Resources
The following is a collection of resources that we have found of value, or that our guests have suggested.
Some are groups on social media that were particularly helpful, others are books that inspired or informed, and others are tools to help you discover insights about yourself, cultures, or other facets of life that pertain to relocation or change.
As people’s circumstances vary and requirements and processes change, always consult official sources before taking any action.
Social Media:
~ Americans in Portugal ~ The Expats Group ~ (Facebook)
Canadians in Portugal (taxation/immigration) (Facebook)
Beneath the Surface (YouTube) - A channel that discusses the thinking and process of a couple in their 50s who moved from USA to Europe
Articles and Blogs:
Living Elsewhere (Substack) - Weekly essays about living abroad by a professor of linguistics, Gregory Garretson.
Expat Golden Girl Life (Substack) - Barbara Grassey writes about her life as a new resident in Portugal, and provides advice on various aspects of international moves.
Websites:
Internations.org - An online community to help you connect with international people in your city.
Books:
The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig - This book was recommended by a recent podcast guest, and offers a whimsical story about making peace with all the “what ifs” in life.
Tools:
The Country Comparison tool, by The Culture Factor - This tool allows you to compare the cultural values of two or more countries across six dimensions. It’s a great tool to see how the country you are moving to compares culturally to the country you are moving from.
The Readiness For Change Questionnaire by TrainingResourceMaterials.com - This questionnaire offers a high level insight into how you face change.
The Cultural Intelligence Scale assessment - This tool assesses your interest in and knowledge of cultural differences, as well as your ability to plan for and adapt to inter-cultural interactions. The test is a little tricky to score, but there is a lot of value in considering the questions, even if you don’t do the calculations to come up with a final “score”.