There's many ways to improve your language skills. And these days, since my return to civilization ( whatever that means ), I have experienced something similar to what happened to me in 2018-2020.
Back then, I lived in a mountain village named 'Monte Frio' ( Cold Mountain ), where I conversed with the villagers, in Portuguese, on an almost daily basis.
Now I'm in a bigger village, a small town, in the countryside, and although there's plenty of 'estranheiros' ( 'strangers' = foreigners ), I try not to be a stranger and I talk ( with the ) Portuguese, whenever I get the chance, even if they talk English to me.
So yesterday, I chatted with a 78 year old taxi driver, while he drove me to a somewhat bigger city, where I had to be for bureaucratic reasons.
The good man told me that he has been working this job for 60 years(!), since the age of 18, always chauffeuring from this same town. Pretty impressive, if you ask me. He loved his job and I couldn't have met a more experienced driver, proud of his ancient Mercedes.
Today I talked to a hairdresser, for half an hour, while he took care of my looks ( and locks ). I have to say that he appeared to be quite the philosopher, not unlike me. We talked about the world, people, the evil called mainstream media, religion and much much more.
I learnt that he started in his father's barbershop ( the same place ), at the age of 6, sweeping the floor. This was 58 years ago.
Yes, I love personal stories and people tend.to open up to me, like I do to them, even if I have to speak my 3rd, 4rd, 5th or 6th language. I guess I lost count, not sure where my Portugese lands these days, probably in the 4rd place, after Dutch, English and, possibly, German.
Earlier today, while on a walk, I discovered a somewhat hidden hiking trail, starting near the library. Most pictures attached were taken while on that route.
Aside from this one, of this town's medieval bridge over the Rio Alva. I learnt yesterday that this bridge was destroyed in the early 1800s, to prevent Napoleon's army from crossing the river, only to be reconstructed decades later.
I also stopped, on the way back from my hike, to talk to a middle-aged man that I had seen working in his 'horta' (!vegetable garden ). We chatted for a while about gardening and nature. When I thanked him for his explanation, he said that it had been a pleasure :^)
And before I forget, I received my library card, today. Or, to be more precise, I picked it up at the library where I'd ordered it last Friday.
I then browsed through some children's books to get inspired again to get back to my own writing and illustrating and took one book home as well as a novel called 'Tinha Chovido na Véspera.'
( It rained the day before ).
Beautiful title, if you ask me.
I guess I learned a new word here: vespera.
Now I think of it, I talked to even more people today, in Portuguese but my main message is that after spending a year or two mainly speaking English and even Dutch, due to the people around me ( and not living in a town ), it's kind of nice to return to ( improving my ) Portuguese, once again.
My next step is to also write more in Portuguese, just not sure whether I want to do this on my blog.
I still have plans do to write a Portugese children's book. Let's see if I can do that, possibly even this year.
Abraço a todos!
