Sophian from Singapore tells Josh about his experience in Lisbon, Portugal. He moved during the pandemic and has had a rather positive experience in Portugal. He answers a question that many on this channel have asked either in the comment section or privately, "Is Portugal a racist country?" Obviously, he's answering from his perspective as an Asian living in Portugal, but he also compares it against his experiences in other places that he's lived and traveled to for work.
Sophian has a very unique experience in Lisbon, especially because of his upbringing and being abroad during the time when Covid-19 has been blamed on Asians at large.
Beyond talking about racism in Portugal, Sophian gives a traditional interview with us where we talk about what it takes to move to Portugal as well as tips on living (he gives one of the best cost of living breakdowns of any of our over 100 expat interviewees) and what work is like for him in the capital city.
We appreciate his openness and honesty with us and really hope to take part in his Airbnb Experience when time and travel permit. If you'd like to learn more about him, check out his YouTube channel on the intermixed story of the Portuguese in his part of the world at http://youtube.com/weavethestory
We have recently launched a course to help DIY the D7 visa for Portugal. The course includes step-by-step videos, checklists, resources, recommendations, discounts, and more. It breaks down the timeline and when and how to do things, plus gives action items to keep you on task but not be overwhelmed. Check it out here: https://expatseverywhere.thinkific.com
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Chapters
00:00 - Intro
0:23 - Meet Sophian the Interviewee
1:16 - Why Did You Choose Portugal?
2:20 - How Do You Feel Asians Are Treated in Portugal?
3:34 - Working in Portugal
7:19 - Cost of Living in Lisbon Portugal
9:45 - What Kind of Lifestyle Can You Live?
11:13 - Recommended Start-up Costs
12:32 - How to Pack and What's the Weather Like
14:31 - Are There Asian Products You Can't Find in Portugal?
16:18 - Is It Safe in Portugal?
18:12 - How Do You Meet People and What Can You Do for Fun?
19:21 - What Is the Visa Process Like?
21:17 - How Is the Healthcare in Portugal?
21:59 - The Great Experience Sophian Has on Airbnb and His YT Weave the Story
24:26 - Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal
29:33 - The All Important Final Question
Thanks for the photos!
Photo by Aleksey Nikitin on Unsplash
Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash
Photo by Iulia Topan on Unsplash
Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
Photo by Paulo Magalhães on Unsplash
Photo by pixpoetry on Unsplash
Photo by Katie Smith on Unsplash
Photo by Angela Compagnone on Unsplash
Photo by James Orr on Unsplash
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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