Oi tudos, I am a third generation Portuguese-American woman born in the United States who has decided she is moving to Portugal. I am a business owner who foolishly did not get a college degree in the 1980s when I could have - instead I ended up finding work in my industry and have been working in it ever since. I find that America no longer feels American to me. A lot has changed, and I want to live someplace that offers a better quality of life, particularly where children are concerned. I plan to marry and have children, and the USA is definitely noplace any longer to be non-feminist and to raise babies; the state of education here, and the racism and bullying in public schools is unacceptable. Add to that the plunging dollar, the rising Protestant Christian influence over the state and Constitution, and America's behavior around the world, and you have here a very unhappy Catholic convert Luso-Americana.

I have begun talking with some people recently from the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the US who know an immigration attorney who is said to be very good, but I am anxious about this and don't know where to start. What are my options in moving to Portugal? How difficult might it be? Is it impossible? What should I do?

I have no paperwork documenting my great-grandfather's Portuguese identity, although he and his family were when they moved to America. All I have are memories, songs and some personal items.

I am very skilled in the industry I work in, which is television production, and I have references. However, I am scared I might have to accept work as an au pair or in a bar somewhere, simply for being American and not part of the European Union. What should I do? How do I begin? Is there hope?

Should I take my chances going about emigration to Portugal the correct, legal way, or am I being naive and ought to just fly over and take my chances? I do speak Portuguese with medium fluency and read it extremely well. But I'm scared that is not going to help me... please advise...