Finding Friends Across the Atlantic
When Yasmina and I first began researching places to live in Europe, Portugal kept floating to the top of the list. It wasn’t just the landscapes or the affordability—it was the stories of people who had gone before us, building simpler lives filled with community and adventure.
That summer, Yasmina dove deep into research about Portugal: YouTube videos, Facebook groups, blogs—you name it. One day, she stumbled across a Facebook page run by an American woman living in Portugal named Cindy. Curious, Yasmina reached out, and soon the two of them were exchanging messages. Cindy was gracious, full of practical advice, and happy to share her experience.
As Christmas drew closer, Cindy mentioned she’d be out of touch for a bit, as she was heading back to the U.S. to visit family. Yasmina casually asked where she was from.
“Kalama, WA,” Cindy replied.
Yasmina blinked. “Really?! That’s not far from us.”
“Yeah,” Cindy continued, “that’s where we used to live, but we’ll be visiting family and staying in Ridgefield, WA.”
At that point, the world got a little smaller—because Ridgefield is where we live.
Out of all the towns, counties, and states in the U.S., somehow, we had connected online with a couple who would be spending the holidays just down the road.
We met Mark and Cindy for dinner shortly after, and they couldn’t have been kinder or more generous with their time. They patiently answered our long list of questions about Portugal and shared stories of their new life abroad. The very next night, we invited them into our home, where the conversations continued late into the evening.
Since that holiday season, we’ve met them twice in Portugal, where they’ve shown us around Braga and the surrounding area. Cindy, especially, has been a wellspring of advice and encouragement. We couldn’t have asked for better guides as we’ve prepared for this move.
Just last night, Mark and Cindy were back in Ridgefield again to visit family, and we had the privilege of hosting them for dinner at our home again. It was one more reminder of how this journey isn’t just about moving to a new country—it’s about the people we meet along the way.
When we finally make the big move to Portugal next year, it’s comforting to know that we won’t be starting from scratch. We already have friends waiting for us on the other side of the Atlantic—friends who, by some twist of fate, turned out to be neighbors first.
