Why Living in Portugal Feels So Different Than the U.S.

Life in Portugal feels different — quieter, slower, and strangely more connected.
After moving from the United States to rural central Portugal, I started noticing something I can’t unsee: everyday life here is built around people, not efficiency.

In this video, I share the small, ordinary moments that revealed a much bigger cultural difference — from how people drink coffee, exercise at the gym, and eat at restaurants, to how children are raised in public spaces and how community quietly takes shape.

In Portugal, people linger. They sit. They talk. They do nothing together — and that counts.
In the U.S., we’re often moving faster, multitasking, optimizing time, and unintentionally turning relationships into something transactional.

This isn’t about one culture being better than the other.
Both communal living and individualism have strengths — and real trade-offs.

I also reflect on what it’s like to rediscover community as an American expat, how loneliness can exist even when you’re surrounded by people, and how learning the language adds another layer to belonging.

If you’ve ever lived abroad, traveled cross-culturally, or felt like modern life made connection harder than it should be, this conversation might resonate.

👇 I’d love to hear what you’ve noticed — at home or abroad — in the comments.

Chapters:
00:00 Why Life in Portugal Feels More Connected
00:39 Coffee Culture: Sitting vs. Rushing
01:13 The Gym: Working Out Together vs. Alone
02:18 Restaurants as Social Spaces (Not Pit Stops)
02:54 How Portugal Raises Kids as a Community
04:26 Why Community in Portugal Isn’t Optional
05:15 When Togetherness Feels “Inefficient” in America
06:02 How Convenience Changed American Relationships
07:00 Community vs. Individualism: The Trade-Offs
07:28 Why So Many Americans Feel Lonely
07:48 Rediscovering a Type of Connection I Didn’t Know I’d Lost
08:21 When Language Limits Belonging
09:54 What Differences Have You Noticed?


What I Used To Make This Video:
MacBook Pro: https://amzn.to/3DEy1lZ
iPhone 15 Pro: https://amzn.to/3DEy1lZ
Samsung 23 Ultra: https://amzn.to/3DEy1lZ
Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone: https://amzn.to/3Pj2ZTf
DJI Mini 3: https://amzn.to/3DP7imH
Music from Artlist: https://shorturl.at/ujmrT

Things I Use While Living Abroad:
Samsonite Xenon 3.0 Checkpoint Friendly Backpack: https://amzn.to/4fFS7tl
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry on Luggage: https://amzn.to/3PEllOZ
Pack Gear Hanging Suitcase Organizer: https://amzn.to/4iVmeQr
European Travel Plug Adapter: https://amzn.to/41WU3uh