Gaining Perspectives: Does different mean better?

Perspective: A specific way of looking at something.

Overlooking Costa da Caparica--Canada is that way!

For me, gaining new perspectives is the bread and butter of traveling.
Almost 5 months in, and I'm still observing new and different ways of doing everyday things.

Don't get me wrong: this is not a Portugal vs Canada thing. We are loving our adventure, but Canada is home, and we'll be back. What I find fascinating is how common things can be done so differently. Examples:

School: 

• Students here have the same teacher for all four years of primary school.

PROS would be really knowing your child's teacher, her expectations and approaches to teaching, nurturing and communication, and she in turn, will learn how best to work with your child; kids really get to know their classmates and have time to cultivate deeper friendships; parents get to know each other well and build more community.
CONS: better hope you like the teacher and that your kid gets along with their classmates! 

• Parent/teacher interviews are a tri-annual meeting with all the parents and teacher, together at the same time.

Upcoming events and general class issues are discussed: parents learn which kid talks too much, which kid is really improving on their listening skills, which kids share struggles...at first I thought it was unfair to those kids named, but then I considered how it might be helpful information that fosters compassion and understanding among kids and families over the next 4 years. The teacher is available twice a month to meet with parents one-on-one if there are specific academic concerns.

We love our walk home from school! 

Chasing birds, catching eachother, exploring sand designs...
love that our short trundle home takes a long while!

Ready early, so did a good deed on our way to school.
Sadly, so much garbage in the ocean :(

These goofs and their modes of transportation this morning

I own this sea wall!

Fashion:  

• The Portuguese take great pride in their appearance. 

Although I'm not sure how practical it always is, it sure beats the common sighting of pyjama pants in public back home. To illustrate my point:

1. At 8:30am when I pop in to grab fresh buns at the bakery, the caliber of stockings, skirts, heels, scarves and coats I see amazes me. I am Captain Frumpy in my yoga pants, hikers, and puff coat.

2. Leather and pleather pants are alive and well here: in every colour of the rainbow.  WOW.

3. Stockings under shorts--a stylish winter look with cute ankle boots. Can't bring myself to buy some (it won't work for a Canadian winter!), but it sure looks pretty.

By chance, and by smell, I found this bakery in September.
No signage needed: people have been going here for over a century.

Wood-fired bread, I get fresh "carcacas" (buns), still warm, every morning.

This frumpy tourist cannot resist the wide array of tasty, fresh-made treats first thing every morning ;)

"Fix First" Mentality:

• If something is broken, try to fix it.

We are used to the North American way--if its broken, get a new one! But, it seems the Portuguese are more conscientious: is it that labour is cheaper? people are more frugal? concern for the environment outweighs convenience? everyone "knows a guy"? Examples:

1. When we moved in, our apartment's 10 year old dishwasher was in rough shape: the cover for the soap dispenser was broken, a few rollers were missing from the bottom rack, the upper spray arm was blocked...the land lady sent in her friend, who after about 30 minutes and ~$10 in parts had it in perfect working condition. I'll be honest, back home we would have likely rationalized getting a new one.

2. We got a flat-tire. Instead of having 1 new tire and 3 oldies, the mechanic replaced the flat with a tire from their junk pile...still years younger than the others! We only paid for labour. Clever, helpful, and all that we needed.

Daddy impressed us all--changed the tire in 10 minutes flat!

3. The glass door to our balcony cracked. In Canada we probably would have had to go through the door manufacturer to get it fixed. Likely the most convenient and cheapest option would be to get a whole new door. Here, the building contractor called a glass guy, who cut it to size, and they reused everything else. Awesome.

Door is all fixed, same great view.

Paediatric Emergency Department:

• If a child needs to go to the hospital, they enter through the Paediatric Emergency Department. 

Genius! Why mix sick/hurt kids with all the characters, illnesses and stressful environment of an adult emergency waiting room? The Paediatric department has cartoons on TV, brightly coloured walls, and kids tables and chairs. And for the shared services (e.g. x-ray, ultrasound, ortho), kids get to skip ahead. I'm sold!

Seen in Emerg, x-rayed and in a cast in less than an hour!
Don't slide off a 3 meter high seawall onto hard sand.

Can you spot the heel fracture?

Super Daddy! Jonty's mode of transportation until
his contused right heel could handle him walking on it to support the left one.

Cast is off!  Time to retrain the foot to work again.

Let the adventures continue!