American Struggles with Culture Shock in Portugal but Turns It Around

Summary

Emily shares her experience of moving to Portugal, exploring the challenges of culture shock and adapting to life abroad as a first-time expat. She describes the gradual emotional impact of living permanently in a new country, highlighting differences in daily life, social interactions, and personal expectations that created mounting tension. Her key coping strategy involved processing her experiences during a return trip to the US, which helped her understand and reconcile the changes in her life. Ultimately, Emily reflects that living abroad has fundamentally transformed her perspective and personal growth.