How does the nature of your work contribute to your decision to move abroad?
“It was a completely unexpected career change. When I was living in Boston, I was working as a personal shopper. I also lived in New York, and fashion was very much what I thought I would be doing. That was my goal, but that was partly why I moved as well—I had a little bit of a identity crisis regarding how I saw my future. When I first moved abroad, I started teaching English online and I learned that was a really great way to be able to travel, but it wasn’t my passion. I really missed having a creative outlet and doing something with my hands. The bagel shop was never expected, so I lived here for about three years before that came to fruition. It was also born from necessity, because there were no good bagels here! It allowed me to build this bridge between my former life and my life in Lisbon. It felt really right once I figured that out.”
What was the biggest challenge or obstacle to moving, or navigating your new life?
“It’s really important that people know: When you move somewhere, you have to be ready to adjust to someone else’s culture and not expect people to adjust to you. Needing to navigate that and also just learning the culture is a big part of it. It takes time to learn the nuances, but it’s essential for going through a visa process or building a business. My residence permit took me four years to get because things can move at a slower pace here, and that’s part of what I love about it. People take their time and enjoy life, but when you’re trying to get paperwork done, it’s a really big challenge. It’s about finding the balance of when you’re supposed to be pushing things forward and when you need to accept the cultural norm and pace. So that was definitely a challenge, the Portuguese bureaucracy.”
What was it like adapting to a new culture and language?
“Adapting to the Portuguese language has been challenging. Very challenging. It’s a tough language, I think, and so many people here in Lisbon speak English that you can get by. But that’s not the right way to do it, of course. Living abroad, especially having a business, you need to show your respect and learn the language wherever you are. It’s a humbling experience when everyone else speaks your language so well. And in Europe, most people speak more than one language, while Americans are not known for being polyglots for a reason. In terms of the culture and lifestyle, it’s been surprisingly easy. I was really nervous about that aspect. I used to be really shy, but I’ve become more open. In Lisbon, there are so many people who are also moving from other places, who are looking to build friendships, so it’s a very social place. Life takes place outdoors, there are always events, and the art scene is very cool. So there are always things to do and ways to meet people. And I find people to be very kind and open.”
Give us a brief description of your typical weekday or weekend.
“My life is very much centered around the bagel shop. So I come here, check in on everyone. I have my dog so I’m always trying to get him out. I meet with friends after work for a drink at one of the quiosques (outdoor kiosks), and do lots of walking. It’s such a beautiful city; you can just put on your headphones and get lost.”
How did you build community or meet new people?
“By going out to different sorts of events, finding communities with like-minded people. I find a lot of events through Instagram. If you follow small business like mine, we’re always hosting and posting about each other’s events. While it is a big city, it feels quite small because of that. So if you go to some events, you’ll get to know people kind of quickly, and it’s very likely you’ll see them again. In that way, you end up finding your community pretty easily.”
Do you ever think of moving back to the US? Why or why not?
“The longer I am here, the more the answer becomes no. No, I don’t see myself moving back. It feels bad to say that it doesn’t feel like home because I love and miss my friends and family dearly, but I just don’t feel the connection. I’ve built a life here that feels like my own, and I’m really grateful for it. I’m open to what the future might bring. If anything, I feel that I would be in another country before I would ever move back to the US. Especially with the current state of the country, I just don’t have any interest in being there.”
What’s the one thing you wish you had known before moving to Lisbon?
“I think part of my journey was learning as I went along. I went in without knowing much, and I think I learned a lot that way. So I wouldn’t change that.”
If you could name just one thing, what is keeping you in Portugal?
“The life that I’ve been able to build here—the community, the lifestyle.”
