Hello my name is ginger, moved to portugal 3 months ago from new jerzy. Having a hard time ajusting to this small town and such a huge income differance. Im thingking about returning with my 2 children and yes we are americans. back to the states without my husband.. i have posted some threads and would greatly appreciate some advice from all of u.. Thanks alotIm here for support and to help anyone who needs advice along the way.

Hi,

I am from NY thinking of moving to Portugal/Lisbon. Is it really hard out there? Are there jobs available?

Welcome to the forum, Alexa! Do you have an EU passport so that you will be allowed to live in Portugal, or some other reason you believe you will be allowed to live and work there?

I am a Jersey Girl living in Portugal.
It took some time to adjust but I am very happy to be here.
We find almost everything we need here; just finding I still need to import Grape Jelly and go occasionally to Madrid for Dunkin Donuts coffee

Diane aka Mamacats
Ragdoll Breeder
Portugal

I'm Jade, I've just returned from a 14 week stay in the Algarve researching jobs and living conditions for Americans in Portugal. I just came back to the states July 4th, 2008--US independence day ironically. I currently reside in Illinois in the surrounding Chicago area. I am a full-time online student studying to obtain my BS in Technical Management and am looking into starting a small-business at home. I eagerly welcome any information or leads to discussions, pages, sites that can help me learn about acquiring dual residency as a US/Porutguese citizen, health care options for ex-pats, permanent living accommodations and most importantly, job opportunities. I know that learning Portuguese is central to this whole process. I am nervous and excited about relocating to Portugal within the next few years. Good to meet all of you and I look forward to your responses and posts.

Be blessed and prosper
--Jade

Hi! I just wonder if you, as an american, would have a hard time getting a permission to stay in Portugal, or if you just have to buy a property? Why did you moove?

regards Mejsen

Don't know where you are living in PT but my partner and I love spending time here. Lived in NY, Chicago and CA and living here is much nicer (of course we can and do travel). Here the basic foods are terrific, the weather is mild (like California) and the people are very friendly and one can always find someone who speaks English.

With the internet you can be up-to-date on everything and we even listen to KNYC on the radio here via the internet. You can read all the US newspapers and ordering books through US Amazon works fine through customs here. Don't ever get anything shipped to you here through FedEx (they wanted to charge me EUR 80 to deliver a $40 book from a museum in the US - and, FedEx customer service in the US said "too bad, we can't control these 'extra' charges". US mail and UPS are fine from the US but watch for customs charges (plus VAT); better to order from within the EU).

Not sure with kids here. The educational system is probably very weak compared to northeastern US public education. Private???