Society

In this episode, Joel and Rui compare how people interact with their neighbors in Portugal and Canada—everything from awkward elevator silence to strangers weighing in on what’s in your shopping bag. They go through some common Portuguese greetings and goodbyes like “bom dia,” “até logo,” “vai-se andando,” and “haja saúde,” and talk about when you’d […]

Why is Portugal considered one of the best countries to live in?

The Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement of 1990 (Acordo Ortográfico da Língua Portuguesa de 1990, a.k.a. the ) came into effect in May 2009. Its goal was to standardize the spelling of Portuguese across Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Brazil and Portugal. However, its implementation was met with criticism and many practical challenges. First, let’s address a common […]

Joel takes to the streets to find out just how friendly Portuguese people really are.

Joel and Rui discuss some of Joel’s views on adapting to life in Portugal, from the lack of “real salads” to the differences in work culture.

Learn more about gender equality in Portugal.

Have you already seen the controversial tradition of university hazing in Portugal?

Navigating bureaucracy in Portugal can be quite the adventure.

Global warming presents pressing concerns for humanity.

Joel gets an inside look into the strike happening in Lisbon tomorrow. Márcia explains the reasons behind the strike, including the struggle for fair wages and better working conditions. Practice your Portuguese listening skills and learn vocabulary as you hear about the challenges workers are facing in Portugal!

Learning a language is one of the best ways to connect with other cultures!

Learn more about Portugal’s response to the outbreak of Covid-19 and how communities are adapting to protect and support each other.