Episode 12: From California to Lisbon, Portugal - A Family's Journey to a Better Life Overseas

The International Living Podcast

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Sometimes, events make decisions easier. For Jen Wittman, the lockdowns, election cycle, and social upheaval she experienced in 2020 were enough to convince her that it was time to leave her home in California and search for greener pastures overseas.
She’d lived overseas already, so it wasn’t a complete leap into the dark. This time, though, she and her husband had another person to think about—their 12-year-old son. How would he cope with live overseas? What about his education, his friends, learning a new language?
She needn’t have worried. Partly due to putting the groundwork in, and equally down to the friendly, welcoming nature of the people—locals and expats—in Portugal, life for Jen and her family has been more than they could possibly have hoped for.

It’s relaxed, it’s sunny, the food, wine, healthcare, and schools are excellent, and the Wittmans love Portugal so much they’re applying to become citizens. Find out why they love it so much in the latest episode of International Living’s Bigger Better World podcast.
Learn more about Jen and her family in the October issue of IL magazine: International Living – New Beginnings and a Slower Family Life in Lisbon.
If you haven’t become a member yet—you can do it today with a special discount offer for podcast listeners. You’ll receive our monthly magazine plus a bundle of special extras, including our 2023 Global Retirement Index. Subscribe here: https://intliving.com/podcast.
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Music: Royalty Free Music From timtaj.com.

अध्यायों

1. Episode 12: From California to Lisbon, Portugal - A Family's Journey to a Better Life Overseas (00:00:00)

2. “We can do anything we want with our lives now.” (00:02:35)

3. “It’s hard to learn Portuguese, because people will just speak to you in English" (00:06:55)

4. Hiring a local attorney made everything so much easier (00:09:00)

5. Moving overseas with a 12-year-old—how social networks made it easier (00:14:15)

6. “Hospitals, international schools, restaurants…we made Lisbon our landing point” (00:18:55)

7. Driving, taxes, healthcare, citizenship—dealing with the practical stuff (00:20:48)

8. “Within an hour or two you can be in another culture” (00:23:05)

9. “Sometimes it feels like you’re on a permanent vacation here!” (00:25:15)

10. “Our social group just keeps growing—locals and foreigners” (00:26:20)

11. “It was a sense of welcome that we could not have imagined” (00:30:02)

12. “The food is so good I gained 30 pounds! It’s all just so delicious” (00:31:04)

13. What we wish we’d known before we moved (00:33:20)