~i Need Some Advice.at My Wits End !!!!!

[GINGER BASTOS]

WELL, I REALLY NEED TO GET SOME CRAP OFF MY CHEST. IM HAVING A HARD TIME CONSEDRING STAYING HERE IN PORTUGAL.. I MOVED HERE WITH MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN 3 AND 6 THREE MONTHS AGO AND I REALLY DO WANNA GO BACK HOME.I MOVED TO PORTUGAL BECAUSE I HAD NO CHOICE . MY HUSBAND GOT DEPORTED AFTER SPENDING 30 YEARS IN AMERICA AND IT WAS 4 SOMETHING HE HAD DONE 7 YEARS AGO, I MINOR MARIJUAANA CHARGE{ MY SPELLING STINKS] WE SPENT 5 MONTHS APART B 4 WE WERE ALL 2 GETHER AGAIN. WELL, I GAVE UP EVERYTHING TO COME HERE NOT TO MENTION SPENT ALOT OF $$ SHIPPING STUFF ECT. WELL, ITS REALLY HARD HERE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT IM SUPOSED TO DO. ITS SUCH A HARD PROCESS STARING OVER AND MY HUSBAND ONLY MAKES 150$$ a week . ITS A HUGE BURDEN ON ME . I CANT WORK NOW BCAUSE I DONT SPEAK PORTUGUSE HELL, I HAVENT EVEN GOT MY PAPRE WORK FINISHED. THEY WANT $$ FOR EVERYTHING HERE AND ON THAT SALARY WE JUST CANT DO MUCH. MY DAD HAS BEEN HELPING US AND I FEEL BAD. MY FRIEND HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY POOR COUNTRY AND WE WILL NOT B ABLE TO MAKE IT. U TELL ME . GO BACK WITH MY 2 KIDS AND GIVE THEM THE LIFE THEY DESERVE AS AMERICANS . OR STAY HERE . ITS ONLY BEACUSE OF THEIR DADDY THAT I AM HERE. MY SON HAS TO START SCHOOL AND HE HAS TOLD ME HES SCARED. HE TALKS ABOUT AMERICA AND I JUST AM AT MY WITS END WITH ALL THIS. I NEED SOME STABILITY IN OUR LIVES AND IM TIRED OF MOVING MY KIDS AROUND. THEY R SUFFERING . THERE IS NOTHING HERE AND I WANNA GIVE THEM THE BEST LIFE POSSIBLE EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING THEM FROM THEIR DADDY. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE I NEED IT.... THANKS, GINGER

[ineswnarciso]

Hi Ginger, I am portuguese and believe me, I know it is everything but easy here...
Where are you staying in Portugal?
On the other hand, Portugal can become a paradise, if you do find that stability you are looking for.
Although I am a Portuguese, I know there are some jobs for non-speaking portuguese people, but it depends on the area where you live.
And hang on there. I was born in Holland and my parents moved here when I was 5 and I know I hated it at first. But in one year I was speaking portuguese. With kids it goes really fast believe me. It would be much more difficult if they were older.
Best of luck, let me know where you are living, who knows I can help.
Ines

[GINGER BASTOS]

Hey thanks alot for the reply. we are staying in sever do vouga a very small town with no americans.its 30 minutes or soo from aveiro. Central portugal. where are u ??And yes im having a very hard time deciding on what i should do. I have been here 3 months and yes thats not long enough to even come close to ajusting. My children will have no problems ajusting to the language barrier once i get them in school. But u see we have struggled money wise since i have gotton here. my husband makes a mear 150 a week and thats off the books. i am missing the perks and help u recieve from the us goverment and i dont know if i can do this. Such a strain on my marriage !And the reason why i am here is because my husband got sent here after spending 30 years in us for some minor charges well, marijuanna that he had gotton in trouble 7 years ago. he never became a citizen of us and now im paying the price of having to leave my country to be a family. i dont wanna sound selfish but what am i to do. follow my heart or stay here and try and make it ? i dont see how we can though. let me go any more questions please let me know.. THANKS BUNCHES.. GINGER

[ineswnarciso]

Sever do Vouga is indeed quite remote, different from areas like Lisbon or the Algarve with high percentages of foreigners including americans where you probably would feel less lonely.
My father is portuguese and my mom who is dutch also came to live here for love but I think she still regrets the decision sometimes when things are not going to well...
I am from Sintra, near Lisbon. There is an American School here close where children learn English (US) and Portuguese and where they wouldn t feel the transition so baddly. I think a high percentage of the school students are american. I cannot advise you on what to do, but if there is anything I can do please let me know. If you go to the Monster Jobs website and select European adds, you will find that there are a lot of foreign companies advertising for positions in Portugal for non-portuguese speaking people. I don t know what kind of work experience you have but you can always take a look.
Best of luck!
Ines

[GINGER BASTOS]

Thanks , WE HAVE CONSEDERED relocating towards lisbon as it would be better for us and especially my self for work. Yes i know there are schools there that teach american i was wondering hopw much the the average income is there in lisbon and what kind of jobs are available. my husband is a mechanic and he does speak 3 languages soo im as he would prosper there. WE moved to sever do vouga bcause his family was here , well some of them we should have went to lisbon his uncle is a police officer there. How much would we need to relocate to lisbon . how much does rent run their for like a 2 bedroom apartment??I know im askin soo may questions??i do need some help here and i dont know who to get it from?I really appreciate all you replys. hope to hear back from ya dsoon. ttul ginger

[ineswnarciso]

No problem, I love to help :-)

About Lisbon, Lisbon, the city is quite expensive not only in terms of housing as in terms of life cost in general: parking, eating etc etc

However, Lisbon has a uge suburban area. A first ring is made of 'dorm' kind of neighbourhoods with a lot of social problems and where I wouldn t advise you to move with 2 little children but there is a second ring, about 30 minutes driving from Lisbon, like the Cascais, Sintra (village), Malveira or Alcochete area, where you can find a good life quality. Cascais is a little bit expensive but it is where most foreigners live. But in Sintra, Malveira or Alcochete I think you can find a 2 bedroom flat for around 500 euros. Cascais should be closer to 600. There is a lot of demand for people with technical skills like mechanics here in the area, but due to the economic crisis, it will be difficult to find a job to start with paying more than 600 euros (netto). For you however, it would be easier. There are a lot of foreign people (including americans) you can start a babysitting service for english speaking children, you can give english support classes to portuguese kids in secondary school, there are some jobs in call centers where they need english speaking natives like costumer support in the portuguese airlines etc... In the Lisbon area it will not be difficult to find a job believe me. A well paid one is almost impossible, but if you are willing to start with 500 euros (netto) a month you will soon find something. It must be difficult as hell to start everything all over again. But if you do make it, you should be incredibly proud of yourself because few can.
I am finishing writting my thesis now so I don t have that much time but in September I am on holidays and if you want I can send you some links of job adds or nice houses so you can have a look.

Best wishes
Ines