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If
you make the effort to get to know the locals in Portugal
your time there will be so much more enjoyable than if you
didn't bother.
In my opinion there is nothing worse than finding a group of
English people for instance, who have ventured into Portugal
to make a new life for themselves and they only socialise
with the other English people who live in the same area.
What's the point?
I have known some of these groups to completely ignore the
Portuguese locals and have nothing at all to do with them.
These people are missing out on so much, as the locals are
so friendly and so accommodating to newcomers.
Many of the locals in Portugal are very religious and in
many of the smaller villages you will find that their whole
world revolves around the church. When you actually make the
effort to get to know them and they can see that you are
trying, perhaps for instance you are trying to speak
Portuguese when shopping at the local market instead of
simply shouting louder in English in order to be understood,
they will take to you immediately and don't be surprised if
you and your family are invited to eat with them or be
invited to parties etc. If you are also religious you will
find that by worshipping at the local church you will get to
know many of the local population.
The locals in Portugal can sometimes come across as being
slightly unwelcoming but that is just their manner until
they get to know you, don't let that put you off. These
friends that you will make could very well become friends
for life.
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