19 Comments
Nov 1, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

Mam: I´ve just subscribe your newsletter just to say how much I appreciate your writing. I hope you forgive my english but, as a portuguese, I´m glad that you have chosen my country to be your new home. I wish you and your family all the best and, as we say, "tudo vai ficar bem" (everything is going to be alright). I do hope so!

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Oct 29, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

As I read your post today (on my birthday), I felt like I had just visited with a friend over a cup of coffee. You have such a gift for expressing your feelings that I always feel like we have had a face-to-face conversation after I complete reading the post. Because of COVID, I have very few of those conversations, and I miss them. I teach Spanish at a community college, and my students talk about duolingo.com a lot and really seem to like it. Part of the "secret" to learning another language is learning vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary. Even if you just use the infinitive of a verb without the correct conjugation, you can usually get across meaning. So, fill your toolbox of Portuguese words and then, perhaps, you can remember SOME of them when you need to use them. Use flashcards or whatever works for you, but keep working just on the words. Worry about the syntax AFTER you have put more tools (words) in your toolbox. It truly distresses me when I hear a non-native speaker of English struggling, and the person they are talking to is showing NO tolerance or understanding whatsoever. My son has cerebral palsy, and he has dealt with this impatience his entire life. You will look back on these days later, just as you do at the days when your daughter was little, and see the lessons learned and the shift in your paradigm from these experiences. KEEP writing. You made my birthday a good day.

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Oct 30, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

I love to read your stories. I feel every word you write which such intensity. It,s almost like I am living your story as if it would be me. Greetings to all 3 of you. 🤗🤗🤗

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Oct 29, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

Beautifully written..thank you

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Oct 29, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

I love your beautiful storytelling whenever it gets to my inbox! So happy for you that this one has a happy ‘ending’ lol

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Oct 29, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

Whenever I am lucky enough to find your Newsletter in my mailbox, I drop everything and snuggle in to read. You are the brave/maybe crazy ones who crossed the Atlantic to step into the Dream of living in Portugal, as we are. We arrived on the 15th of October in Faro, and made our way to our Airbnb in Cabanas de Tavira, beyond exhausted with our two pee-soaked senior citizen Poodles. There was nowhere for our poor little dogs to relieve themselves in any of the airports after we flew out of Phoenix! JFK, Paris, and finally Faro Airport, Nothing! We tried taking them into regular restrooms and they were just frightened and wouldn’t go! But, we are here and slowly getting used to everything.

I cried when I read your story of Feebea’s extremely difficult entry into Portugal! I thought we had it rough with bringing our two little dogs in! Nothing like what you all had to endure! I was also tearful reading this latest telling of Filha’s school with the sweet goats closing! I am so happy that you were able to find her another school with some of her classmates! Your Family deserves everything going well from here on, for sure! We all do!

Cheryl & Andreas

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Nov 3, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

What trials you have endured as a family!

Hugs to you from your friends in Illinois!

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Oct 31, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

Gosh what a journey - you’ve so beautifully captured the joys and curveballs of moving. We read your posts with great interest as we start to explore the same journey. Thank you for the beautiful writing.

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Oct 31, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

This was beautifully written, as usual, and really resonated with me - completely understanding your anxieties and great ability at catastrophizing (right there with you!). I really hope your child can adjust to the new school. It’s WONDERFUL that the school administrator is so excellent! Glad you were able to get your residency card - but man! Luckily, I haven’t had anyone (yet) yell at me to “fala Português “. I would probably cry! All the best to Filha(?) (your child) for the first day of school!

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Oct 30, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

I love you! Proud of all you 3 are! And I don't even know you!

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Oct 29, 2021Liked by LaDonna Witmer

Was really happy to see the newsletter email this morning. I knew it would be waiting for me after dropping the kids and making coffee. Sure sounds like the few weeks have been rough but you made my day better.

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so good L <3

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Oh, LaDonna, my heart goes out to you! As we begin our own process in earnest, we are stumbling over the first of many pebbles in our path, and while the Pollyanna-ish side of me Just Knows We’ll Persevere!!!, the more realistic side is chewing off my fingernails to the quick hoping that it’s going to all work out.

I have to thank you for waiting to write until you got your card and found that school for Filha- it sounds like you have been through the ringer a bit since I saw you. (I hope the Real Estate Thing sorts out ok as well…)

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Didn’t get the newsletter in my email but happened on it. So glad I did. Hope the school is working out and you are better now.

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