Hello guys,
A while ago I was asked by
Bella to answer some questions about my stay in Portugal. I was really happy to get such a oppurtunity to say a few words about the country of Port wine and my life here, because it feels like I could not choose better place to stay last half-year. Some of you have already noticed I am based in Portugal now and I got many questions about that topic. I was thinking about writting a special post related to my stay, but the interview with Bella is pretty much decribing everything - the reason why I am here, my life, the things I love about Portugal as well as the ones I do not like that much.
Unfortunately the interview is avaliable only in Czech. The fact that most of my readers are English speaking I decided to translate it for you so you do not miss anything. :) The original version is
here.
Czechs abroad Portugal
Continue in your favorite series! Today you will get to know how is to live in Portugal, where Marketa has been based already for some time. What is she doing and how is life there?
I visited Portugal for the first time almost three years ago
And I should be ashamed that I did not know much of this beautiful country. Over the next three years, I came here several times. Definitely unforgettable were Easter here. When I got an offer to study abroad, I was deciding between Norway and Portugal. Opposite sides of the same coin I could say. Portugal won, because I knew what to expect, I knew that I have people who may help me, if I had any problem and most importantly I was sure that I will feel like at home in Portugal. In that moment, I had no idea how much home I will actually feel here.
I would summarize it like - it was love what brought me here at first. Later I fell in love with the local people, the food, climate, culture... Portugal is the country of my heart and it will be my second home forever. As I mentioned, I am studying here and occasionally working. I have a few friends who are from Portugal, although they do not live here. And another friends I found here. I like their nature and so I can quickly find friends here. Even my flatmate is Portuguese.
I'm learning Portuguese ...
... Since I came here for the first time. Now it is more progressive. I have a private teacher and I am in that particular environment. I understand about 80%, but I'm afraid to speak. Basically I still speak English, they understand me almost everywhere, and when they do not, I start to speak my very funny portuguese. :)
What surprised me are very friendly and helpful people
At the beginning, very often happened to me that we did not understand each other, because I did not know even a bit of the language, but they never stopped talking to me. Though I understood very little, it gave me a feeling like I belonged to them. People who know me say that I am a multicultural person, so I can get very quickly used to any environment anywhere in the world. Certainly what I got skocked about the most was Portuguese welcome style. I'm Czech so I am used to shake hand and keep myself in the social area. Here it is different, everybody are giving two kisses, even several times a day, if you see each other more than once. And they keep only in the intimate zone. This was such a culture shock for me! The same happens in church, instead of the shaking hands, you give two kisses. I got pretty used to it, but only for one welcome per day. :)
I would bring to the Czech Republic ...
... friendly, smiling, usually very positive people, food (love it!), port wine, music, weather, sea. A lot of things. On the contrary, I would give Portuguese a little of Czech coldness, responsibility and I would definitely learn them to come on time!
Traditional food ...
.... is so called cold fish (fish from Norway), potatoes and cabbage. I love Portuguese food, although it contains a lot of meat, what I personally do not eat much. However, I love seafood. And also different variations of bakery goods. I cannot forget the port wine, which is so yummy. I am missing Czech pie and cakes.
About fashion ...
... people wear either Vans or such a huge orange-yellow boots by Cat, Timberland and they pair it with absolutely everything. Girls combine them with elegant skirt and guys with suit. It is Portuguese distinguishing mark.
I will have to return to the Czech Republic
For the last year of university because of bachelor thesis and state exams. My dream is to live abroad. I have in my mind some place in Europe, so that is not too far from family. So far, I have been heading to the south from the Czech Republic. Portugal could be one of the places, but I'll see where the wind takes me after graduation.
CZ/
Před časem jsem byla požádaná Bellou, abych odpověděla na několik otázek týkající se mého pobytu v Portugalsku. Mám opravdu radost, že jsem dostala příležitost, zmínit něco o zemi portského vína a mém životě v ní, protože toto je nejlepší země jakou jsem si mohla vybrat posledního půl roku, co tady žiji. Mnoho z vás to už asi zaznamenalo na mém blogu a dostala jsem na toto téma několik otázek. Přemýšlela jsem o tom, že napíši post speciálně na toto téma, ale rozhovor s Bellou popisuje v podstatě všechno - důvod proč tady jsem, můj život tady, věci, které na Portugalsku zbožňuji i ty které tolik nemusím.
