Published in About Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout me — Joana Araci Rodrigues AlmeidaThe whole story —or at least what’s coming to my mind— and the importance of the places and people that made who I was, am and perhaps who I will be. — Let’s try this again. My full name is Joana Araci Rodrigues Almeida, and I am Portuguese. I wish nationality weren’t a factor to determine in such a straightforward way my identity. However, part of who we are is determined by our surrounding world, and mine is Portugal.About Me Stories53 min readAbout Me Stories53 min read
Published in The Portuguese·17 hours agoMember-onlyWith Americans Arriving in Droves to Portugal, Life Becomes Unfair for the PortugueseNew York Times article commented on by a Portuguese. — “Americans Head to Europe for the Good Life on the Cheap” is thus the title of an article in today’s New York Times, which, quite honestly, could have been written either by me or by several Portuguese journalists whose voices do not reach out there, but who have every week…Portugal10 min readPortugal10 min read
Published in The Portuguese·Mar 13Member-onlyOk, Let’s Be Honest About Portugal For Real“The biggest blind man is the one who doesn’t want to see.” Old Portuguese saying. — There is no lack of articles lately written by foreigners, or rather ex-pats and their experience living in Portugal. These are sometimes some rather exciting chronicles from an outsider’s point of view. However, their view may not necessarily be shared by local Portuguese people. Don't take me wrong, though. Sure…Portugal11 min readPortugal11 min read
Published in The Portuguese·Mar 12Member-onlyFamily Weekends, With Poetry and Drama In BetweenMother’s birthday continues throughout the weekend. — A Day In Life — My Mother’s Birthday Yesterday my mother turned 57 years old.medium.com That day I left behind my mother, who went on to physical therapy. Three days later, she would complain about how it had worsened her. …Family16 min readFamily16 min read
Published in The Portuguese·Mar 9Member-onlyA Day In Life — My Mother’s BirthdayYesterday my mother turned 57 years old. I wasn’t sure how many years it would be until she put the 5 and 7 on top of the orange cake I made. For me, it was at that moment when I got restless. Is it a fearful age. You see, my…Portugal16 min readPortugal16 min read
Published in Fuck Niches·Mar 7Member-onlyAnother Dull Tick-Tock Filter To Make Us Obsessed About YouthNew filters, old fetishes — There’s yet another new filter from the nonsensical TikTok. This time it turns old people’s faces into young ones. And let’s also say it sucks. The filter is new, but the obsession is entirely human and old. So many stories humanity has told about the desire for eternal youth. So…Self7 min readSelf7 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Mar 6Member-onlyYou Probably Won’t Travel the World and Become an Instagram InfluencerUnless sugar daddy is in da house — A Portuguese influencer, loved by all, bought half a village somewhere in a lost land in northern Portugal. Okay, a bit of context. He bought half a dozen houses, almost all rotten, in ruins. But, believe me, it was not for free. The reactions were not lacking. Everyone was happy…Influencers5 min readInfluencers5 min read
Published in The Portuguese·Mar 6Member-only20 Uninteresting Facts About PortugalBecause being intriguing has become too mainstream — Everywhere the tourist magazines talk about the best of Portugal. But this is a small country. Soon there will be nothing more to say about this rectangle. Cool food, cool beaches, pastel de nata, francesinha… Such joy. I’ve grown tired of this. So… Let’s get to what nobody really wants…Portugal6 min readPortugal6 min read
Published in Fuck Niches·Mar 3Member-onlyDriving Alone at Night During a Storm in Northern FranceWelcome to one of the most frightening moments I have ever lived — It was winter, maybe three in the morning somewhere in Northern France, when I found myself lost driving on roads I had never before driven on. Lightning was cutting through the sky, and tree branches were falling onto the highway. The non-existent electricity made any place even shadier and scarier…This Happened To Me9 min readThis Happened To Me9 min read
Published in Globetrotters·Mar 2Member-onlyEight Things I Hate About Italy, and You Will Probably Hate TooI am now seriously unnerved by Italy. Every time I visit, I come home depressed. I think afterward, why did I go there? To have so much fun and then have to go back to my mundane life and get depressed? No way, Italy, you must stop doing this to…Travel8 min readTravel8 min read
