The Election Was Lost, If You Are Thinking About 'Getting Out,' Then Write Me Here

I have been living as an expat for 30 years, and it's much easier than you think to find peace and fit in.

Courtesy of Dreams Time

The election is over, and fascism has prevailed. Whether or not American democracy will survive this moment is unknown. Today, just hours after the reality that Donald Trump not only won in a landslide but also won the popular vote began to sink in, we are still the country when we woke on November 5th, Election Day. The clock, however, is ticking.

In 75 days, the most criminal and corrupt family to have ever disgraced the White House, the one that was sent packing in disgrace just four years ago, returns. They become the symbols of our nation, of us. Foreigners will judge us by how the Trumps act, and, unfortunately, we know how they will act: despicably.

Since 1994, I have been living outside of the United States. My love for our country never waned, but my work and love interests kept me abroad. I am from New Jersey, but today, I speak Russian like a native and am conversational in German, French, Italian, and now Portuguese. I can also communicate with locals when in China — I know a little and milk those words for every ounce of linguistic power. 

I am a self-declared “cultural warrior.” There isn’t much I can’t adapt to. I know how to adapt and even assimilate because I recognize not just linguistic patterns but behavioral and cultural ones. After leaving Russia because of the war with Ukraine, we lived for a bit in Austria, a society I have had connections with for over 10 years and settled in Portugal.

Living here hasn’t always been easy, but not because of any cultural hurdles we couldn’t overcome. Most of the difficulties have been related to the lack of work for someone with my experience. Nonetheless, in terms of the culture, the language, the food, the life here, I would say we are thriving.

If you or someone you know wants to “get out and set up life” permanently or temporarily somewhere in Europe, or if they are just thinking about it, please contact me. I will try to help.

Share this article with anyone devastated by yesterday’s election results.

Good luck! We will overcome this moment.