A Surprise Ending

Gabi: "We're going to do this again in 4 years, right?"
Me: "Oh, do you want to?"
Gabi: "Of course! Let's go somewhere hot, but where there's snow".

Me, to myself: "Isn't that Canada?!"

A whole year without a S'more...

Me: "In ten years time, when you think about this trip, will you be annoyed we dragged you along?"
Jonty: "No: I think I'll be like Woah, that was really cool.".

Jonty built the fire--he may one day take over dad's title as "Fire King"

Me: "Do you want to come back to Portugal one day?"
Catarina: "Yes. Maybe tomorrow.  I have a treehouse in Canada."

Catarina did not remember our house at all. The first 3 days she just played and played, and kept saying "I love Canada!"

So, year-long family adventure in Portugal for the WIN!

We're back home now, living out our 2 week quarantine. Our year-long adventure fit into 5 suitcases at max weight, 4 personal items and 5 carry-ons (yes--we were those people who resorted to grocery bags as hand luggage!). We arrived to a stocked fridge, fresh beds, a house well-cared for by the tenants (whew!), and so many warm welcome home messages. We feel very loved--thank-you! 

Turns out, air travel during COVID19 is painless. No lines, anywhere. The plane was a small one, and maybe half full. Wearing a face mask the whole time was very manageable. When we deplaned at 11pm (4am Portuguese time), we walked right up and through customs. Easy. (When I came through 2 years ago, with a screaming baby Catarina, it took 1.5 hours).

Lisbon International Airport--echo, echo, echo...

Toronto Pearson International Airport--hello, is anybody there?
After passing all the airport staff, Jonty noted, "It's so weird to hear English again!".

Quarantine, however, is a total anti-climax after a year abroad: while the kids feel like it's Christmas (their reunion with their toys, books and backyard has been heart-warming), Mark and I are taking a little longer to adjust. What might help is a source for fresh fish daily, wine at lunch and dinner, no anticipated winter, and a sound machine set to the sound of waves.  Sigh, we'll manage.

With nowhere else to be, we are staying busy with lots of house projects and unpacking. I've had some time to contemplate the year's outcome.

I kind of expected to have a life-altering epiphany, after almost a year abroad, off work, full-time parenting, and living through a global crisis. That didn't quite happen. But a major surprise has been how connected I feel to Portugal and the Portuguese. I owe that wonderful feeling to my parents and relatives, who fostered my Portuguese identity over my lifetime. Thank-you mom and dad for not only being huge cheerleaders throughout this adventure, but for also sharing your culture and language, and fostering relationships with my relatives, continents away! Thanks to my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, who over 4 summers of my childhood, picked me up at the Lisbon airport and treated me to months of travel and fun.  (I was 8 years old on my first 3-month adventure without my parents. Is anyone so brave and generous these days?!)

I miss speaking Portuguese. This week I got stuck on 3 words that I knew in Portuguese, but couldn't recall in English. The kids are already speaking less, which I knew would happen, but is still hard to swallow. 

Another unexpected revelation: living abroad gave me a different perspective about the Canada I know and love. I am proud of our true north, strong and free, but noticed things that we can improve on. Some examples: We like big houses to keep more stuff. We throw out so much. We like space, physical and social, between us and our neighbours. And what is this resistance to mask-wearing, if it can help others at a small inconvenience to us?

What am I going to do about it? I need time to figure that out.

So, now what?!
I've always wanted to live in Europe: we did it, and it was everything we hoped. We've had this goal on the docket for the last 5 years. What the heck will we do next?!  I'm open to suggestions.

Cheers to my partner in crime--we did it!