The Pain and Pleasure of Expat Social Media
And why I just can’t quit Facebook…
Hi team!
It’s officially shorts season… for me, that is. The locals are still dressed in peacoats and scarves despite today’s sunny 23ºC (74ºF) gloriousness.
What’s bubbling up this week?
Our Love/Hate Relationship with Facebook Groups
Foster Files - Pandinha
Quick Hits
Why wait? LFG!
The Pain and Pleasure of Expat Social Media
Ever since the toxic 2016 US election cycle, we’ve been somewhat reluctant Facebookers, using it mainly for buy-nothing groups, marketplace, and cross-posting from Instagram.
Since moving abroad, it has taken on a whole new power - Groups.
In 2021 we joined Americans & Friends PT, an invaluable resource for DIY immigration to Portugal. It saved us uncountable hours of work, headaches, and heartaches from a complicated and stressful process.
Having a mostly positive experience with that group, we dove in, joining Porto Expats, Americans in Portugal, Porto Expat Family, and more. It’s a pretty incredible tool, especially when you leave your real-world social networks behind and move across the globe.
Hilary has had some success connecting with the local vegan community via Plant-Based Porto, a group started by a friend a few months ago. It has inspired numerous in-person meetups and some great personal connections.
Unfortunately, the pleasure of meeting great people online comes with pain. Spending time on FB to connect with locals also means… spending time on FB.
Not all groups are moderated and monitored well, and unless we’re specifically keeping our blinders on, toxic vibes seep in.
Immigration is always a touchy subject, so expat groups can be loaded with minefields and traps. One not-well-thought-out (yet innocently posted) question about a rental property can quickly devolve into a dumpster fire of class warfare. Add in a normal dose of internet trollishness and, well, Facebook be Facebookin’.
Our friend who started the plant-based group is moving out of town, so Hilary is officially taking over. It will be her first time moderating, but at least it’s something she’s passionate about.
So far the group has been a blessing, and hopefully, it will continue to be a force for good.
Foster Files - Pandinha
Hilary continues to volunteer out at Cantinho do Tareco in Maia every Monday, and so we have a new roommate.
Pandinha (little panda) is a sweet, attention-loving, black-and-white male cat that had been stuck in a cage in the shelter for months after having all his teeth removed. The stressful environment was keeping him from healing, and every time he’d go off his meds, he’d regress.
Hilary to the rescue…
In just a little over two weeks of living with us, he’s blossomed into a loving, almost lap cat with a well-healing mouth. He’s respectful, only jumps on the counter when we’re not around, and loves to watch the birds out the back window. And he adores belly rubs.
Wait, but what about Banguela?
Our former foster had to go back to the shelter to get spayed and lives there full time now. She’ll still only accept pets with treats, but she has opened up immensely and is no longer trapped in a cage.
She greets Hilary every time she sees her, and has made a kitty friend to pal around with. We couldn’t completely socialize her, but she’s living exponentially better now than when we started.
Quick Hits
My wrist and knee are on the mend after my grand flail last week. I’m able to get some good walks in, spending plenty of time out in the sun. Not much pain, other than my longing to be back doing long runs and bicycling in this amazing weather.
We hosted a going away party for a friend on a hotel rooftop this last Saturday, followed by dinner and a triumphant return to karaoke. My rendition of Footloose warmed up the crowd for Hilary’s master-class performance of Abba “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)” that unironically took place way, way after midnight.
With the sun comes tourists, and while Porto is certainly a year-round city, there’s a new energy springing forth in the streets. More stores and doors are open, people are out in numbers, and the vibe is strong.
I hit an 1100-day streak on Duolingo this week. I’ve been going strong since before covid! Even though it’s Brazilian Portuguese, it’s still vastly helpful and the gamification has me hooked.
How is spring treating you? I would love to hear from you. Email me!
I have read an article about European cities like Athens and Lisbon buckling under the influx of mostly American expats bringing up the cost of living/rents/property prices significantly for the locals. So no surprise there can be animosity from those that don't make nice incomes from renting said properties. Of course expats also soens more money on restaurants, nice furnishings etc. Or like you two spending money on remodeling a very old apartment and employing local work force. So they can be a boon to local economy. But if you don't benefit directly from that it can be hard to watch it going on.