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The eXpat Files Ep. 19 - The Being Here Is Enough (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-03 12:13:45
Imported:
2026-01
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Content

The eXpat Files is a new series of podcast episodes that chronicle David and @joyofnapping's conversations as they consider how to adjust to life in another country.

In this episode, David and @joy discuss:

Feedback on last eXpat Files Episode

Chex Mix and Customs Hell

Meeting up with other eXpats

What being Asian-American means in the context of being in Portugal

PATRONS: You can get this audio in your podcast app by going to patreon.com/davechen, going to the "My Membership" section, and copying and pasting the RSS link to your podcast app.

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Comments

Iain Clarke

Live blogging as I listen, but I'll make them replies to this.

Iain Clarke

1/ Post/Customs - I have the same issue in Sweden (also EU). I accidentally ordered a present from the US on Etsy. Customs charged me just a few Euros. But.... the monopoly postal service charged ~20E to act as my customs agent. The alternative is to do it yourself, go to the customs warehouse in some different city, etc. It is daylight robbery, but it's not as simple as the government mistaking package value. So that might be equilavent with CTT.

Iain Clarke

2/ Belonging when moving to a country. I assume this is an EU thing as there's the same issue moving here. You can bring a "reasonable" amount of things with you within the first (I think) year. That counts as your stuff, rather than importing. If you want a while to see if you like it, *then* send your stuff, that will count as importing as be subject to duty. Your friend who said to transfer furniture in the form of cash was right, but there is a window to do it reasonably.

Gregg D.

Joy is exactly right in what I was trying to say. Definitely not trying to be judgmental though. I think it’s just the nature of conversation, you expressed your struggles and I heard that as missing potential solutions. For the record, according to Google/reddit, “In Portugal we eat Canja, a chicken soup made with rice or pasta.” So I guess they do basically do chicken noodle soup when they’re sick.

Gregg D.

Oh and I completely sympathize on the traffic signs. I had a similar experience in Ireland, and everything is in English there. I’m still not sure what some of them mean.

Pixel-davis

Yet another interesting listen! My wife and I spent a week in Lisbon and a night in Porto last year - both beautiful cities. I think I generally fall in more with Joy's perspective in that I grew up in the US but have never felt fully at home here. My wife grew up abroad until she moved to the US in college and has also never felt "American" despite having American parents and nationality. In that way, when we've traveled intentionally, I think we have an easy time accepting and appreciating things for the way they are, even if it doesn't make complete sense to us. But feeling at home in a particular national identity would definitely make that more challenging. Studying Japanese for the last couple of years has also really humbled me. It's such a different language from English that it can be tempting to think "why don't they do X or Y... it would be so much easier that way." But I tend to find that as I learn more of the language, the rationale behind it all starts to make more sense. The pieces come together. Maybe that will also start to happen with some of the more puzzling aspects of the culture as you spend more time in Portugal. Anyways, we plan to live abroad someday and it's been valuable hearing about your experience in such detail, so thank you again for sharing these episodes.

Warpstone

Always enjoy the honesty of this series. I don’t know if you enjoy amusement parks but a friend of mine just got back from a trip to Europe and they spent three days at a place called Europa Park which is European themed amusement park in Germany. They talked about how great it was so thought you may be interested in checking it out.

Glenn Downing

Have you found it helpful to use AI to cope with differences in Portugal? In the U.S., chicken soup is often comforting when you have a cold. Is there an analog in Portugal? Yes, there is a very direct analog: **Canja de Galinha**. Just like chicken noodle soup in the U.S., *Canja de Galinha* is the go-to Portuguese grandmother's remedy for colds, flu, and upset stomachs. It is widely considered a "healing" food because it is simple, hydrating, and easy to digest. Here is how it compares to the American version: ### The Similarities * **The "Cure-All" Status:** If you tell a Portuguese person you are sick, their immediate response will likely be, "You need some *canja*." * **The Base:** It is a chicken broth-based soup, usually made by boiling a whole chicken (or bone-in pieces) to get a rich, nutritious stock. ### The Differences While the spirit is the same, the flavor profile and texture are distinct: * **Rice vs. Noodles:** While you can find it with small pasta (*massinhas*), it is most traditionally made with **rice**. * **Simplicity:** It usually has fewer vegetables than the American mirepoix version (carrots/celery/onion). A strict traditional *canja* might only have chicken, broth, and rice, though carrots are often added now. * **The Garnish:** This is the biggest flavor shift. It is often garnished with **fresh mint** (*hortelã*) rather than parsley or dill. This gives it a bright, aromatic quality that helps clear the sinuses. * **The Lemon & Egg:** It is common in some regions to temper the soup with a mixture of egg yolk and lemon juice right before serving, making the broth slightly creamy and comforting (somewhat similar to the Greek *Avgolemono*). So, if you find yourself under the weather in Portugal, looking for "Canja" on a menu is the exact equivalent of ordering a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Carole M

Question about lunch culture (as I eat at my desk) - do these pleasant 3 course lunches in Portugal come at a reasonable cost? I feel like the desk lunch partially evolves from bringing lunch as a cost-saving measure.

David Chen

Literally have never seen this on a menu, seen it at a grocery store, nor heard anyone mention it

David Chen

Yes in general the food here is much more affordable than in the US. Prices are lower and already include taxes. And tips are generally not expected

Joy o Napping

I kid you not, you can have the 3 course lunch for 10 euros (if you pick the plate of the day) and then a glass of wine for maybe 2-3 euros. Nowhere fancy but often quite tasty and reasonable quality.

Daniel

I'm one of the sickos who listened to all of the eXpat files in the span of a week. That was a real whirlwind of emotions. I'm German, living in Germany my whole life, and I have followed Dave and the Filmcast since before Jeff joined. All those years listening to you three gave me little glimpses into your particular American lives. I could hear how, little by little, your anger about the US politics rose. Watching from afar, I was hopeful that sane people like you were still in the US fighting the good fight. When Dave announced the plans to move to Europe, I was excited for him and Joy. But at the same time, I was terrified that US politics provoked you to take these extreme steps. For the sake of the USA and the whole world, I really hope your move was an overreaction. The last week alone makes it look like it wasn't. Doom and gloom aside, I really enjoyed your conversations about cultural differences since you arrived in Portugal. Even for us Europeans, it is fascinating to compare our way of lifes because they are very different. I wished to hear more of Joy's adventures in Edinburgh and Düsseldorf. Keep up your good spirits. We are all in it together.