First things first

Before we go any further I should make the profile of yours truly.
Those of you that pay attention to the migrations in Europe, will for sure know that the profile of the Portuguese emigrant in the later half of the 20th century, was manly of uneducated (only in a academic way) rural population, running form hunger and the troubles of the dictatorship until 1974, and after enjoying the opportunities created by the opening of borders in Europe.

Now, my generation is what the officials call, the highest educated in the history of the country. I have 2 degrees, including one master, intern-ship in one of the most prestigious international organization in the world in my field.Like me, thousands of others.
And still, this is one of the highest rate of young emigration in a long time. Europe is receiving highly trained people for free, and its a phenomenon that doesn't seem to be slowing down. Its not that we don't love our country, its just that we can only survive if we stay behind. And even to survive, most need help from the parents. That is also the reason that people in their 30s have no children, and Portugal has one of the lowers birth rates in Europe.

So, one day last summer, I decided to quit my job and come to the UK.
I liked my job, but like so many others, it wouldn't amount to more than what it had been for the 2 years I did it. So I started applying for vacancies, bought a plane ticket and here I am.  

The other side

As a foreign, I will for sure end up many times comparing the UK with my homeland.
And even if this might be truth in same cases, because there is no place like home, if all where great, I would probably not have left.

One thing I never liked "back home" was when some of my foreign friends from the university, would start complaining about Portugal, because you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you, sort of saying. But in fact there are a lot of problems in sunny Portugal.

This to say, that even if I am trying not to behave like this, it seems to be stronger than me, and i end up always comparing how all is much better back home! I know, shame on me... but hopefully this blog "experience" can help me change my views, and also, if someone from the UK ever read this, help them understand a little bit all the problems and adaptations, someone that comes from Europe goes trough.

Because the UK is not quite Europe, how i've been told. But that is another post...

Beginning

11 September 2014

The day I started a new chapter in my quiet life, and moved to the UK, from Portugal.

This blog will serve the purpose of sharing this experience, and also as a recorded log book of everything that, as a foreigner, feels a bit weird to me.

Also hope that many of my points of view and doubts can be enlighten by those who live here longer, or even better, by native islanders :)