2 minute read
X-Pat Expert - Fiftysiter
James Cave Relocation, Relocation
The Portugalist tackles every day expat issues.
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@portugalist
James Cave is a travel writer based in Portugal and runs the popular site Portugalist.com. He is also the author of the non-fiction book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple.
Making New Friends
One of the biggest challenges of moving to a new country is developing friendships, especially deep and meaningful friendships. Making friends with other internationals is relatively easy thanks to an ever-increasing number of Facebook groups and because many internationals, like you, are actively looking to make new friends. On the other hand, most Portuguese will already have an established circle of friends, so making local friends can be harder, especially if you don’t speak the language.
Expat friends
You’ll find other internationals all over Portugal, but especially in places like Lisbon, the Algarve, Madeira, and, increasingly, the Silver Coast and Setúbal. In these places, there are usually plenty of meetups, sports clubs, and active Facebook groups where you can easily connect with others. Although you’ll find internationals in every corner of Portugal, the majority gravitate towards the more popular locations. This is especially the case with younger internationals, most of whom are based around places like Lisbon, Ericeira, Lagos, and the West Coast of the Algarve.
Sometimes the only thing you’ll have in common is that you’re both expats. This is fine for making friends, sometimes even good friends, but to find people you can have meaningful friendships with, try to join groups that are more focused on a specific interest of yours.
Portuguese friends
Making Portuguese friends can be difficult as most already have their own core group of friends and aren’t looking to make new friends in the same way as internationals are.
The best ways to meet people – and this applies to anywhere in the world – is to have a Portuguese partner, work in a Portuguese workplace, or have children that attend the nearby school. Failing that, owning a dog can be quite sociable as it’s easy to start chatting with other dog owners at your local park. If none of these apply, joining Meetup groups, sports clubs, and societies is a good starting point. You’ll find some Portuguese in the international groups, and if you’re lucky, there’ll be other Portuguese-speaking events you can join. Meetup groups are less common in Portugal, but if you start one, there’s a good chance some Portuguese will join. Don’t wait for someone else to do it: you’ll have to be proactive here!
Being able to speak Portuguese will go a long way. Although many Portuguese speak fantastic English, most will want to speak in Portuguese when they’re with their friends – especially in a group setting. Most also assume that expats aren’t interested in learning the language, so by learning Portuguese, you’ll show that you’re different from the stereotype.
Look out for Portuguese people who have returned after living abroad. Although they speak the language and already have friends, many will feel as much of an outsider as you do. You’ll also have in common that shared experience of living abroad.
