Never know what you are going to get…

All in all, there can be no complaints about the food in Portugal, but over my time here I have come across some interesting plates. Not too long ago I ordered a plate from a restaurant of what I thought was going to be fried fish from the picture display. Upon receiving my lunch, I found out that I did not order fish but calamari. I thought to myself, ‘Ok, no problem. I’ve eaten calamari back in the States and have really enjoyed it.’ As I attempted to cut into it I had a problem. It was hard as a rock. Finally making my way through it, I took a bite and felt like I was chewing on a rubber ball. Quickly I grabbed the Tabasco Sauce and downed a few pieces but called it quits as my jaw became exhausted. This is only one of few meal choice disasters, but these little rubber pieces of squid made a lasting impression on my choice of ordering seafood.

6 Months

In a few days, it will be six months since I was back in the States. Crazy to think that it really has been that long. Before I came here, I was informed about some of the stages of culture shock such as honeymoon, rejection, etc. It’s something that is simply expected, daily a challenge in my life. I used to have this idea of things being similar to back in the States, but actually far from it. The little things are what take time to get adjusted to. For example, people standing in the middle of aisles and not moving or the length of travel time on public transport. A couple of days ago I rode with a colleague into a gated community of houses with actual backyards and pools. Almost surreal in a sense, reverse culture shock seeing the yards and open areas.

But through it all I’ve grown accustomed to living here. Believe me there are still things I find very different, but it is life, not better or worse, just different. Like a lot of the Portuguese, I long to have that coffee after a meal. That is something I love is how much I walk now. Just makes me feel so much healthier. It keeps me in shape, and there isn’t a better way than to see the city than on foot. There have been and there will be days when I want nothing but to be back in the States, but for now this is my everyday life.