A new beginning...

I know it has been a while since I came here but there has been many changes recently in  my life. Important changes. Earlier this year, I decided to move out of Lisbon, Portugal, my hometown and the place where I lived whole my life. As you might easily understand, it was not an easy decision. Leaving everything you know behind, family and friends, even the places you used to know and be every single day. Trust me when I say it is not easy.

But things in Portugal are becoming increasingly unbearable and many people took the same route I did. Actually, according to official numbers, 180.000 people left the country in 2010, 200.000 in 2011 and apparently, in 2012 we'll reach 250.000 people leaving Portugal in search for a better life elsewhere. A friend of mine told me the other day "This is the most well educated and technically prepared generation in the last 50 years and everyone is leaving the country." So, the question is, why is everyone leaving? That is a good yet very complicated question with political and economic implications and this blog is not about politics or economics, so I'll leave it up to you to think about it.

Moving on, I decided to leave the country and the first question was: where to? I considered several options: Germany, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Denmark, UK and Ireland. You might think, all are countries with good economy and quality of living except maybe Ireland, as the country was also in a delicate situation, just like Portugal, Greece and now Spain. Well, it turned out that from all the mentioned countries, it was the one I chose and I honestly believe it is the best choice. I am an IT professional and Ireland is the place where every single multinational IT company has its European HQ. In Ireland you have Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook, IBM, Oracle and many many other IT "giants". Besides that, some of the biggest Gaming companies (games are my unending passion) also are established in Ireland somehow (Activision, Electronic Arts, Riot Games, etc). On top of that, salaries are in par with all the other countries and the cost of living (rent, etc) is a bit cheaper, as well as taxes. Seemed a natural choice.

So, here I am! I've been living and working in Dublin since April 2012 and all I can say is that I totally love the city and its people. Yeah, sure, the weather sucks big time, but hey, the sun doesn't pay bills at the end of the month, right?

Also, since I've been here, I have way more time to do so many things I love doing and didn't had the time to do when I was in Portugal. Worse part is: I miss my son and daughter. A lot. There's no day that goes by that I don't miss them dearly. But hey, that's life.

And my life has just gave me a new beginning.