How to Prepare to Move Pets to Portugal
My family needs to move our pets to Portugal. We will have a cat and a dog arriving a few months apart, but the process is the same for both. In this article, I focus on moving dogs and cats to Portugal from the United States. I do not talk about exotic animals or moving from any other country. Pets are family members. Just as with humans, pets need preparation to move to another country. They require specific paperwork to enter the country legally. And if the pet isn’t used to travel, give special care to prepare them for such a big trip. Booking Your Flight Check with your chosen…
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What Makes a Dual Citizen?
What Makes a Dual Citizen?
I am officially a dual citizen (USA/Italy)! This started back in early September of 2018. My sister, Alecia Ramsey, called me up one night and told me something fascinating. While she was doing some genealogy research, she discovered that we might actually be Italian citizens by Italian law. According to Italian law, those born to an Italian citizen anywhere in the world are Italian citizens at birth. (Jure Sanguinis, which means “by right/virtue of blood”). Here in the USA, citizenship is passed to you if you were born on US soil, or, Jure Soli. My great-grandfather, Domenico DiCesare, moved to West Virginia from Italy around 1901. He and my great-grandmother…
What is the Cost of Medication in Portugal?
Have you ever wondered what the cost of medication in Portugal is? I had heard it was much lower than in the United States, but I didn’t anticipate finding out just how much lower while on a scouting trip. While stuck in a hotel room in Lisbon because of Covid, I ran out of my medication. I had packed enough for our 8-day trip to Coimbra, but I did not anticipate getting Covid on this trip. My First Attempt at Getting Medications I have diabetes, depression, and thyroid issues. It’s important to stay on top of my medications and take them regularly. Unfortunately, I ran out. So I did what…
The People of Portugal
There is so much I learned while here in Portugal on a planning trip. I learned about the people of Portugal as well as places, culture, and food. But I also learned more about myself. I learned how much I love helping people. I learned how much I care passionately about community and what that means. The people of Portugal have reminded me that it is okay to care for me, that it is okay to care for even those you don’t know. They are just being themselves – nice, helpful, compassionate, inclusive to all people. All-Inclusive People of Portugal Portuguese people don’t separate themselves into groups as we do…
How to Submit Your Fingerprints to the FBI
Why would you want to submit your fingerprints to the FBI? There are a couple of reasons I can think of: Check your Identity History Summary Correct your Identity History Summary Apply to a foreign government for a visa The FBI website clearly states that your Identity History Summary, also known as your criminal history or your “rap sheet,” is not to be used for employment or licensing. Applying for an Identity History Summary The first step to take before you can submit your fingerprints to the FBI is to go to the website to fill out an application and pay the fee. Currently (Feb. 2022), the fee is $18…
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What Makes a Dual Citizen?
How to Reserve Plane Tickets: Passenger of Size
I am a passenger of size. What does that mean? Basically, I am obese and will not comfortably fit in a standard airplane seat. I can fit if I squeeze in, but my hips and arms extend into the neighboring seat areas. That is not comfortable for me or for my seatmate(s). My sister-in-law, Angie, and I are flying from the United States to Portugal in March 2022 to look for housing and open a bank account or two. I do not want to be uncomfortable on the flight, nor do I want to encroach on Angie’s space or the space of the person on my other side. My First…
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What Makes a Dual Citizen?
Let “Rick Steves Portugal” Whisk You Away to This Magical Country
One of the best things I’ve done to get an appreciation for mainland Portugal and a lot of its various regions was to buy the book, Rick Steves Portugal. I have the 2019 edition, but it was updated in 2021. In this post, I will discuss some of the things I learned about Portugal, how the book is laid out, and some of the recommended attractions. Now the legal stuff – As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from any purchases made through links on this post. Portuguese History When I was researching where to live in Portugal, I relied a lot on this book. It allowed me…
The Moors in Portugal: A Brief History
Who were the Moors in Portugal and how did they get there? How long did they rule Portugal? Who expelled them? These, and other, questions will be answered in this post. During the Dark Ages and early Medieval period, Europeans considered Portugal “to be the end of the world, as it was the westernmost point of the known world at the time.” (study.com) Prior to Moorish rule, the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) was ruled by the Visigoths. The Moors, under Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim ruler of Tangier, invaded Portugal and Spain in the year 711 CE. Troops “mostly formed by Moors from northern Africa led the Umayyad…
Halloween in Portugal: What Are the Traditions?
It’s that time of year again where the days are getting shorter, there’s a crisp chill in the air, and it’s harvest time for the crops. It’s also time to get ready for Halloween. Halloween in the United States In the United States, Halloween is a pretty big deal. It’s an American tradition. We celebrate with Halloween parties, and kids dress up in costumes to go door-to-door for trick or treating, begging for sweets, money, or whatever. Trick or treat, smell my feet,Give me something good to eat.If you don’t, I don’t care,I’ll pull down your underwear! I had forgotten that there was a second sentence to that trick-or-treat jingle. Did you know…
Portuguese: Learning the Language
Learning the language, any language, is a lot easier when you are younger. Once a child is 8 years old, learning a language and sounding like a native becomes a lot harder. I Learned Spanish as a Teenager I took three years of Spanish lessons in high school. Since I was a good student in general, I did everything I was supposed to do to learn how to read, speak, and comprehend the language. I learned enough to get by if I was in a Spanish-speaking country. As the years went on, I slowly lost my Spanish-speaking skills. I had no one to talk with and no reason that I…
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What Makes a Dual Citizen?
