6 Major Differences Between the US and Portugal According to Americans: Expat Life in the Algarve
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Welcome back to our channel, viewers! It's been an amazing journey exploring the stunning Algarve region here in Portugal. After some incredible experiences, we're back to share our insights on the intriguing cultural contrasts we've encountered as Americans living in the Algarve.
🏖️ Join us as we delve into the fascinating nuances that set the Algarve apart from our hometown of Orange Beach, AL. Much like the vibrant Lagos, our hometown thrives on tourism, yet the distinct way of life is bound to captivate you.
🌍 Languages & Multilingualism - Number one on our list is the incredible diversity of languages spoken here. It's astonishing to hear people fluently switch between two or more languages on the streets of the Algarve. This cosmopolitan atmosphere adds an extra layer of charm to this beautiful region.
💡 Energy Efficiency & Lifestyle - Number two, we've uncovered a unique approach to energy conservation. From the cost of electricity to the mindful use of air conditioning, the Algarve prioritizes sustainability. Discover how we've embraced these eco-friendly practices in our daily lives.
🚦 Navigating Traffic & Travel - Thirdly, we tackle the thrilling adventure of navigating traffic in Portugal. Say goodbye to traffic lights, and say hello to roundabouts! Get ready to embark on a journey where walking often trumps driving, leading us to experience the heart of the Algarve up close.
💰 Banking Innovations - Our fourth point delves into the world of Portuguese banking. With surprising features at ATMs and a seamless interbank transfer system, banking here has been a game-changer for us. You won't believe the convenience we've encountered.
🍽️ Culinary Delights - Point number five takes us on a culinary journey. We're savoring the fresh flavors of Portugal and comparing them to our American food experiences. From smaller fridges to unique dining customs, we spill the beans on what truly makes Portuguese dining special.
☕ Coffee Culture - Last but not least, we unravel the coffee culture that keeps us buzzing. From after-dinner espresso to the availability of freshly brewed coffee at all hours, we've embraced this newfound caffeine-infused lifestyle.
Join us as we share these eye-opening differences and the joyful moments they've brought to our lives. Adapting to a new culture has its challenges, but as we sip our espresso in this picturesque setting, we can confidently say we've become espresso enthusiasts for life-no matter the hour.
Thank you for tuning in! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our Algarve adventures. Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts or if you've experienced similar cultural contrasts.
Until next time, keep exploring and embracing the world around you! 🌍✨ 🇺🇸🇵🇹
Hello! Portugal and Europe is not a car-based society. Energy is expensive and we think about pollution and protecting the environment (North Americans are the biggest polluters) so we use low-powered cars, we dry our clothes in an ecological way, we try to air-condition our homes in the most natural way, houses facing south, painted white, etc. Our climate, especially in the south, does not need heating, and if they are insulated, they do not even need air conditioning, but there are already many with AC. We don't have police chasing anyone who speeds, there are radars and the fine goes home or speed bumps, when you exceed the traffic light it turns red, a kind of punishment, you stay stopped for a few seconds. We have many roundabouts because it is the best way to move traffic, there are rules for driving around roundabouts, be careful. Always drive in the right lane if there are more, the left lane is only for overtaking, there will be a fine if you don't comply. We have cities that are centuries old, when there were horse carriages, which is why they are narrow. The trend is to reduce cars in older city centers or even eliminate them
We have enjoyed the vast differences. The lower energy use has been an adaptation, but we have embraced the lower consumption. We will definitely be bringing some of these practices back home. The smaller streets kind of stress me out while driving, but I understand why they are smaller. That's why we purchased the smallest car we could. :)
North Americans are not the biggest polluters.
I love your videos! Some more insights: A/C is standard only in middle/high-standard houses or apartments. Lagos is a relatively poor city in the country. Four more big differences: 1) Good students go to public (and free) colleges. 2) Healthcare services are almost free vs. USA. 3) Paid holidays for workers (22 working days/year) are law mandatory 4) Overall safety is very high in Portugal (we are top 3 in the world).
Thank you for sharing! We have enjoyed learning and experiencing all the differences. We have had excellent experience with the healthcare system. I have loved how safe I have felt the whole time we have been here.
I agree with everything except A/C part, in lisbon that would be the biggest city doesn't has A/C in most apartments or houses the majority of people doesn't has it at all maybe in cascais there is more houses with A/C but I have no way of knowing that I'm just assuming. I think generally speaking we portuguese don't use much A/C nor central heating that might be very usual in USA.
6...
After having the opportunity to travel and work in the US for several months it’s interesting to see my country of birth through the eyes of a couple of North Americans. Subscribed.
Thanks for being here! I hope you are enjoying the US! How do you feel about the differences you are experiencing in the US?
NORT AMERICA is MEXICO, USA AND CANADA .... Make the distinction.
The billboard thing! I recently moved here from California and I'm so used to looking up things to do online. Now I'm that girl pulled over on the side of the road taking a photo of the billboard!
It definitely takes some getting used to! It's nice now that we know to look out for them. It's a great use of space!
Please stop promoting Portugal internationally as an ideal place to buy homes🇵🇹 as it is negatively affecting my people. There is a direct link with the Airbnb, Golden Visas and Digital Nomads and the prices of homes all over Portugal. Proof of it is the fact that even the Portuguese government pretended to fix it with a new bill that they passed last July called “home for all” which still favours Golden Visas and Digital Nomads holders over their native Portuguese. Portuguese are now starting to see rich foreigners who are buying our homes on the international house market as the source of the rising houses and rental prices. How can we compete with rich foreign who are buying our homes with our minimum salaries of €760 a month?!!!! The sad reality that Golden visa holders know that they benefit of free movement all over Europe when they buy a Portuguese home above a certain price, so the house prices were forcefully inflated to accommodate the value that guarantee them the status of Golden visa. Furthermore, as they all automatically get a Portuguese passport after 5years , which grants them free access to many countries without any commitment, really. They only have to stay 7days in the country a year to apply for a Golden visa, but they are allowed to affect the house market, our life style and our power of acquisition permanently. We live in a country with portuguese salaries, but our houses are on an international market, that is problem. In addition to this, our elderly people were forced out of their rental properties in the historic centres of cities such us Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Faro, Coimbra , Braga, Funchal, Ponta Delgada,Setubal, etc. This has killed our heritage, culture and social fabric to accommodate a superficial postcard tourism that has nothing to do with us Portuguese.
It’s good to know that you guys seems to finding your place here in our little strip of sea strand! Take care, and here’s to hoping you keep on finding your pace and vibe! 🥂
Welcome to Portugal, explore this little rectangle by the sea and don´t forget the islands (Madeira and Açores). Try to find Portuguese friends to make the adaptation easier. Enjoy.
PS: Driving with manuals is the real deal man :)
Totally agree - manuals are awesome! We love our Portugese friends. They have helped make this transition easier for sure. Joseph is heading to Madeira in a few weeks! We are excited to see what it's all about. Thanks for checking our video out! We appreciate you being here on our channel!
Lol island are beautiful but nothing beats portugal! I was born in Azores ! … you can visit in one week 🤣
@alittleheavenonearth Joseph is heading to Madeira next week! We are definitely excited to check the islands out!
@@wanderwiththewebsters Madeira is nice
This was fun. Use liquid fabric softener... I like to hand dry (and I don't have to)... and water softener is great!
Can you imagine honking at an elderly person in a wheelchair type scooter? I'd say to those people, just wait till that's you! Do you really need to get somewhere, in that much urgency? Leave your home with plenty of time to get to where you have to go. LOL
Lagos (La-go-sh) is a lovely town. (Brits often pronounce it more like La-gosh)
Your price (per-gallon) is basically what I am paying in Ottawa (Canada) in litres (per-gallon), for regular gas. It's high here too. And, my daughter lives in Los Angeles now and our prices are pretty close to hers. (when you convert ours to per-gallon).
Multi-Banco is fantastic. Canada is way ahead of the US in banking ability... but Portugal puts all of us in the dark ages when it comes to banking!
I mean this with respect, and a giggle... but you must be living in a old billboard bubble in Alabama. I spend half the year in NY/NJ and they have modern billboards there...
I love that you can learn how to shop for fresh food... buy what you need in the next couple of days, so it's fresh, and it's not full of preservatives. It's MUCH less expensive too! Win Win
You two are adorable. Enjoy your lives in Lagos :) You picked a wonderful part of the world!
That is a great suggestion! We love learning and gaining perspective from others. We haven't made our way to Canada yet, but it is definitely on our list!
20:45 - We don't eat dinner late, it's you guys that are used to eat dinner at ungodly hours. 😄
We have grown accustomed to eating dinner later. We don't prefer one over the other. It is just different than what we grew up doing.
In the USA we eat dinner around 6 pm our 7pm and around ten having more snacks than boom the pounds start hitting 😂
@@antoniodasilva1230 😂😂 very true
@@wanderwiththewebsters the worse thing in the USA is we get a half hour lunch break then back to work the food hardly got inside and back we go now I've been working in Portugal for three year's we go off for lunch around 1pm come back slightly pass 2pm sometimes when our boss comes with us we eat for two hours everyone gets one hour lunch break but some of us get one and a half 😏😁
@antoniodasilva1230 I love this so much! When we worked in corporate, we definitely experienced the 30-minute lunch breaks, or worse, eating at our desk. 🙃
Be very welcome. Loved your view. Had a great laugh with some stuff I’ve never noticed.
Thank you! We are glad you enjoyed and appreciate your comment!
Welcome to Portugal. You are a very nice couple.
- Walk more will be good for your health
- We usually dont have ac because for us the weather is only hot a few das in july and august, whe prefere a full heating system for winter.
I am from Oporto. Hope to see you around some day.
We have enjoyed walking more! Getting used to little to no a/c has been an adjustment. Maybe by the end of our 2 year stint here, we will be completely used to it!
You don't need AC in Porto. In Algarve when we get in the 40°C, it is very difficult to get by.
@@anacantinho we are excited to visit Porto!
I feel like Porto and Algarve have 2 very different weathers and most people in the north are not able to afford heating systems either generally speaking we have more heating systems in the north and more AC systems in the south but way less heating systems and AC units than what a USA citizen might be used to. From what I've heard in USA those 2 systems in almost every home but here in Portugal most houses have none.
@haroina391 Yes, in our home in America, we have both central heating and cooling. We had to acclimate to it.
Welcome to Portugal. A very interesting video. Just a detail: you will find plenty of traffic lights (and roundabouts) in and around Lisbon, Porto or Coimbra. Outside the cities traffic lights are less necessary as there is also less traffic, but there are lots of traffic lights in many places.
As for the rest, you pointed out some interesting things.
Thanks for watching and sharing the info! We did see some traffic lights during our visit to Lisbon, but not too many. I'm sure we will experience more when we visit again!
Wow this is all so interesting!!! Maybe you can do a vid for your top Algarve adventures? You guys go to so many cool places it would be interesting to see them ranked!!
Most definitely! We actually have the script written for that one, and will hopefully get it filmed this weekend!!You are the best! Thanks for watching!
There are several Brazilians married to North Americans. It is very difficult to find someone in Brazil who speaks English. And that's why many Americans start to speak Portuguese. Greetings from Brazil. 🇧🇷🇧🇷
Hey, I think you guys look healthier and there is a glow (of happiness) about both of you guys.
When you drink coffee outside, just make sure it is Delta, it is the best one.
Thanks for the info! 🤗
Have fun guys! I'm from Porto. Lagos is the second best city in PT! Rock on! Portuguese living in Boston, here.
Thanks for checking out our video! We love it here in Lagos and have plans to visit Porto in November! Any recommendations on what to do in Porto?
@@wanderwiththewebstersTanto para ver no Porto: Estação de comboios de S Bento; Catedral do Porto e apreciar os inumeros miradouros sobre ca cidade;descer pelas ruas medievais desde a Catedral até à Ribeira, Andar no eletrico da marginal que vai da Ribeira até à Foz onde começa o Oceano Atlântico e é uma das zonas mais nobres do Porto para se viver mas é preciso ter muito dinheiro;visitar Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis;visitar o Palácio da Bolsa e o belo salão árabe; ir ate aos jardins do Palácio de Cristal; visitar o Museu de Serralves e o seu imenso jardim de inspiração inglesa; visitar as caves de vinho do Porto, Ponte Luis I, uma obra de um discípulo de Eiffel portanto uma ponte toda em ferro e um dos ícones do Porto, visitar o Estadio de Dragão do FCPorto e o belo museu do clube, atravessar a ponte Luis I e do outro lado do rio apreciar o por do sol sobre a cidade, apreciar o Porto à noite todo iluminado que é belíssimo, Ir ao Parque Urbano da cidade tipo um Central Park de Nova Iorque, passear pelo Porto antigo, medieval e pelo Porto moderno e residencial .O Porto é uma cidade que combina muito bem o antigo e o moderno. IR à Torre dos Clerigos e subir os muitos degraus até chegar ao cimo da Torre e apreciar parte da cidade, visitar um dos MC Donald's maia bonitos do Mundo na Avenida dos Aliados que é lindíssima com os seus edifícios Beaux Art...Apreciar a boa comida portuguesa e estrangeira em tascas que se encontram em qualquer das ruas mais estreitas do Centro Histórico..Enfim , Porto é Patrimonio🎉 Mundial da Humanidade e tem muito que ver e para mim é a cidade mais charmosa de Portugal com um certo pedigree já que tem muita influência britânica, italiana e francesa . É a cidade em Portugal!
I can speak portuguese, french, spanish, a little italian and so.😊
We’re moving to Portugal in October. Looking forward to it. The dryer thing was interesting. We were staying at a resort in Lagos and it had a washer/dryer combo and the dryer part scared the living hell out of us. Sounded like a jet engine going off. I ended up unplugging it because I couldn’t figure out the buttons.. haha.
😂😂 that is too funny! We have adapted to the no dryer life, and I don't hate it. It's actually a lot easier for me to keep up with. I don't pile loads of clothes up in my laundry baskets. 🤷🏼♀️ I think we will probably keep this lifestyle, at least for all of our clothes, probably not for towels and sheets. 😂
Just subscribed. Great video guys! Great info, good luck in Portugal and with the channel!
Thank you so much! We appreciate you subscribing!
I would love to see a family vlog of a normal day for yall : )
Awesome idea! We will put that on our list!!
Love the video guys! & I laughed so hard at the ice comment😂
I miss it so much!
Once you are longer here in Europe (and Portugal is such a lovely place) you will be shocked when you go back to the US even for a visit. You forget a lot and fast. I am now 27 years here in your neighboring Spain (Barcelona) and every time I go back to visit family and friends, it´s becoming more alien to me.
Yes, there are smaller fridges here and less AC, smaller (mostly not needed) cars and less "choice" in the supermarket (15 products from the same company, sugar laden and processed) but I think it is more then worth it.
I am 72 now and did have my last doctors visit 28 years ago in the States, with the exception of preventative tests, completely free here.
You do not get sick if you have a good life. Not like in the US when life means work, usually for someone else and stress.
Yes, gas is $8 a gallon, but trains run comfortable, with AC and very very cheap. A 400mi trip to Madrid takes me 2h and a half and cost 35 Euros return, who wants to sit in a car for 6h in the heat and pay for the freeway AND the gas? Local transport (busses, trams and metro) are free now, alone to park a car in Barcelona can cost as much as a small apartment to rent.
What banking is concerned is Europe (and the rest of the world) light years on over the US. They still use checks there I heard. Probably verified by fax😂
Anyway, I hope you going to stay and enjoy your life in one of the safest, climatically stablest, most beautiful and culturally most fascinating places on this planet.
Btw, I been once to Mobile Alabama and...well, I did not like it. But that's just me, so not really a fact. As a digital nomad you can go anywhere and you chose a nice spot.
We've enjoyed everything being smaller. It's taken some time to get used to, but we really don't mind it now.
We are loving it here and are looking forward to our visit back to the US in February. We can't wait to do another comparison after being here for many months.
Read my other comment pls! I became a widower due to safety issues in Buenos Aires in Argentina in 2017. I relocated in Coimbra in Portugal in December 2021. Now I started 2023 in Funchal. 10 days in Santa Cruz in Madeira blew my mind. 71 now. At 73 or 74 at I¨ll live in Madeira. Life is totally different here than in the american continent (south and north included).
Belo video. 🙃
Nice you're enjoying Portugal. Yeah, some things weird, but, hey, the USofA is a lot weirder. 🙄 Sejam bem-vindos.
Thank you! We appreciate you tuning in! We enjoy learning differences of cultures. It allows our perspectives to grow and deepen.
O pessoal ainda nao entendeu que esta' a ser um desastre convidar mais Gente para imigrar para Portugal...
Al
Exemplo:
Algarve esta' enfrentado uma grande crise de falta de agua...
as nossas barragens estao no ponto mais baixo em capacidade como nunca antes...
Os paises em Volta do Mediterraneo estao numa seca severa..
e os precos dos alimentos, rendas de casa etc etc. Teem subido vertiginosamente.....Isso e' uma Grande injustica feita Contra o nosso povo...
Parem com esta propaganda desnecessaria.
All the best to you. May these changes bring you happiness 🙂
Thank you and your kind words!
You're living in Lagos. There is like the best seafood and fish you can find in the Algarve. You must explore it!
Any recommendations?!
That's right! We walk everywhere! From Lisbon, subscribed 😄
Thank you for subscribing and watching! We appreciate it!
Usb fans are very good and an airer in your home dries the clothes without bleaching and crisping 🙂
Thank you for the tip!!
You spoke about coffee, bread and cheese. Have you tried the seasoned olives? You can get a full meal on bread, olives, cheese and all the different tipe of chouriços. Go to Monchique to try very good chouriço and presunto
Excellent idea! Joseph and Vivian love the olives! We haven't tried chouriço and presunto in Monchique yet. Thank you for the suggestion!
I love you guys
Completely agree! Neither one is better or worse than the other, just different! We love experiencing different!
Great to see you all provide insights. Just found your channel.
Will have to check out your other videos.
Greetings, Hola, Gruss Got, von Florida. 🏖 ⛵️ 🌊 🏄♀️ 🏄♂️ 🚣 🏊♂️ 🐬🦎 🌞
I lived in Germany for 8 years and in Mexico for a couple of years. Whiched helped me learn multiple languages.
As you learn your verbs take post it notes and right out 10 sentences 10 times and say it each time.
Looking forward to seeing more. 👍 🎬 🎥 💪
Thanks for the tip! Learning a new language is tough. What was your favorite part of Germany? We are planning to visit Germany in the near future!
@@wanderwiththewebsters Fussen, Neuschwanstein Castle. The castle that inspired Disney. You don't really get a sense of it and it's wonder until you've walked up to it. Walked through it's halls and grand halls. Then only to find out.....
Sauerkraut. ... Bratwurst..... and ...Kartoffelkloesse ( Potato balls )
All a must try. The black forest for those Real cuckoo clocks. Plus the Brothers Grimm are from Hanu near Frankfurt which has really incredible architecture.
Just be careful going into certain museums in Berlin or Frankfurt. Can be lots of xxx stuff.
Near Berlin is Potsdam and the gardens with Biosphäre Potsdam, palaces etc.
Doppelbock beer 🍺 originally made by monks to get through fasting months. Will get you happ face drunk from one glass. There are thousands of local beer and breads.
If you are brave ask for a headcheese sandwich 🥪
Pflaume ..... Old-Bavarian plum fruit juice liqueur in small bottles. 😋
Kirchzarten a great town for hang gliding .
@@livingworkingoutsidebox THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is amazing and will help us plan our trip!
@@wanderwiththewebsters Hey reach out to "Dave from Portugal " see if he would be willing to give you pointers. 😉 but more so ask him about his magic a.i. trip planner that sponsored one of his videos. Reach out to see if they would sponsor a series of videos of you using it to plan your trips. Start $1,000 per video as low as $500 per video with multiple videos and include, commercial rights for max 6 months no longer start with 2-3 months. Also provide a package of 50 scenic photos and 25 (30 seconds of b-roll) they can have full rights with credits to you for 12 months max 24 months. For photos and b-roll package include commercial rights into perpetuity if they pay the $1k rate or more.
But be flexible. Start off asking about their goals and plans.
Maybe they would be willing to sponsor your channel for some b-roll and a 4 minute video a month.
They might be a super new start up but now you have a plan for other companies 😉
@livingworkingoutsidebox these are INCREDIBLE pointers. Thank you so much!
Love u guys video , I am Portuguese ans I can relate 💯 % to ur video. I live in USA but yeah Portugal is different . Tip : about fridge ( a lot of Portuguese buy a separate freezer where they store most their food, just FYI ) 😊 tip for you guys 🥰 hope it helps 😁
Thank you so much! That is incredibly insightful! We started a new series today in YT shorts where we ask Portuguese followers to answer questions. The hope is to create a wealth of information for other subscribers looking for basic questions. We shared the first one today. We would love your insight on it. Tips like these help us better understand and learn about the Portuguese culture. Thank you so much for sharing!
Pls habilitate the auto generated subtitles of UA-cam, not for me, but your subscriber base will improve a lot. I came directly from Argentina in 2021. Greetings from Coimbra .
Thank you for the suggestion! We will make sure to do that on the next video!
Welcome to this little corner of Europe, where I was born and that I am proud to call home. I
Hope you'll have a smooth and easy adaptation to our country and culture.
As you mention right at the beginning I am also able to speak and understand multiple languages (english, Spanish, french and a tiny little bit of German) and I confess that I love to practice my love for languages, sooooo... If you are ever in need of some translation I would be more than happy to do it and help you for free.
Enjoy your time here
That is so kind of you! We love it here in Portugal and are enjoying the challenge of learning a new beautiful language.
@@wanderwiththewebsters it is an honest comment. You're welcome
Hello and Welcome to Algarve, My dream is to go live back home in Algarve tired of the cold of Manitoba/Canada... If u want to see a different Algarve take a short ride to Monchique where u can enjoy the spa town of Caldas de Monchique and enjoy the most high point of Algarve in Foia, also enjoy some good traditional algarvian food in the picturesque village of Monchique.
We loved our visit to Foia! We plan to go back to enjoy the town a little more! Thank you for your warm welcome. We love it here. Good wishes on getting to the Algarve!
Welcome. I am portuguese and live in the Lagos town center.
Thank you! We love it here in Lagos!
If you like ice, ask for ice and they bring ice. I ask them to bring my coke with ice and lemon slice.
And by the way normally nobody ask for tap water. But by law if you order food, you dont need to pay the water, you need only to tell them you dont want a water bottle and to bring you a glass of tap water, "água da torneira".
There was a controversy a few years ago in Castro Marim 5 kids from middle school enter in a coffee shop and ask for tap water because was to hot and the school was on strike (they need to wait a couple of hours for the bus) and the owner refuse to give them tap water because they dont consume anything. When all the people find out that the coffee shop refuse to give free tap water to middle school kids the town boycott that business and they fail in half a year.
Sorry my english...
Might have included Heathcare. Its cost and what you get for it.
We will be sure to include Healthcare in another video! Thank you for your suggestion!
In Alentejo some of the signs say that they be red at 50km/h (32mph) but at 45km/h (28mph) they fall to red.
Be aware if you pass that red light you have by the Portuguese law you will have 3 penalties (Number one the fine in monetary value from 75€ to 375€, number 2 minus 4 points on your driving license if you lose 12points you lose your drive but ever 3 years without infractions they give you 3 extra points, and number 3 you cant drive for one month). The trafic law from the article 146º, al. l), 147º, n.º 2 e 148º, n.º 1 al. b) do CE.
The penalties are very similar if you dont stop your car at a stop sign.
At least that sign to reduce the velocity or you need to stop at a red sign normally is because there have been some accidents or run overs in the area and the authorities have put up signs to prevent accidents or it is because there are schools or children's parks very close by.
My case i was catch at 88km/h in center of Lisbon na Av. Lusíadas very close of Benfica Stadium. That road is 50km/h and i think was 80km/h (but there some works and they put a 50km/h sign that i dont see). My fine was 120€, minus 3 points in my drive licence and i need to go to police station in any week day from 9am to 5pm to give them the drive licence for one month. They give you a paper with a date to go there after that month to pick up your drive licence.
By the way, you can buy automatic cars in Portugal, might cost a little more.
We looked, and they were more than we wanted to spend. We love our car. It's perfect for what we need. I just don't drive, and that's OK! 😊
This is awesome and so interesting! Love to see y’all thriving!!
Thanks for watching! We miss our friends in the States, but are having a great time over here!
So helpful (and hilarious! 🤣🤣🤣)
@dawng1922 thank you! 🤗
Welcome guys👋🏼🎉❤🇵🇹
Thank you! 🥰😘
Walking is good for you thats why people here are healthier and thinner
Completely agree! We love it!
When I saw you guys, I thought, wow, these guys look very American, the Portuguese must see them coming a mile away😆. Admirable that you guys took the plunge. My wife and I will be taking that step within 3 years. Adeus
Yep! All American over here 😂 Good luck on your journey! Portugal is extraordinary!
I thought the same thing. I'm American but have a property in Germany, my wife is from Mozambique, so we have a few places down there and then I have a house in Michigan. I can spot an American a mile away.
If you ask for a glass of tap water, to drink with your coffee, or before you start eating, it is free, it is prohibited to charge for tap water unless there is clear abuse. Tap water is of good quality in 99% of the country, in some places it may have a chlorine taste. Municipalities or companies must carry out several monthly analyzes of public water
That is so helpful to know! Thank you for sharing!
Hey great video, keep it up. Tell us about your favourite local foods that Americans might not know about. Also please add video chapters that would be awesome :)
Thank you for your suggestions! We will add that to our list to cover. We will also work on video chapters 😊
Your first comment that "everyone over here speaks multiple languages" is debatable. Maybe in places that cater to tourists or to expats that might be true but not in the rest of the country. I have been here for over thirty years now and I can say that a small percentage of the population speaks more than one language. A lot of younger Portuguese do have a grasp of English and some are quite fluent especially if they have attended private language schools. Few younger Portuguese speak French or any other European language unless they have been raised in the country where that language is spoken. As an EFL teacher during that time I have dealt with so many doctors, nurses, and other professionals who are at the beginners level of English. In Lisbon or the Algarve of course more people have a greater knowledge of English than those of Tras os Montes.
Thank you for this insight and sharing your experience!
How many Americans speaks a second language?
@joaoportalegre3659 a quick Google search, says around 22% speak a second language versus here in Portugal at 35%.
The title should be differences between Portugal and Alabama- a lot of generalizations. In NYC we walk A LOT! Almost no stores have parking, Massachusetts Is filled with roundabouts (called a rotary) most homes in Washington state don't have air conditioners and I can't believe you think Portugal is hot coming from Alabama. I lived in Louisiana for a bit and the humidity in the Deep South is unbearable during the summer. You really can't compare the entire U.S. to anything- each state has its own quirks.
There are certainly outliers in the US that have similarities to Portugal. We won't deny that, but a vast majority of the US is not. We appreciate you pointing out what areas in the US have similarities to Portugal. It is helpful for those who are not familiar with those areas. Thanks for tuning in!
You have not been in portugal in august then
The same with Portugal. The country is very diverse.
The Algarve region is very different from Minho or Tras-os-Montes or Alentejo. The way of speaking, the food, the way of building houses
nice video i agree with almost everything ... if you guys like portuguese food you MUST to visit the north ( Minho / Alto MInho , Braga, Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo) i assure you ont regret.
i wish you a nice stay in my country,
best regards from Viana do Castelo.
Thank you so much for your kind welcome! We appreciate it!
Cada pais tem as suas características e raízes. Há língua portuguesa, não há língua americana....inglesa, sim. Quanto a frigoríficos, já adotamos comercializar frigoríficos americanos(grande/largo). Escadas nas escarpas? Só para as "necessárias" necessidades😂 estacionamentos? Pois somos um país pequeno com uma arquitectura centenária... o que não justifica tudo....
"Descobrimos" as américas🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Totalmente de acordo. Adoramos descobrir as novas diferenças e vivenciar a rica história que a Europa tem para oferecer. Queríamos viver em Portugal para mergulhar na cultura e aprender com as pessoas.
Completely agree. We love discovering the new differences and experiencing the rich history Europe has to offer. We wanted to live in Portugal to immerse ourselves in the culture and to learn from the people.
@@wanderwiththewebsters aproveitem e apreciem as "pequenas" coisas da vida 😘
Cities, Vilas and Villages older than cars bros...
Everything can be sorted the only thing that you either have it or don't is Golf courses so have yall figured out that situation?? Monte rei, Quinta do lago has something like 50 holes, Ombria, Vale do Lobo....
Que pena não estar traduzido! Fiquei sem saber se esses americanos gostaram ou não de Portugal!
Desculpe, ainda estamos trabalhando em nosso português! Acredito que você pode escolher o idioma em que deseja que as legendas estejam. Adoramos Portugal! Foi incrível. Experimentamos tantas coisas maravilhosas enquanto moramos aqui. Estamos gratos por esta oportunidade e apreciamos o quão acolhedor e gentil o povo português tem sido. Adoramos chamar Portugal de nossa casa temporária.
Por favor, desculpe-me se isso não parece correto. Estamos usando o Google Tradutor até aprendermos um pouco melhor o idioma.
Sorry, we are still working on our Portuguese! I believe you can choose the language you would like the subtitles to be in. We love Portugal! It has been incredible. We have experienced so many wonderful things while living here. We are thankful for this opportunity and appreciate how welcoming and kind the Portuguese people have been. We love calling Portugal our temporary home.
Please excuse me if this does not sound correct. We are using Google translate until we learn the language a little better.
Maria, vá às definições e nas legendas escolha traduzir automaticamente para Português.
Uma das grandes diferenças, o frigorífico, ainda não percebi o porquê do tamanho 🤔🤫😜
É apenas uma diferença de culturas. Na América, fazemos compras com menos frequência, por isso normalmente precisamos de uma geladeira maior. É mais uma questão de conveniência, enquanto em Portugal sinto que se trata menos de conveniência e mais de alimentos frescos. Na América, os nossos produtos são tratados para permanecerem frescos por mais tempo, enquanto em Portugal não acho que seja esse o caso. Em casa, fazemos compras talvez uma vez por semana, ao contrário aqui fazemos compras dia sim, dia não.
It's just a difference in cultures. In America, we grocery shop less frequently, so we typically need a bigger fridge. It's more about convenience, whereas in Portugal, I feel it's less about convenience and more about fresh foods. In America, our produce is treated to stay fresh longer, whereas in Portugal, I don't find that to be the case. Back home, we shop maybe once a week, versus here we shop every other day.
@@wanderwiththewebsters ok obrigado pela explicação, bem vindos a Portugal
What about health care? Can you get meds OTC - like antibiotics? Have you picked out a doctor and pediatrician?
Great question! We have easily been able to find the doctors and medications we have needed. We will be sure to cover this in another episode in more detail!
Love you both! @@wanderwiththewebsters
@@samfischer3296 love you too!
Languages, You are Not on your own! We are English retirees from Uk and where we live in rural central Portugal, English not so common haha!! Portuguese, French lol so hear you 🤣We have been here 3 yrs and still struggle with the language 😂
Interesting
english speaking people have no need to learn languages it seems but to be honest - by the time you move to a country and want to stay there - you should learn the official language of this country.
Are you actually not learning other languages at high school in the US?
Air conditioning is so artificial. You will get used to nature again when living there for longer.
walking is good, keeps the weight in balance! ;)
congratulations that you improved your diet already. No healthy body needs processed food i guess. And making mac n cheese from scratch is really no big deal, is it
I am sure you moved to Portugal to have a better life so enjoy guys!
Thank you for taking the time to watch my video and sharing your thoughts! I completely understand where you're coming from. The purpose of the video is to offer a perspective on the unique aspects of living in Portugal compared to the United States. It's not about suggesting one way of life is better than the other, but rather to highlight the differences and give insight into the experiences I've had here.
While it's true that learning the official language of a country is important for effective integration, the video mainly focuses on the initial experiences and challenges when adjusting to a new environment. Learning a new language takes time and effort, and the necessity to become fluent in the official language while living in a predominantly English speaking has proven quite challenging.
Regarding education in the US, language learning is often introduced in high school, but proficiency levels can vary. Many Americans do learn foreign languages, but the country's large size and the prominence of English as a global language can sometimes influence language learning priorities.
I agree with you about air conditioning and the benefits of reconnecting with nature. Living in Portugal has given me a newfound appreciation for the outdoors and walking, and I'm grateful for that change in perspective. As for food, I've definitely embraced a healthier diet, and you're right that making things from scratch can be quite rewarding.
Moving to Portugal was indeed a personal choice, and I'm enjoying the experiences and cultural differences it brings. It's not about seeking a "better" life, but rather a different way of living that allows for growth, learning, and appreciation of diverse perspectives.
Thank you for your positive wishes, and I hope my video continues to provide insights into the unique aspects of life in Portugal. It's about celebrating differences and fostering understanding between cultures. Enjoy your day!
Welcome to Portugal! Great video!
Thank you! We appreciate you watching!
portuguese invented atm machines and the toll on the roads by the bank
That is great to know! Thank you for being here and letting us know about that!
That is great to know! Thank you for being here and letting us know about that!
You forgot HealthCare...in that regard, the differences are abysmal.
There are a plethora of differences. We only covered 6 in this video. We will be covering Healthcare in other videos in the future. Thank you for your feedback!
Não Podia por tradução em português
Se você estiver fazendo isso em um dispositivo móvel, clique no ícone de configurações no canto superior direito, depois em legendas e, em seguida, em tradução automática, você pode selecionar o idioma que deseja que as legendas tenham. Depois de selecionar o idioma, clique no quadrado com cc no canto superior direito.
I have not found one garbage disposal.... And if you have leftovers that going to stink up the house , you have to take a woke to the big garbage cans on the street and in Winters rains a lot . Al least in my town never seen garbage cans in echa house like in the States , You must walk to the nearest large container on the streets
Not having a garbage disposal was a big adjustment for us! Taking the trash down the road was one of the little things that was a culture shock to me. It sounds silly, I know, but my entire life, I just simply walked outside the garage to put the trash in our personal can.
When the North Americans discover an European country, they realiez how the "American dream" is actually the "American nightmare". Few, very few americans want to go back to USA after experiencing life in Europe. Hence Europe is becoming infested with Americans relocating here, doubled the figures in one year!
We came to explore and discover more of this beautiful world. Each has their problems and nowhere is perfect. We love and miss our home in America, and we love our home in Portugal. We are blessed to have this opportunity to broaden our horizons.
More people spoke Spanish than Portuguese? are you serious?
🥰🥰🥰🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇪🇺🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🥰
Eating Fish is a task and a dangerous on .. In The USA is vey rare to fine a fish none in your dish ... I stopped asking for Fish Other than a Bacalhau dish . I get frustrated with the time that I have to spend looking for bones that I forgot that I order a Sea Bass . The taste of the fish disappeared and is taken over the rear of getting a fish some stuck in your throat ...I know is our American Privilege , fish are completely de banned in the USA , no restaurant wants a law suit .... Here Take a Xanax with red wine and spend a hour trying to find every bone .. Stick To Salmon is easier or a Balcalhau Casserole , Like bacalhu con Natas [ delicious ]
Thanks for the insight. I'm not a big fish eater, but Joseph is. He has enjoyed the few fish dishes that he's ordered. He also grew up taking bones out of the fish, so I don't think it's a huge deal for him. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
🤔 P r o m o s m
ahah portuguese don't sweat, that's a new one.
Your health and your weight will be better, not having fast food, I am sure...
For sure!
AC is a big problem of modern life style; consumes a lot of energy and, worst, worst, reduce ozone layer! Just buy a big fan! Is is more than enough, consumes less electricity, and don't destroy ozone layer. Enjoy
all bad in Portugal ok :)
The arrival of Americans to Portugal has doubled every year in the last 4 or 5 years. Are they losing their fear of the bogeyman of socialism, communism?