My First Week in Portugal
You Gotta Start Somewhere #
But where?
It has been a week now since I reached Porto. I flew all the way from Mauritius. And if you wanna know how far, click here. After a few hours of flight, including a brief stopover in Dubai, I reached Lisbon (the capital city of Portugal) and took a train straight to Porto where my new life journey really started in Europe.
Let me briefly share the challenges that I faced as well as the positive highlights.
Challenge #1 #
Meals are expensive in restaurant(s) and fast-food.
Therefore, Cook Your Own Meal.
(Btw, I’m an experimental entrepreneur who tries random stuffs when I have some free time.)
I experimented
Tasted good enough to live until today :)
** What’s next? **
Try roasting a whole chicken in a electric oven. Giving myself a long time (6 months) to give it a try.
Challenge #2 #
It is Spring in Portugal but, the average temperature has been around 10°c and as a tropical guy, I AM NOT USED TO IT.
Surviving this “cold” temperature is in itself a challenge. And in the apartment where I live, a temperature outside is the same inside. Can’t escape the cold.
No bright side to this.
Challenge #3 #
I walk to work (Also walking back home). It takes 45 minutes approximately and well, I do have a downward slope and an upward slope to cover. Balancing out? Not really.
With the Challenge #2, it gets worse. And worst, when it is raining. Cold Wind + Rain + Cold Weather = AWEFUL SH*T
Bright side Saving money on gym, polluting less.
Challenge #5 #
Given too much sh*t in Challenge #3, I am skipping #4.
A lot of uncertainties because a lot of people (and documents) don’t speak (aren’t written in) English.
When new to a city, to a new country to be precised and to a new lifestyle, the least to wish for is communication. Fluid one.
Ok, that’s life starts at the end of your comfort zone.
Hoping to, #
- Attend more startup events.
- Learn a bit of Portuguese.
- Become more resilient to cold weather.
Hey!