We began our trip in Lisbon, Portugal. The contrasts between American and Portuguese culture became apparent on our drive from the airport to our hostel. Hand-painted tiles lined the exteriors of buildings, seas of languages being spoken filled the air, and the streets were bustling with everyone from street vendors to businessmen.
My first impression was that the city was far more social than I?d anticipated; everyone we interacted with had several questions on politics, religion, culture, and daily life in Texas. When I told two girls my age from Germany that I drove my own car in Texas, they were floored. Busses, metro systems, and even just walking are primary forms of transportation in Europe. People are also far more socially aware. I kept receiving questions on American legislation and politicians as if it was common knowledge, whereas in America, politics is not something casually spoken of. Overall, the culture is one that places emphasis on people and enjoying each other?s company. In America, we move quickly. We value speed and efficiency, how fast we can complete a task and move on to the next. The Portuguese value slow living. Meals are long, with multiple courses served. A day is not complete without several breaks for espresso, as our tour guide insisted on stopping every few hours for a coffee. There?s an importance placed on company. Taking time to converse with others and discuss history, current events, and everything in between is a typical part of a Portuguese day.
For the remainder of this trip, I hope to further understand why the Portuguese assign so much importance to slow living. Economically, they could be far more efficient. Instead, the culture focuses more on sustainable practices, and how to grow their business in the long run. I want to understand how their culture grew to become that way. I look forward to how the rest of this trip will unfold.
