Episode 5 -- Talking with Tyler
Tyler (age 11) joins us to discuss his thoughts on Portugal as we are now past the 3-month mark living here.
Hello and welcome to another episode of As the Dinosons Turn. And we all have microphones this time around. We have a little different setup. I I think I finally figured out the audio. So actually all four of us have microphones, but Jack declined to participate in this podcast. Maybe we'll get him on a future podcast. But Tyler has joined us. And hello to Tyler.
SPEAKER_02Oh. Yeah, welcome to the podcast.
SPEAKER_00So we're going to talk to Tyler about I guess what what he's experienced, his perspective on things as we record this. We're three months in. And what have you thought so far? Um, I I do like Port School.
SPEAKER_01There's like a lot of places to go to, and even though it may not seem like there's a lot of familiar places, there's definitely a lot of familiar places you'll find. Right, and what are some of those familiar places that you enjoy going to? Um I I enjoy going to uh American restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King because there's a lot of familiar food there if I'm like if I just really enjoy.
SPEAKER_02Well, and and you've been really hesitant to try new foods, right? Yeah, i it's like a fear of will I like it, will I not? Right, so and and you're a big texture person too, right? Yeah. Yeah. So Tyler's a lot like me, that if the texture's off-putting, he's done. So we're working on trying to get him to put a few more things in that mouth and and taste some new things. But what are some of the Portuguese foods you like? Um, I I do like pasteladas. Mm-hmm. So pasteladas are um like little cream, little cream pastries, right? They're cream pies, basically. Yeah. Egg custard pies, right? Um can you talk about what um what are some of the things that you enjoy doing in Portugal?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I enjoy being able to relax and do what I like.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so Tyler's a big gamer, right? So video games are really important, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And Legos, Lego collector here. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm trying again to Lego collecting.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so he's he's already given us forewarning that he's going to be a serious collector and we need to be prepared. Um, and you have one demand that has to be done when we're in Lisbon, right? What is that demand? Go to a Lego store. Good to know. So, Lego store will be happening. Yeah, we've already had that conversation. Um, what has been how has it been learning Portuguese so far?
SPEAKER_01Um, sometimes I feel like I struggle, but sometimes uh I just really feel like I can understand stuff right away because I've already learned those words from Duolingo.
SPEAKER_02Right. So Duolingo is helpful, except it's Brazilian Portuguese, right? So it's pronounced a little bit differently. Yeah. But um, you know, you though have done a few things that uh can make most people feel uncomfortable, like read aloud in class, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_02Okay, and solved maybe some math problems, things like that.
SPEAKER_01I have solved some math problems.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, how are you at speaking so far?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I I am getting there, like I sometimes I have trouble putting together full sentences in Portuguese because I don't know the right words.
SPEAKER_02Right. And so if you don't know write the right words, what what do you do instead of talk? Um, Google Translate. Yeah, so we're gonna work on no Google Translate, right? That's what we're working on. Oh no. I know. But you're gonna we've got a we've got a meeting to with a summer Portuguese instructor to help you out, right? Yeah. Um what else have you been doing besides going to school?
SPEAKER_01Um we we do sometimes go shopping and and we also go out to places like malls and stuff.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I meant we do. We do, because that's like a place where we can all get something to eat and nobody has to argue. Um but I meant um what about going to study support and going to Jravajas? What do you think about that?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I I do like it. Sometimes it it feels like it takes forever. Sometimes it it feels like that just doesn't take that long.
SPEAKER_02And what are some of the things you do at Shravaja's? Sometimes you do homework, but now you don't have homework. So what are you gonna do? Um Shravaja now gives me her her own homework. She does. She's taken charge of everything, right? And what is your own homework with Shravaja?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I do have a a test to do.
SPEAKER_02Ah, yeah. So learning Portuguese language, right? Yes. And then um you sometimes help the other kids that are there, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep. I I help them with their English work.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, because you're like an English all-star, right? Yeah. Um well, you know, our original plan was for you to go on to school online, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, h however, in in the state that we're from, uh Iowa, um, there's a mandatory test called ISAS bent and the online school we want to had people have to go to their own facilities.
SPEAKER_02Right. So that was why we and we they knew, like we had the conversation we were moving to Portugal with them, and they knew we were leaving, and yet they're like, Oh, well, I didn't think that didn't mean that you wouldn't be able to come back to take a test. Right? So, not even we had one week in, and what did we have to do? We had to guess enrolled in school. That's right. So, you know, it wasn't our plan, but how do you think it's worked out?
SPEAKER_01Um, it it's worked out well. Even though the school year at online school was going to end quicker. Um, I I do feel like that it was worth it to go to a school that's directly in Portugal be because then I get to learn the language quicker.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and you made a few friends, right? Yep. Yeah. Alright, and um we hadn't even been here a week and you had a party. Yeah. Yeah, and what did you bring?
SPEAKER_01Uh I brought your cookies.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we made chocolate chip cookies, and then you guys did a big sale, and we sent more chocolate chip cookies and some fun fetty cookies and banana bread, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so Tyler's pretty popular for his American baked goods, right? Mm-hmm. Okay. Um, you know, there were days where you would get in the car and you would say, I don't think I understood anything today. And then it started to change to, yeah, I think it's alright. What when do you think that started to happen for you?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I think that it it was when I I really started to like learn Portuguese. Like I really started to get into learning it more just so that I can understand my classes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and um understanding your classes, you know, it's just lots of listening, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and sometimes I I don't really know vr the right words, and sometimes I I have teachers who don't speak English. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02So that's been a good challenge for both of you, right? Yep. Um If somebody is thinking about moving to Portugal and they have kids, they're usually worried about the transition. How has the transition been for you so far?
SPEAKER_01Um pretty well. I I've already learned some stuff beho beforehand with Duolingo-Brazilian Portuguese. So so I I felt like Viola's a a bit set.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and um, you know, we've said that we're gonna do this for at least a year, hopefully more, right? And what what do you think about mom and dad just saying, hey, we're gonna start pursuing our dreams now? What do you think about that?
SPEAKER_01Uh I think that's pretty good that you're pursuing your dreams. So I like I I always f feel like that I I don't really think that anyone should be pushing me back from doing what I want to do. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So you're support us in doing all this craziness? Yep. Yeah. And so what is it you think you want to do?
SPEAKER_01Um, I I want to be a programmer mainly because it would be fun to make my own video games. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02And you've got quite the business mind, right? Yep. Yeah, he's got that in the bag. I don't know. What do you think, Dad? What questions do you have for him?
SPEAKER_00What are you gonna do this summer now that school is over for Tyler, so till middle of September?
SPEAKER_01Uh I'll probably sit around and play video games, maybe do some game nights.
SPEAKER_02I don't know. Game nights are a big thing at this house. Um, what have you been doing for your game nights lately?
SPEAKER_01Um, we've been playing a game called Overcooked, and lately we've also been playing a game called Moving Out. Right, and what's the game that mom will play with you guys? Um, i it's a game called Song Pop Party. It's basically where you try to guess um so something about a song like the song name or the artist.
SPEAKER_02Right, because other video games stress me out too much, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think that was a good compromise. Um, you know, you're gonna have some Portuguese classes this summer and there's some relaxation. What did we get? Because it gets so flipping hot some afternoons. A pool that's back there. Yeah, we got a little inflatable pool so you guys can relax in it, right? Mm-hmm. Have you been taking advantage of that yet? Uh uh a little bit. Well, and it saves you from having like they're doing some work on our river beach, so we'll have to go down there and check it out. But last time we were there, the whole thing was all ripped up, so we gotta we decided we needed water, and that was the only way we were gonna get it, right?
SPEAKER_01We we actually got a pool that was too big at first, and we're actually using it to sort of help prop up our phone right now.
SPEAKER_02That's right. So we've got our video, like, but yeah, we're gonna have to come up with an alternative when we take that one back, huh? Yeah. Um, yeah. Do you have other do you have what's Tyler's words of wisdom for somebody who's like a another kiddo um or teenager who's gonna move to another country with their parents? Like, and they don't have a choice. What's your word of wisdom for them?
SPEAKER_01Remember to learn the language beforehand and prepare yourself by learning about the country.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and is this a um is this a good decision, you think? Pretty good decision. Yeah, what makes what makes it a good decision?
SPEAKER_01Um uh I g explore more of Europe by moving here.
SPEAKER_02Ah, yeah, okay. So we've got beaches and all kinds of other things coming up, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_02Alright, well we'll see how those adventures go. Okay.
SPEAKER_00Alright, join us again next time on another episode of As the Dinoson's turn.