How fun to be part of this event and what a great way to integrate with the local community!
Something to think about…While the US kickstarted online gaming and exported fast food globally, there are other cultural reasons for Portugal’s increased obesity rates. (Total EU obesity rates are equally high with many countries having even higher rates than PT.)
Prior to Portugal’s revolution, most women did not work outside the home. Markets were the main source of food. Families ate home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients. Many Portuguese were on the cusp of nutritional soundness — thus a nation of shorter than EU average people. Prior to early 2000s, fast food, even pizza delivery was generally unavailable. Spanish chain Telepizza was the first of any meal delivery in Portugal.
Even into the late 80s, cars were not widely owned due to expense. Most working people lived close to their jobs (where they grew up) and used public transport or walked. No one sat at their desk to eat lunch — thankfully that is still not the norm as most businesses give employees an (unpaid) hour for lunch and speaking from experience, offices empty out from 1-2pm. Shops used to do the same. Many people walked home for a hot lunch (cooked by Wife or Mom) or to local restaurants for a basic, inexpensive healthy hot meal, often “paid” by the employer via lunch subsidies added to paychecks - a throwback to the Salazar era to keep workers healthy, at work, and to support local businesses.
Most household chores involved activity; women in the home were not idle. Laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, all involved physical work. Shopping malls were rare with the first in Lisbon in the mid-80s — so each store meant a separate (walking) trip.
Once woman had more access to education (post-Salazar) they began working and cooking time declined. Processed food became available (albeit not from America and not as processed) but was expensive. While Portuguese food is generally healthy, most of its’ sweets and sobremesas, are not.
Houses were small. Apartment-living, common. Television stations were limited. People lived their lives more outside the home.
Then came the internet. Then Bimby. Then car-commuting. Then gaming. And most recently, Covid.
The US is not the cause of Portugal’s obesity problem. Post-revolution modern-day evolution, is. While the US was/is a major influencer in globalization and I’m not a fan of “Americanization”, we also can’t assume we’re so influential as to be the cause of many changes in Portugal.
That said, I think it’s great to import Pickleball to Portugal! We all need more fun and activities that bring internationals and locals together. 😊
(A small aside, America/Americans are not the cause of Portugal’s housing market woes, either. It’s great clickbait for media and real estate companies, but it’s not true. We’re just not that important in the real estate big picture. 🫤)
We also noticed all the many Glovo delivery people in front of McDonalds when we were there in April (scouting trip). A little off-topic....we were disappointed to see so many McDonalds and Starbucks in mostly touristy areas (but sometimes non-touristy areas). Portugal has so many great cafes/bakeries/coffee kiosks...why on earth would you go to a Starbucks when there are so many better options (especially tourists who are there to experience something new)?
Thank for another insightful article (inciteful to action?!). Social media as the current version of Conquistador or other colonial invader? Thank you (and Denise) for engaging and encouraging movement. I have to believe that every bit by every individual will make a difference.
Thanks for a great article. It is a very harsh reality that American movies and fast food outlets eg, McDonalds, Burger King etc, have infiltrated so many countries with sad consequences.
However, bullying is a modern day trend that is also rooted in social media and no one country can take the blame for it. Each country has to deal with their own problems.
Very interesting article. I am embarrassed to say that yesterday my husband and I(American & Canadian) actually went to the new KFC that just opened 2 months ago in Caldas da Rainha. I commented to him that it’s the beginning of obese people in Portugal - I was half joking. It is disconcerting to hear that it may be true. I truely hope that Portugal can fend off the American ways for as long as possible.
We can blame media , we can blame American influence, we can blame our hard work and opportunity to have more free time on our hands when we stop cooking and start scrolling our phones. It's all about choices. I tell myself "I'm old enough, I played outdoors all my childhood, I'm not that type of person" ... and keep scrolling my phone. Informational black hope is addictive
Always enjoy your posts and this is no exception. You are very insightful and perceptive. My spouse just retired after teaching for forty years and could not agree more.
Hi Nancy, there's no doubt we're seeing a change in the behaviour of young people that has been evident since around 2010/2012. American culture has been influencing the world since Elvis was a lad and for me, the "blame" is not American media or culture, but the massive increase in the use of social media correlated with the massive rise in health issues in young people (that's anyone under the age of 25 today). Increases in mental health related illnesses between 2009 (pre social media mass adoption) and 2019 (pre-covid - the numbers got screwed up in the last 2 years) are between 50% and 150% higher, depending on whether you are measuring rates of self-harm, teenage depression (particularly high amongst girls), or suicide (suicide is the 2nd highest ranking cause of death amongst US teens, after unintended accidents). The stat that makes me the saddest is "loneliness at school". A survey of school kids across USA, Europe, East Asia and Latin American found that their sense of loneliness at school has risen sharply since 2010/2012. Heres the thing: Studies consistently show a link between more hours on social media and a higher rate of depression amongst adolescents. The reverse is also true: less social media leads to higher happiness ratings. American kids are now spending 6-9 hours a day on their devices! No wonder they're not as fit or active as we were as kids. Bring back conkers and kicking a tin can down the street. And good for you and Denise for getting the kids active with pickleball.
Nearly every expat I know who has enrolled their children in Portuguese public schools has a story about how their child was bullied--in some cases by the teacher, even. I was a teacher in the US (where there is undoubtedly a bullying issue) before moving here, and have NEVER seen bullying to this extremity. So, perhaps it has more to do with the community than it does the nationality. Blaming it on immigrants is an easier out than taking accountability for shortcomings in the system.
And then there are two magical ladies who moved from CA and brought Pickleball to Portugal for both the older and younger.
We are all getting more fit and having fun thanks to you two!
Kudos for helping with the youth and importing "good stuff" from America...I'm such a fan of this sport (which I had never tried until I went to film Nancy and Denise to help promote the club).
While the sport is fun and promotes exercise, I love that the key element is sportsmanship which I learned when reading the manual they sent me. There are rules set up so that people don't get injured like "stay out of the "no-volley zone" if the ball hasn't bounced first created to protect someone getting hit hard by the ball from close range.
So cheers again to a good example and I hope more people like Nancy and Denise will move to Portugal to contribute positively to the community.
Americans need to leave American culture behind when they come here and instead enjoy all that makes Portugal and it’s people so wonderful. If you want American culture, go back to where you (and I) came from. Frankly, I have no desire to do so.
This made me so sad to read. Seems many of the reasons I wish to move from the US are negatively impacting Portugal by the influx of expats (and our dysfunctional social media). Reminds me of when I lived in Hawaii in the late 60’s and my local friends would say “we know you love our land but we still want all you Houle’s to go home”
Pardon the expression, but my first thought after reading your sad post was, "You can run but you can't hide." In other words, you may have thought you could move and leave the U.S. behind but wherever you go, there you are. Although---how cool that you could teach kids pickleball !!!
I have been following your blog for a while now. My friends Mary & Mike Johnston recommend you to me. We know each other from Columbus, Indiana and our kids. My husband, friends and I are traveling to Portugal next September/October. Can you recommend a small town to rent a place for a week that would be a great base to get to the sites in Lisbon? Someplace with quaint restaurants and coffee shops? I’ll look to hear back from you. Thanks! Michelle Spear
How fun to be part of this event and what a great way to integrate with the local community!
Something to think about…While the US kickstarted online gaming and exported fast food globally, there are other cultural reasons for Portugal’s increased obesity rates. (Total EU obesity rates are equally high with many countries having even higher rates than PT.)
Prior to Portugal’s revolution, most women did not work outside the home. Markets were the main source of food. Families ate home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients. Many Portuguese were on the cusp of nutritional soundness — thus a nation of shorter than EU average people. Prior to early 2000s, fast food, even pizza delivery was generally unavailable. Spanish chain Telepizza was the first of any meal delivery in Portugal.
Even into the late 80s, cars were not widely owned due to expense. Most working people lived close to their jobs (where they grew up) and used public transport or walked. No one sat at their desk to eat lunch — thankfully that is still not the norm as most businesses give employees an (unpaid) hour for lunch and speaking from experience, offices empty out from 1-2pm. Shops used to do the same. Many people walked home for a hot lunch (cooked by Wife or Mom) or to local restaurants for a basic, inexpensive healthy hot meal, often “paid” by the employer via lunch subsidies added to paychecks - a throwback to the Salazar era to keep workers healthy, at work, and to support local businesses.
Most household chores involved activity; women in the home were not idle. Laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, all involved physical work. Shopping malls were rare with the first in Lisbon in the mid-80s — so each store meant a separate (walking) trip.
Once woman had more access to education (post-Salazar) they began working and cooking time declined. Processed food became available (albeit not from America and not as processed) but was expensive. While Portuguese food is generally healthy, most of its’ sweets and sobremesas, are not.
Houses were small. Apartment-living, common. Television stations were limited. People lived their lives more outside the home.
Then came the internet. Then Bimby. Then car-commuting. Then gaming. And most recently, Covid.
The US is not the cause of Portugal’s obesity problem. Post-revolution modern-day evolution, is. While the US was/is a major influencer in globalization and I’m not a fan of “Americanization”, we also can’t assume we’re so influential as to be the cause of many changes in Portugal.
That said, I think it’s great to import Pickleball to Portugal! We all need more fun and activities that bring internationals and locals together. 😊
(A small aside, America/Americans are not the cause of Portugal’s housing market woes, either. It’s great clickbait for media and real estate companies, but it’s not true. We’re just not that important in the real estate big picture. 🫤)
We also noticed all the many Glovo delivery people in front of McDonalds when we were there in April (scouting trip). A little off-topic....we were disappointed to see so many McDonalds and Starbucks in mostly touristy areas (but sometimes non-touristy areas). Portugal has so many great cafes/bakeries/coffee kiosks...why on earth would you go to a Starbucks when there are so many better options (especially tourists who are there to experience something new)?
Thank for another insightful article (inciteful to action?!). Social media as the current version of Conquistador or other colonial invader? Thank you (and Denise) for engaging and encouraging movement. I have to believe that every bit by every individual will make a difference.
Thanks for a great article. It is a very harsh reality that American movies and fast food outlets eg, McDonalds, Burger King etc, have infiltrated so many countries with sad consequences.
However, bullying is a modern day trend that is also rooted in social media and no one country can take the blame for it. Each country has to deal with their own problems.
So enjoy reading your posts.
Very interesting article. I am embarrassed to say that yesterday my husband and I(American & Canadian) actually went to the new KFC that just opened 2 months ago in Caldas da Rainha. I commented to him that it’s the beginning of obese people in Portugal - I was half joking. It is disconcerting to hear that it may be true. I truely hope that Portugal can fend off the American ways for as long as possible.
We can blame media , we can blame American influence, we can blame our hard work and opportunity to have more free time on our hands when we stop cooking and start scrolling our phones. It's all about choices. I tell myself "I'm old enough, I played outdoors all my childhood, I'm not that type of person" ... and keep scrolling my phone. Informational black hope is addictive
Always enjoy your posts and this is no exception. You are very insightful and perceptive. My spouse just retired after teaching for forty years and could not agree more.
Hi Nancy, there's no doubt we're seeing a change in the behaviour of young people that has been evident since around 2010/2012. American culture has been influencing the world since Elvis was a lad and for me, the "blame" is not American media or culture, but the massive increase in the use of social media correlated with the massive rise in health issues in young people (that's anyone under the age of 25 today). Increases in mental health related illnesses between 2009 (pre social media mass adoption) and 2019 (pre-covid - the numbers got screwed up in the last 2 years) are between 50% and 150% higher, depending on whether you are measuring rates of self-harm, teenage depression (particularly high amongst girls), or suicide (suicide is the 2nd highest ranking cause of death amongst US teens, after unintended accidents). The stat that makes me the saddest is "loneliness at school". A survey of school kids across USA, Europe, East Asia and Latin American found that their sense of loneliness at school has risen sharply since 2010/2012. Heres the thing: Studies consistently show a link between more hours on social media and a higher rate of depression amongst adolescents. The reverse is also true: less social media leads to higher happiness ratings. American kids are now spending 6-9 hours a day on their devices! No wonder they're not as fit or active as we were as kids. Bring back conkers and kicking a tin can down the street. And good for you and Denise for getting the kids active with pickleball.
Nearly every expat I know who has enrolled their children in Portuguese public schools has a story about how their child was bullied--in some cases by the teacher, even. I was a teacher in the US (where there is undoubtedly a bullying issue) before moving here, and have NEVER seen bullying to this extremity. So, perhaps it has more to do with the community than it does the nationality. Blaming it on immigrants is an easier out than taking accountability for shortcomings in the system.
And then there are two magical ladies who moved from CA and brought Pickleball to Portugal for both the older and younger.
We are all getting more fit and having fun thanks to you two!
Kudos for helping with the youth and importing "good stuff" from America...I'm such a fan of this sport (which I had never tried until I went to film Nancy and Denise to help promote the club).
While the sport is fun and promotes exercise, I love that the key element is sportsmanship which I learned when reading the manual they sent me. There are rules set up so that people don't get injured like "stay out of the "no-volley zone" if the ball hasn't bounced first created to protect someone getting hit hard by the ball from close range.
So cheers again to a good example and I hope more people like Nancy and Denise will move to Portugal to contribute positively to the community.
Americans need to leave American culture behind when they come here and instead enjoy all that makes Portugal and it’s people so wonderful. If you want American culture, go back to where you (and I) came from. Frankly, I have no desire to do so.
Thank you, Nancy! I hope to make it.
This made me so sad to read. Seems many of the reasons I wish to move from the US are negatively impacting Portugal by the influx of expats (and our dysfunctional social media). Reminds me of when I lived in Hawaii in the late 60’s and my local friends would say “we know you love our land but we still want all you Houle’s to go home”
Pardon the expression, but my first thought after reading your sad post was, "You can run but you can't hide." In other words, you may have thought you could move and leave the U.S. behind but wherever you go, there you are. Although---how cool that you could teach kids pickleball !!!
Nancy,
I have been following your blog for a while now. My friends Mary & Mike Johnston recommend you to me. We know each other from Columbus, Indiana and our kids. My husband, friends and I are traveling to Portugal next September/October. Can you recommend a small town to rent a place for a week that would be a great base to get to the sites in Lisbon? Someplace with quaint restaurants and coffee shops? I’ll look to hear back from you. Thanks! Michelle Spear