Language Lessons Pay Off!
Today I’m taking a moment to appreciate all the hard work I’ve put into learning Portuguese.
View from The Roman Bridge in Tavira, Portugal
Image shot in Tavira, Portugal
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday — A.A. Milne
Making big dreams a reality is exciting, but it takes a lot of hard work. Even more important, though, is keeping that dream alive by really envisioning the life you want to create. For a while now, Paul and I have been dreaming about living part-time in Europe while still keeping our Colorado life going strong. It’s a big goal with a lot of moving parts, but the number one thing that keeps us moving forward is staying positive and focused.
One of the biggest hurdles we’ve run into is the language barrier. It’s a real challenge and not something you can just brush off. Sure, many people in Portugal speak English, but it's better to assume they don’t and be prepared for that. Learning the language is key, and trust me, we’ve heard this advice over and over from people who have been here before us.
Today I’m taking a moment to appreciate all the hard work I’ve put into learning Portuguese. I still remember the first time I tried speaking it: I was using Duolingo, and none of the vocabulary felt even remotely useful. Plus, back then, it was Brazilian Portuguese, not European Portuguese, which made things even trickier. Then I stumbled across Talk the Streets, a series of videos by Liz Sharma, who lives in Portugal. I loved her style right away, and later found out she offers a complete language course. I’ve written about Talk the Streets before, but now that I’m here in Portugal, I can say without a doubt, the hard work is paying off!
I've discovered just how helpful it is to speak confidently and conversationally. When you travel, you run into all kinds of challenges you don’t expect. What happens when you arrive with a cold, on top of your allergies? No one plans on getting sick while they’re traveling, but sure enough, I caught a cold. I don’t get sick very often, so it was probably a reminder to manage stress better. But there I was, coughing too much for comfort. So I made my first trip to a Portuguese pharmacy. Fun fact: pharmacies here play a much bigger role in healthcare than they do in the U.S. I didn’t know you had to take a number upon entering, so I quickly learned that, looked up words like “cold” and “sore throat” on my phone, and managed to describe what I needed pretty easily. You know you’re making progress when the pharmacist starts speaking back to you in Portuguese without missing a beat! Big score!
Another daily adventure is figuring out where to eat. This trip, I purposely did a few things differently. I’m staying in a charming little inn that has been listed on Airbnb. It’s locally owned and provides jobs to local people, which is a good feeling. Plus, they do such a nice job. The only downside? No kitchen. But honestly, there are so many great places to eat, it hasn’t been a problem! I found a perfect morning coffee spot called Svitlana Caffe—delicious pastries and lattes for breakfast.(Normally I skip pastries, but in Europe, somehow I can eat wheat without any stomach issues. It’s magical. And a topic for another time!
Lunch has become my main meal, and dinner is just a little fruit and cheese. Even dairy doesn’t bother me here! Best of all, every meal is another chance to practice Portuguese. Every interaction—ordering coffee, asking for the bill—has been in Portuguese. One server even commented she didn’t realize I spoke English! Definitely a win. I still have a ways to go with listening, speaking, and writing, but I’m celebrating every step.
You also find yourself needing random things, like a beach towel. Shout-out to Rick Steves for recommending packing your own…Ooops, I forgot! I ended up buying one for € 8, and later figured out how to ship some of my overpacked stuff home through UPS. Buying a beach towel might sound simple, but being able to talk to the shopkeeper, answer questions, and complete the whole transaction in Portuguese felt like a huge victory.
Speaking of Svitlana Caffe: I’m actually writing this blog post right here in Vila Real de Santo António. Mid-sneezing attack, the kind lady who owns the shop handed me an Actifed! She said she struggles with allergies too and pointed me to the pharmacy opening nearby. But she also gave me one of her own! Moments like this: kindness, connection, and real conversations—are why learning the language is so worth it.
Between catching a cold, finding places to eat, and random beach towel adventures, speaking even a little Portuguese has made this trip easier, more fun, and way more memorable. Every little conversation builds my confidence and gets me closer to the dream of someday retiring here.
A lot of people say they don’t even want to try learning a new language, but here’s the thing: every single person on this planet was born able to make every sound needed for every language. We’re all natural language learners. Some languages just seem harder because they’re unfamiliar. But if you tell yourself you can do it, you’re already halfway there. It's not always easy, but it’s absolutely possible. And honestly? It’s a lot more fun than you might think.
#dreambig
#portugallife
#travelwins
