Downfall

A few weeks ago I heard one of the most famous Portuguese pop singers is working in a McDonalds. A few days ago I found in a gossip magazine that one of Portugal's best known actors is working in a clothes shop. Times are hard. Harder than they've ever been. I don't mean to say any of these jobs are in any way demeaning, not at all. There's no shame in honest hard work (I've worked in sandwich shops for two years myself), but the example goes to show how tough things are back home.

Meanwhile the term "brain drain" has earned daily usage as more and more young and highly educated people desert the country in hopes of a better future elsewhere. Or even just a future. It's sad when you realize that the friends you left behind - people that work as University professors or have office jobs in high profile companies - are bringing home less money than you cleaning tables in a foreign country (for which I'm deeply grateful on my end of things).

I abandoned ship before it started to sink and for different reasons, chiefly among them because I wanted to share my life with the most wonderful person I've ever met, and that meant moving a thousand miles from home. Whatever my reasons were I'm glad I did it. I love my life here. Living in the Midlands I know that if all goes well and if I work hard enough I can look forward to many happy milestones - marriage, our own house, kids, the whole suburban dream. Maybe even have a bit left over for a few treats - holidays, days out, etc. And I'm not sure I'd have any of this if I had stayed back home.

It's deeply saddening to see your homeland fare so badly and people living worse and worse. But in the long run you only have one life to live and I'm happy with the choices I've made so far. And who knows? Maybe things will pick up back home. They could hardly do otherwise. Fingers crossed.