One of the most common questions I get when people find out that we are planning this move to Portugal is, “Do you speak Portuguese?” The short answer is that I know a few words and have been trying to learn more via an online course. When I started, I found that most online courses teach Brazilian Portuguese rather than European Portuguese. And while that might help a little bit, there are sufficient differences between the two that when contemplating moving to Europe, it is best to seek out a course that teaches European Portuguese.
One might wonder why most online courses teach Brazilian Portuguese instead of European Portuguese and I think it has to do with the fact that Brazil has a population of over 200 million and Portugal has a population of a little over 10 million! In any case, it is best to try to learn European Portuguese.
The fact is, one could get by with not learning any Portuguese. In those areas of Portugal with large expat populations, English is fairly widely spoken. However, it just seems like the right thing to do, to try to learn the local language, not to mention it will make life a lot easier in the long run.
I have no illusions about being conversant in Portuguese by the time we move over there or not being instantly recognized as an American as soon as I open my mouth. However, I will hopefully know enough to at least begin to engage some of the locals and find my way around the grocery stores!
On another note, I had an interesting experience yesterday that someone might find useful down the road. I have been trying to figure out what to do with my piano. It is certainly not a concert grand piano but it is a good piano for someone trying to learn or just playing for their own recreation and amusement. However, if anyone has ever tried to divest themselves of a piano, it is not easy.
Some organizations accept donated pianos, and I contacted them but my piano did not meet their qualifications. And then yesterday, I got an email from the company that has tuned my piano while it has been here in Bozeman reminding me that it was time to have the piano tuned. On a lark, I sent them an email letting them know I was moving and asking if they were aware of anyone who might be in the market for a piano or an organization willing to accept a donation.
Voila! I got a response fairly quickly from one of the owners saying that they actually had a list of students/people whose pianos where not longer tunable and would appreciate a new instrument. Since they had worked on my piano, they knew it was in pretty good shape. She said they would make some phone calls and get back to me.
Serendipitously, yesterday was also their ‘piano moving day’. I actually didn’t know they moved pianos in addition to tuning them. In any case, they called me back and were actually at the house of a lady whose piano was no longer viable. I spoke with the lady and a couple hours later, a truck pulled up to my house, scooped up the piano and it now has a new home where it will get used.
Bottom line, if you’re ever trying to figure out what to do with a piano, call your piano tuners!! They might be able to help!
Wow – congrats on getting that handled. And yes, my parents had one in our home living room – and learned the same thing you just went through – unexpectedly as well. Took them a while before someone not too far away acquired it.