I'm not that interested in interactive stuff since I don't have a lot of time and tend to do that in real-life situations. But I'm enjoying reading your pieces very much and am happy to continue as a paid subscriber just for the pleasure of that.
I am new to your Substack, but have failed, thus far, to get a feeling for your focus. Perhaps I am at fault here. I do know that I need to be lifted up, to be offered a light ( to mirror Suleika's Sunday post) and to be prodded to go deep. I wish you all the best.
Hi Jacqueline, and thank you for the feedback. I think that I also do not yet have a good feeling for my focus. Maybe that's something I need to work on.
The stated focus of Living Elsewhere is living in a different culture, and all of the issues that follow from that, which is, perhaps, not very clear. The way I see it, this includes things like culture shock, language learning, the complexities of travel, and the difficulties of maintaining social networks, but on a broader level, also topics such as displacement, identity, change, self-fulfillment, and understanding what one wants and what one is willing to accept. I am very interested in discussing these topics, and would be very keen to find others who are as well.
I find that I must get very quiet to allow my many thoughts, interests, ideas, to settle down. It is easy for me to get pulled in many directions. I have dreamt of moving to Maine or an island somewhere or best idea, Ireland. Because I am no longer employed and am at retirement age and not among the 1%, I do not have the funds to live abroad. But the biggest issue for me is, community. Our world is so very fractured and yet the human heart knows that we need one another. We are made for connection and I long for that invisible ray of light that happens when you have found someone who "gets" you. Isn't that why we are here? If you are looking for discuss the above topics with others, it seems the "others" will also be expats. Doesn't that narrow your readership?
Jacqueline, I appreciate your situation, and I hope that you will be able to find what you are looking for, whatever that may turn out to be. For me, living in another culture, while it certainly suggests living abroad, need not necessarily be that. I have moved around the US and found myself in different cultures. There are also people who marry someone from another culture and find that they have issues with communication. All of these kinds of disjuncts are interesting to me, and I hope that there are enough people who would like to discuss them to form a little community. It could even be people who are dreaming of living abroad and want to know what it is like from those who have done so, not just from the promotional materials, so to speak.
I agree, Betina! I kind of hate running into that faded-out text and the button to subscribe in order to read further. So I don't really relish the thought of doing that to others.
Yes, it’s very annoying. I don’t subscribe to Substack with paywalls. I understand that you need to balance the value of your work with accessibility; but as you said, there are other ways to monetize. I haven’t figured it out yet!
Pamela, thanks for asking. I am in Sweden for work (facilitating a workshop on intercultural communication at a university here); I will be back in Lisbon in a couple of days. And yes, I have a new apartment waiting for me, in a much quieter neighborhood. And with spectacular views!
I will eventually post pictures of the views, I promise. Liza will be leaving the old place and finding a new one quite soon. So goodbye to the neighbors, who are now having a fifth child (!!!).
Hi Gregory,
I'm not that interested in interactive stuff since I don't have a lot of time and tend to do that in real-life situations. But I'm enjoying reading your pieces very much and am happy to continue as a paid subscriber just for the pleasure of that.
Shanley.
Thank you, Shanley! That means a lot to me. There is no pressure to interact, of course. It's just great to have you as a subscriber.
Gregory,
I am new to your Substack, but have failed, thus far, to get a feeling for your focus. Perhaps I am at fault here. I do know that I need to be lifted up, to be offered a light ( to mirror Suleika's Sunday post) and to be prodded to go deep. I wish you all the best.
Always, Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline, and thank you for the feedback. I think that I also do not yet have a good feeling for my focus. Maybe that's something I need to work on.
The stated focus of Living Elsewhere is living in a different culture, and all of the issues that follow from that, which is, perhaps, not very clear. The way I see it, this includes things like culture shock, language learning, the complexities of travel, and the difficulties of maintaining social networks, but on a broader level, also topics such as displacement, identity, change, self-fulfillment, and understanding what one wants and what one is willing to accept. I am very interested in discussing these topics, and would be very keen to find others who are as well.
P. S. I am sure you will find your way forward, Gregory. Your intention is good.
Hi Gregory,
I find that I must get very quiet to allow my many thoughts, interests, ideas, to settle down. It is easy for me to get pulled in many directions. I have dreamt of moving to Maine or an island somewhere or best idea, Ireland. Because I am no longer employed and am at retirement age and not among the 1%, I do not have the funds to live abroad. But the biggest issue for me is, community. Our world is so very fractured and yet the human heart knows that we need one another. We are made for connection and I long for that invisible ray of light that happens when you have found someone who "gets" you. Isn't that why we are here? If you are looking for discuss the above topics with others, it seems the "others" will also be expats. Doesn't that narrow your readership?
Jacqueline, I appreciate your situation, and I hope that you will be able to find what you are looking for, whatever that may turn out to be. For me, living in another culture, while it certainly suggests living abroad, need not necessarily be that. I have moved around the US and found myself in different cultures. There are also people who marry someone from another culture and find that they have issues with communication. All of these kinds of disjuncts are interesting to me, and I hope that there are enough people who would like to discuss them to form a little community. It could even be people who are dreaming of living abroad and want to know what it is like from those who have done so, not just from the promotional materials, so to speak.
I like that idea a lot. You will find your community, Gregory. I am sure of it! After November 5th, it may grow in size!!! Have a lovely day!
I am not very fond of paywalls. I feel more attracted to interactive activities.
I agree, Betina! I kind of hate running into that faded-out text and the button to subscribe in order to read further. So I don't really relish the thought of doing that to others.
Yes, it’s very annoying. I don’t subscribe to Substack with paywalls. I understand that you need to balance the value of your work with accessibility; but as you said, there are other ways to monetize. I haven’t figured it out yet!
If you do figure it out, Betina, please let me know!
Gregory, why are you in Sweden now? And did you find a new flat—maybe not in a flight path and generally a bit quieter?
Pamela, thanks for asking. I am in Sweden for work (facilitating a workshop on intercultural communication at a university here); I will be back in Lisbon in a couple of days. And yes, I have a new apartment waiting for me, in a much quieter neighborhood. And with spectacular views!
I’ll look forward to seeing those views! I’m happy you’ve found a place. Is Liza staying in the old one?
I will eventually post pictures of the views, I promise. Liza will be leaving the old place and finding a new one quite soon. So goodbye to the neighbors, who are now having a fifth child (!!!).