Hey! I'm Juliana and I was invited by my friend Patricia, from Dicas de Lisboa, to tell a little about my relationship with Portugal. I consider this invitation a challenge, because I don't like writing very much.
He lived in Quixadá in a city in the interior of Ceará. And I never had any relationship or curiosity about Portugal. He really knew the basics from school books. That's when a friend introduced me to Miguel, Portuguese. And so my first impressions of another culture began, a Portuguese man conquered my heart and in our relationship we got to know my family and I a lot of his culture that with great affection he brought delicious delicacies in his luggage. And that's how I ate my first custard tart. Miguel was responsible for cultivating Portugal in my soul.
My boyfriend became my husband and in 2007 we decided to live in Portugal. It was a unique experience, I liked everything and what caught my attention the most, it was and still is, and I believe security for many Brazilians too. And then the gastronomic diversity that goes far beyond the thousand and one ways of making cod.
At first glance, the Portuguese people are closed, they always seem to be in a bad mood, but I soon realized that they are serious people and friends with their friend. When you have a Portuguese friend, it's for life!
“Graça is beautiful, she is beautiful, she is beautiful!”
I was blessed to live in an old and historic neighborhood where we greeted each other "Hello neighbor!", a custom that is not so common in capitals. And excuse me to point out, in European capitals. And the life of a parrotista is not just here, it's also not wearing a sweater and shouting “My march is beautiful!”, at the festival of popular saints. One of the most beautiful popular celebrations that I had the honor of representing my neighborhood. "Graça is beautiful, she's beautiful, she's beautiful!"
And what is a Portuguese pastry? It boils down to leaving the house with the idea of buying something, a mixed lunch, for example, and eating a croissant with sweet eggs. Who does not remain indecisive in front of a shop window that throws the first stone.
All going well, my daughter was born, I got a job, but I felt homesick. She gave that despair. And at the end of 2012, we returned to Brazil. I recharged my energies. I enjoyed my family too much. Brazil is Brazil, right? And all your joy that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. But then I no longer felt at home. Many will understand what I mean, it has nothing to do with exposure, status or earning power. It's a little deeper and more complex. In Lisbon I felt like I came home from the first time I came.
In 2017, the centenary of the appearance of Our Lady of Fátima, it was 10 years since I came to Portugal for the first time. It's up to us to reorganize and prepare for our return. It was a mix of emotions. It was like cutting the umbilical cord between my daughter and my family. It cost a lot, a lot.
This time Lisbon was different, I changed myself. The typical neighborhoods had a touristy feel. Portugal was in fashion. Which is great for economy, for local businesses. Too bad the population was somewhat vulnerable. Portugal has a lot of ink to run, but I'll start by finishing my writing, and I'll make it clear that I've always had a family here. A family with a capital “F”. I know that without this support, everything would be difficult. And how not to be grateful to God, isn't it? Lisbon has charms in the streets, drama in the fado and the joy of the festivals. I hope everyone finds the love I feel for this place. That despite having never stopped being a cabocla from the sertão, but that I learned to love Portugal.
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