The Porto Leap: You Lose Some, You Win Most

Now, this is the story all about how I flipped my life upside down by moving to Porto.

It takes a certain kind of person to do this. Some people are born, raised, and plan to die in the same place. There’s a tether that keeps them physically rooted, stationary, as some would say. Essentially connected to where they come from, from beginning to end. Maybe they like the feeling of stability. Maybe they’re simply content with the place they call home.

Travel, with all its inconveniences and logistical challenges, just isn’t for everyone. Some enjoy travelling but don’t want to relocate — they dip their toes into the unknown, but the familiar feels safer. Then there are the thrill-seekers that seize the day — the carpe diem-ers. The ones who are made for paragliding, skydiving, jet skiing, and pole vaulting.

I don’t belong in any of those categories. I describe myself as an adventurous person with an anxiety disorder. I value research, information, and being as prepared as possible for any upcoming journey or expedition. But there’s value in spontaneity too. There’s value in jumping without knowing where you’ll land. By being bold and maybe a little delusional in the eyes of the outside world, you might discover things about yourself you never knew.

Embracing the Unexpected: My Journey of Growth and Resilience in Porto

What I’ve done—emigrating—is in direct contrast to my deep love of knowing what’s ahead. And that’s exactly why it’s been such an enlightening experience. To discover that unforeseen obstacles can be thrown at me, and that I’m capable of rising above them time and time again, is something I wouldn’t have known had I not poured six years of savings into moving from London to Porto in 2023.

I truly believe that if emigrating and starting over in another country is on your heart, taking that leap is one of the most courageous things a person can do—regardless of their circumstances. Resources might not be readily available, and you may need to think creatively to qualify and meet constantly shifting immigration requirements. But once those hurdles are cleared, you gain the chance to see how you adapt: to a new culture, possibly a new language, social norms, customs and traditions, systems and processes, transport, and even medical care.

I didn’t expect to need the healthcare system so soon after moving but when I did, it showed me what it truly means to be treated with kindness and compassion.

Four months after moving to Portugal, a vein in the upper part of my right eye developed a blockage, and fluid leaked into the macula, the part of the eye responsible for seeing fine details. I am now effectively blind in my right eye, and I was devastated by the diagnosis.

Still, I’ve been embraced by the nurses and doctors I’ve encountered. The treatment has been effective, and the Portuguese friends I’ve made have accompanied me to appointments, instinctively and kindly squeezing my hand when I needed it most.

I am deeply grateful to maintain my independence, working for a company that, although based four hours away, allows me to work from home. I could not be more appreciative of the life I’ve built for myself.

As part of my relocation process, I had to write a letter explaining why I wanted to move to Portugal. It was a meaningful exercise that helped me reflect on my motivations and face the reality of leaving my homeland with little certainty about the path ahead.

Porto and Personal Growth: Discovering Resilience and New Possibilities

It is the single most important decision I have made, leading to significant personal and professional growth, as I now work in a role that challenges me within a field critical to the global healthcare industry. Being an immigrant in Porto has put a magnifying glass on my personality and revealed qualities that have pleasantly surprised me. I knew I was independent, but I did not realise I was resilient. I knew I was decisive, but I did not know I was strong-willed. I knew I was open-minded, but I did not realise I could be persistent.

Moving away from everything familiar to Porto gives you a blank canvas on which to create your desired lifestyle. It is liberating to know I can attend a board games night, a comedy show, a football match, a church service, and Pilates all in one day in Porto. Though I would not necessarily recommend it given the high likelihood of absolute exhaustion.

But what I’m saying is the reason I’ve titled this article with ‘You lose some, you win most’ is because while life can be difficult and exhausting, more often than not, we find ourselves overcoming the challenges and coming out ahead. But if you’re living somewhere you’ve chosen, and you feel equipped to cope with life’s troughs, there is so much you can learn about the world around you.

My weekends essentially plan themselves, especially in the summertime when people are eager to go to festivals and spend time outdoors. Visiting a variety of towns, cities, and villages has given me a true appreciation for heritage and the small day-to-day interactions that might seem minor but warm the heart, like being given a bigger slice of cake in a riverside café because the waitress thought the one she first served me was too small. Even though I was delighted to be eating cake in the wintry sunshine, memories like that stay with me as the years I’ve lived as a Porto-GAL steadily increase.

My time away has not always been sunshine and roses, but tell me whose life is. If you know someone whose life is, do you mind sharing their lottery numbers too?

I hope I can encourage anyone with the dream of emigrating to put their plans into action because I would not change a single moment of this life-changing, enriching, and educational experience. I say that with happiness in my heart and one eye that sees less than it did when I first moved here.