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    The Azores is Not for Everyone

    posted by  Sergio Paulo in Azores forum 

    Mr. Newhouse and Mr. Moore,

    I'd like to congratulate you both on your "worldly" and objective perspectives regarding your experiences of the Azores. DISCLAIMER: I was born in Pico Island and have lived there off and on throughout various periods of my life. I'm now in my mid thirties and have been living in the U.S. for the majority of my life. My parents emigrated in the early 80's looking for a "better" life abroad given the economic hardships of the time.

    I'm always interested in what non-Azoreans have to say about my little piece of 'paradise'...... having family there, I am by default, still connected with that culture, BUT....having lived and traveled abroad to many other parts of the world, I like to think that I can offer a clear picture of what those islands have to offer.......

    Both of you are spot on. It is true that we Azoreans are VERY insular.....I like to blame geography but, truth be said, it is also very much a part of our culture.....to be closed off and unaccepting of outsiders....that being said, this insularity that I speak of has been a defensive mechanism for locals for centuries. History will tell us that the Azores were composed of portuguese settlers, then later by the Flemish, the Dutch, the Spanish and so on..... It's important to note that most of this insularity has been slowly disappearing as the new generation of kids is MUCH more cosmopolitan in their view of outsiders. Today's young people are mostly educated enough to be much more open to speaking and be accepting of outsiders.

    The economy: Eco-tourism/rural tourism is the one area that is growing fast. A lot of it is being done by ex-pats (Germans, Swiss, French, Dutch). Other than tourism, there is little else the Azores have to offer in terms of work opportunities. There is some demand for medical professionals in the larger and more developed islands like Terceira and Sao Miguel, but other than that there is little else.

    Take Pico for example, where the most coveted jobs are things like being a Police officer, a teacher, or holding some other 'white' collar profession that is municipal in nature......'dependable' and 'stable'.....and as one can imagine, there are only so many municipal type jobs available for an island with less than 15,000 people.

    Most young people are not sticking around. Most are getting their education in mainland Portugal, then emigrating in the hopes of looking for work. This leaves the Azores with the few that stick around: retirees and an ever-dwindling population of young people, whose options are limited to farming, construction, fishing and the ever-so-coveted municipal/government jobs......

    Remember: the average salary for a family in the Azores runs about 800-1000 euro/month....that's not much to live on.... it's been a culture of subsistence living for hundreds of years. Bartering is still very much a part of the local culture.

    If you're planning on moving to the Azores, come with a plan....start a business....or simply retire there. I've noticed many ex-pats over the years buying up land and starting vineyards. I've also noticed some locals betting on the local cheese-making business. There's also been a lot more investing in restaurants......I hope this becomes a growing trend, as this is really the only way the Azores will grow economically. Tourism and all of the ancillary growth that comes with it will become burgeoning industries in the years to come.

    You have to understand the history of the Azores to really 'get' the locals: these were islands that were isolated from the rest of the world until perhaps 30 yrs ago...when fascism fell. These were people who've only recently been exposed to cable television....the internet, etc. My parents, for example, grew up when Salazar ruled with an iron fist. I hear stories of how they grew up walking to school with no shoes because they were too poor to buy any.....or when they were sick their parents would have to call the doctor to see them (who then arrived at their homes on horseback).....or how there were only one or two people on the island who had cars...everyone else road on horseback or mule...... really makes you think how insulated these people have really been.

    The locals really are friendly....but as an outsider (like with most places I've visited in the world) you have to engage. ENGAGE, ENGAGE, ENGAGE! Learn to live the way they live. Integrate yourself....as hard as that may be....it the ONLY way you will be accepted into their society. They LOVE expats....who INTEGRATE and GET INVOLVED. I've had South African friends move to the Azores...they too had a hard time adjusting to the culture, and the language....so much so, that they ended up separating; the husband stayed in Pico and the wife and kids returned to South Africa......they lived in Pico over 10 years......

    Caution: the healthcare system in the Azores is a joke. Albeit, the Universal healthcare model has its benefits, it is nonetheless, very poor in its administration..... not uncommon to be in long standing waiting lists for surgeries that are not immediately life-threatening, or having to fly into Lisbon to see a specialist......or having to go to one of the larger islands for an MRI or CT scan....the follow up and follow-through is simply unacceptable.

    I like to joke with my family and friends that the Azores would be much better off if they annexed themselves from Portugal and then chose to become part of some other more industrious nation who actually gave a damn about investing and growing these islands to their full potential. You see...the Azores have always felt alone....there isn't a great sense of national pride from many Azoreans....many are proud of their self-reliance as islanders.

    Again, if you're planning on moving to the Azores....come with a plan to invest......this is still virgin territory in many respects. Labor is cheap and willing.

    There is much more to come in the history of the Azores......there is an awakening that has yet to blossom.....but it make take another generation or two to see the potential....

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