Charity & Maylene at a scenic outlook on the Porto side of the Douro River looking towards Vila Nova da Gaia with the Luis I Bridge in the background

Aloha! We’re Charity & Maylene. 🙂

After two decades in the Pacific Northwest, we moved to Portugal during the pandemic.

Follow us on our adventures as we navigate new surroundings, cultures, and languages.

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  • Portuguese A2 Level Exam: You Can Pass It!

    From making your appointment for the test to understanding how to obtain the results of your performance, everything about the Portuguese A2 Level Exam (CIPLE) is a little different. Luckily, the very generous testing requirements only ask students to have earned 55% or more overall. Each section of the exam counts for a different portion… Continue reading Portuguese A2 Level Exam: You Can Pass It!

  • Post-Election Blues

    After the 2024 Presidential election in the United States, we received a lot of questions from friends and family about living abroad. I thought it might help to share an email exchange with a friend. Q: Hey there … You can imagine why I’m writing…Now that you two have lived there for a few years,…

  • Ready for Freedom? Our Door is Open

    Ready for Freedom? Our Door is Open

    The outcome of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional election in the United States will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the entire world. But if you’re reading this, you probably recognize the impact. While I feared this outcome might be possible, I could not in my heart allow myself to believe it would come to this.…