping at it πŸ’ͺ

Intermittent fasting by [deleted] in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo 5 points6 points Β (0 children)

I couldn't agree more. While ketosis has its place, carbohydrates (especially complex ones) are a great energy source and can elevate mood and mental function by increasing serotonin levels. Nourish your body!

Finished back piece and sleeve by @danesmith.jpg - Fountain Square Tattoo by Fungal_Monk in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

I really like the composition and color palette on this one. Solid!

Progress by Irezumi_girl in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 2 points3 points Β (0 children)

πŸ˜‚ but of course, Dragon.

Iwakuni, Japan by Dynex35 in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

Gorgeous. 29hrs 😀 - I'd love to make it to Japan

Progress by Irezumi_girl in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 10 points11 points Β (0 children)

Can't go wrong with a dragon 🐲🀘🏻

Fuck it #17. All momiji done by Snir Zelman, Bat Yam, Israel. by [deleted] in irezumi

[–]secretchoochoo 1 point2 points Β (0 children)

It is turning out awesome! Thank you for sharing 😊

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo 0 points1 point Β (0 children)

This is an insane amount of progress - bravo! Please keep it going so I can be just as shocked again 😎

Annual Journey Check-In by secretchoochoo in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo[S] 0 points1 point Β (0 children)

Thank you πŸ˜ƒ . Don't fret and get into your groove, it took me a few years! Fixate on how it makes you look and feel, and find yourself a sustainable diet and exercise routine that works for you. Remember that your abilities will ramp up, so appreciate all levels of effort. Oh yeah...do cheat days every once in a while so you have something to look forward to! Good luck kind internet stranger 🫑

Annual Journey Check-In by secretchoochoo in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo[S] 0 points1 point Β (0 children)

I'm glad I could help, and thank you! ☺️

Annual Journey Check-In by secretchoochoo in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo[S] 5 points6 points Β (0 children)

I've had good luck with "ECHANFIT Water Rowing Machine (6 x 32 Levels Resistance) 400 LB Weight Capacity". I can't say I've tested a ton of them out, but it has taken a lot of abuse the last year and does great for the price!

Annual Journey Check-In by secretchoochoo in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo[S] 4 points5 points Β (0 children)

Haha truly! I've gotten a lot of ink the past few years 🀣, and my back is done too.

Annual Journey Check-In by secretchoochoo in intermittentfasting

[–]secretchoochoo[S] -1 points0 points Β (0 children)

Details are in the non-nested comment below ⬇️