Culture Shock When Moving to Portugal

I've spent the last two months in Portugal with plans to make Lisbon my home. This was the first time that I had come to Portugal and so I jumped in completely blind as to what the experience of living here would be like.
As an American who has lived abroad in France, Mexico, Thailand, India, Nepal and Indonesia, there were particularities about life here which surprised me.
In this video I share some things you might expect and experience upon visiting long-term or moving to Portugal.

[@GabrielFerreira-ue8hs]

4:15 us newyorkers feel u king ✊️🥺

[@mariateixeira9769]

No gym closes here. Some shops close from 2pm to 3 pm because ppl have to eat when they work Alone. No cafés close at lunch time. No bank closes at lunch time. No Supermarket closes at lunch time.Oficial Offices close at lunch time. If it is too slow for you go back to your country or visit Orher countries such as norway that closes for two hours at lunch time!

[@jacquelynfelix7176]

Thanks for the details it help to know the good and the obstacle

[@alexanderallan215]

Hi Adrien, I’m glad you are enjoying Lisbon. Yes , they tend to close for 2 or more hours during the day. They usually eat their big meal of the day during that time. The children & adults usually return home to eat their family meal. France , and Spain also do the same. They usually eat lighter foods at night, maybe 9 , or 10 pm. ❤🌈

[@zeub78]

Loved your informative experience thank you for sharing. I really want to visit Portugal some time this year.

[@OPS59]

Olá...Se não sentisse um choque de realidades diferentes, Portugal seria uma extensão da América. Vai adaptar-se e até abrandar como os demais. Desejos de felicidades🍀🍷 PS: respire fundo, não se esqueça de viver

[@denimlabels7315]

I would like to move to Portugal, daytrade & sell fish or antiques on the weekends. Where are the largest Antique Markets? Great insight into Lisbon! The US is now more like Mexico and Portugal seems more like Switzerland. As for the Peanut Butter well there is Amazon? Portugal has very good sardines.

[@HypnosisLessons]

Have completely the opposite opinion about the slowness, I don't think what your saying is true. Thing's are open longer, people are more active for a larger portion of the day. In the UK for example, try and do business after 5pm. Unless your living in London you can't even go to a shop after 5pm.

[@seaview9948]

I think you need a good year to settle into a new city / country to get a real understanding of what you need and where you are best placed . It’s a huge adjustment, you’re doing great . It’s so interesting to join you on the adventure.

[@PedroLamyLaranjeira]

You do not need to give your NIF. That is optional. But that goes into your IRS

[@jaime9494]

Complaining about things being at like 15/20min walk distance… buy a car, scoter or take public transportation?? Even if you don’t buy a car, 15/20min it’s pretty decent distance to a gym or supermarket.

[@suebowman7258]

Thank You!!! I had also a terrible experience with Novo Banco in 2019. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!! I was not an idiot to follow Novo Banco’s incompetent representative’s instructions, long story short, I ended up wasted money on airplanes back and forth to the USA. Love this video!

[@helderguerreiro]

When you go to a restaurant or to the chemists and they ask if you want your NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) on the bill, it may be helpful at the end of the year, because you will have a (small) return of the taxes you paid, in case you have a national salary. But you do not have to give it. When you rent a house, the amount of the contract should include the taxes. You should only pay the agreed 800 euros. Any kind of products or services that you buy (in supermarket, restaurants, gym,...), unless you are informed that taxes are not included (€€€€+VAT).

[@hellsbells112]

Hey, Adrien! I’d like to see you go to Italy….

[@AdrienField]

I’d also like to see myself go to italy soon!

[@junc2191]

Can you show more about your apartment and how you intend to decorate it? What happened to the stuff in Bali?

[@AdrienField]

The decoration is a slow process that I’m not fully undertaking until I get my visa. I still have my villa in Bali…

[@junc2191]

@@AdrienField thank you for your reply. I am an ardent follower of your journey on youtube

[@NomadicJulien]

Can totally relate to you about supermarket. Everything is down the hills in Lisbon. You have to get them delivered to you. Continente is by far the best supermarket in my opinion. People in Portugal aren't really cooking the same way that American's do. There's no take-out culture in Portugal. They typically cook all their meal from scratch so supermarket and market are selling accordingly. Sadly to me it doesn't feels like Lisbon is priced accordingly to the large amount of tourism rather than the value you're getting for the money. Most housing in the city center are cheaply built made to be affordable and now priced 5x more than 10y ago for the same apartment.

[@GabrielFerreira-ue8hs]

The have Aldi Süd in Saldanha, at least the german franchise has quality food. Walk around in Saldanha neighborhood a little bit, it's way better and more trendy.

[@11eve]

You can buy a bicycle to move around and to reach further areas of the city. Get a good basket or bikebag for what you buy, put on some good music in your headphones, and that way you avoid the slow walkers and exercise, too. The weather is perfect for it. That is what I do.

[@AdrienField]

Eventually i will buy a vespa to get around 🛵

[@ariesred777]

Thanks Adrien I wonder what the average income is in Lisbon The people seem to have a lot of spare time Maybe they own their dwelling through inheritance It's good you have other countries to visit so close by

[@hellokarenlooi]

I never knew that It’s hard to find peanut butter in Portugal. Peanut butter is good for quick snack. Enjoy and take care.

[@Nunov103]

In this country you pretty much have to beg for anyone to show up and do something around your place, from a simple electrician to a plumber, you sort of have to stalk them until they show up, quite hard for them to stick to their commitments. There is in fact a certain slowness to the way the Portuguese tend to do things, I think that people who haven’t travelled abroad don’t notice it, but I have been to Spain, Belgium and Germany, to name a few, and the Portuguese are quite slow when compared to the people in those countries, it is quite nerve wrecking.

[@macaccount4315]

You are trying to do everything yourself. This is why you pay experts to handle these things. I didn’t even have to come to Porto to open a NB account. But i am used to paying for the services and happy to do so. You should consider Porto as it has a more vibrant gay community and everything is centrally located and easy to get to.

[@DaphneChan-fe4ck]

Hi Adrien, you made me laugh when you mentioned people dawdling on the sidewalk. As a former New Yorker, this would drive me crazy. What has been your greatest challenge with moving to Lisbon?

[@AdrienField]

Bureaucracy and general inefficiency about basic services

[@DaphneChan-fe4ck]

@@AdrienField Yes I've heard that about Portugal in general. I'll be apartment hunting in Lisbon and wonder if you can share the name and contact information of your real estate agent. Thanks!

[@AdrienField]

Her name is Filipa. Tell her i sent you 😉 FB: Facebook.com/ftsantoskw Email: [e-mail]

[@DaphneChan-fe4ck]

@@AdrienField Thanks Adrien! I've also lived in NYC and LA and have some Fashion Week stories to share if you ever want to chat. :)

[@pmrribeiro]

Hi Adrien, totally behind you on the NovoBanco experience. I'm also a Bankinter customer. Sadly, and as a Portuguese citizen it hurts to have to say this, but I just gave up on Portuguese banks. Bankinter is Spanish. Regarding peanut butter, it's not a local habit, so, it's not something you'd expect to find in your typical neighbourhood supermarket. Hope things start improving! BTW, I also hate it when people just "park" on the pavement, usually, in the narrowest part of it, not caring one bit if other people are able to pass.

[@paulacaldeira9946]

Hi Adrien… I hear a lot that in Portugal we have a slower rhythm and that’s true… sometimes even I get enervated with some situations, specially stores (I rarely go to physical stores or banks, I do everything online), but hearing you it gave me stress… just take a breath, slow down and take time to eat, to walk, to enjoy things around you… if you cannot change things, go along … you be happier and healthier… About the supermarkets, Lisbon is a very old city, so if you live in a old part of the city it’s difficult to find a big supermarket because of the space needed… you’ll find small grocery stores and there you only have tradicional products (peanut butter it’s not what we most use 😁)… you must go to the big avenues or newer district to find what you want… Just a note about Spanish… off course we understand mostly… we just don’t like speaking… and that’s a cultural thing… so don’t take it to hard if you’ll get some not very nice reactions to it… good luck

[@hannahn4754]

Can I ask why you didn't choose France or Spain as you speak both languages? Also, yes everything moves so slow here. I've been here a year and still have to get used to the post office, restaurants, some shops etc being closed in the afternoon (like in Spain)! The bureaucracy here is also hard to deal with like you said!

[@AdrienField]

Basically I thought Portugal would be easier visa wise which inspired me to visit and I ended up really loving Lisbon for its uniqueness and beauty.

[@sergiodematostube]

The bureaucracy is bad for sure, far worse in Italy and just as bad in some other euro members unfortunately, but It sounds like you have also just had a lot of bad luck. It's always good to explore the area your looking at apartments in to make sure it has all the amenities your looking for before making a move tho where ever you go, but I do realize you where in a rush to find something quick. believe it or not there are great honest realtors out there, but again I think bad luck struck. Hopefully things will start getting much better for you. Maybe start following or connecting with other expats in Portugal if you already haven't, that might help make your experiences a little more positive. I currently live in Canada but have also lived in Portugal so I understand the culture shock. My goal is to move back to Portugal, and the bureaucracy in Canada is also bad lol just in different sectors and seems to be getting worse and worse.

[@rickmorgan1441]

why Portugal? have you been to Porto? I was told to go there lol

[@sergiodematostube]

@@rickmorgan1441 The culture, people, pace of life, among many other things. Porto is an awesome city last time I was there was in 2019.

[@rickmorgan1441]

@@sergiodematostube Thanks. you think Porto is best place in Portugal to retire?

[@sergiodematostube]

@@rickmorgan1441 The best place in Portugal depends on may factors, what your looking for, your budget, weather, lifestyle. etc, etc... check out Expats Everywhere they do a good job covering different regions, and they live in Porto

[@mullumadaan]

Try using some B rolls to make videos more interactive

[@teejayoz1221]

i love Europe for its culture,food and history but it lags behind some Asian countries for amenities, service and efficiency. Bad customer service is inexcusable and like yiu I’m not very patient and though my background is Portuguese It would piss me off no end putting up with bad services. I had a good dose of that at Madrid Airport with incredibly rude IBERIA Airlines staff, it was a wake up call. Think I will stickto living in Australia and spending extended holidays in Asia where u can get just about anything and vacations in Europe without having to deal with living with those frustrations lol

[@rickmorgan1441]

hey mate, I dont know where to vacation in Asia, can you recommend a couple of places?

[@snoopy13946]

Very interesting video. Would you consider buying a car or motorbike or perhaps a bicycle to help get around ?

[@AdrienField]

Definitely will get a vespa at some point

[@darkmattersproject2951]

Is there a tax on rent

[@AdrienField]

No

[@fashioni_stas]

Haha you found like me .