Moving to Portugal With Children: Honest Thoughts From Our Own Kids
(I’ve cleaned up the spelling, but left everything else exactly as they said it — raw, real, and occasionally ridiculous.)
What was your first reaction when you found out we were moving to Portugal?
Grayson, age 11:
When I found out we were moving to Portugal I just thought it was one of those phases that Mom and Dad go through where they say we're gonna do something but we never end up doing it.
But no, after a few months they were still dedicated to do it.
We looked at about 50 houses before we found a good one.
Mom and Dad got so excited and were doing everything they could to try to move in.
One day when me and Rufus came back from school Mom and Dad had a surprise for us.
They told us our house was sold and we bought Mom and Dad’s dream house.
At the time me and Rufus had no idea what it looked like as Mum and Dad had gone on a holiday while our grandma looked after us and that’s when they found it, so it was a bit nerve-racking but when we finally got there, when me and Rufus looked at it, we were so surprised.
It looked like a mansion. We were so happy.
Rufus, age 7:
I can’t remember.
What did you pack in your suitcase that you couldn’t leave behind?
Grayson, age 11:
When my mum packed my suitcase (because I couldn't be bothered to do it) I could not leave behind anything of mine because I felt like everything in my room was a part of me so I didn't want to leave anything behind.
Rufus, age 7:
I have this cuddly teddy bear called Mr Bear Bear. And these three other ones called Professor Fuggler, Miss Bear Bear, Meowsals.
Mr Bear Bear is like a stretched out puffy foam ball.
There’s this book called Bunny vs Monkey which author and illustrator is called Jamie Smart. I had to pack that too.
And finally I have this Yoto which I can’t go to bed without.
Those are the only things I couldn’t leave behind.
What do you miss most about the UK?
Grayson, age 11:
The only thing that I really miss from the UK is my best friend Alex who I've known for 8 years, and Greggs sausage rolls, and that’s about it.
Although I do miss the smell of our house and my room but yeah.
So far I haven't felt homesick once which is surprising because I thought I would really miss home and want to go back!
Rufus, age 7:
In my old school, my best friend called Rubin (he was 7 as well as me) who was like a copy of me. He was my best friend and I still haven’t given up on him.
In my old life my next door neighbour Nick was quite nice, sometimes he was really annoying but I liked him.
What’s the weirdest or most different thing about Portugal so far?
Grayson, age 11:
You can't just go up to dogs and stroke them because they’ll probably give you rabies.
Out here you can never predict the behaviour from a dog, which is different from the UK because they’re all so kind in the UK.
They don't have most of the sweets that they have in the UK which you have to adapt to.
They also don’t have Greggs which is upsetting but I manage to push through.
Rufus, age 7:
When we were on holiday it was all sunshine and rainbows but when we finally moved here it was just rain and I’m like, “Is it just raining because we’re here?”
The school process is really weird because every few weekends there’s a holiday and not like a three-day holiday, like two weeks holiday.
What’s your favourite thing about living in Portugal right now?
Grayson, age 11:
The pastel de natas and all the sugary food. And Mum and Dad are in a better mood because there's sun giving them way more vitamin D.
I also like surfing now because I was instantly good at it and I stood up before my dad which was an achievement because he is always good at everything he tries straight away which is very annoying but this time it was different.
Which made my experience in Portugal 2x better.
Rufus, age 7:
First up, our dog seems more happy in Portugal than the UK.
One of my favourite things to do is go to the beach where I dig holes, make sandcastles and play games with sticks.
The people seem way more laid back here and in the UK their faces were just a symbol of misery.
If you looked at somebody on a normal day they would just be depressed. Yeah. The life there was despicable!
What’s something you were nervous about before we moved — and how did it turn out?
Grayson, age 11:
I was really nervous about moving because I didn’t want to go to a different school because I felt like I wouldn’t fit in.
The first day was very rough but a few days passed and Mom got an email from the school asking if I would like to join year 5.
At first I despised the idea of going a year back but my parents made me. Luckily the first day in year 5 I fitted right in and I became very popular in my class.
Kind of like the class clown. It was paradise.
Rufus, age 7:
I was nervous about finding a new school and if there were going to be bullies.
But I was also worried about if the teachers didn’t explain things properly. I was nervous if everybody in my school just spoke Portuguese so they would be like “hon chan king nang.”
And I would just be like “what the hell are you saying?”
To me Portuguese is like a code language which I can’t understand.
If your best friend was thinking about moving to Portugal, what advice would you give them?
Grayson, age 11:
That they shouldn't worry too much because it's actually not as hard as you think unless you're an adult, but if you are a kid you can just sit back and relax and watch your parents do all the work.
And also they shouldn't worry because they have pastel de natas to support them and they are always there when you need them.
Rufus, age 7:
I would say don’t be worried, it’s actually really fun. You go on hikes, get loads of ice cream, your parents are way more chill.
Sure, it does take some time to settle in, but once you’re into the stride you’re good to go.
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