Growing older !

30. June 2020

Have you ever thought about how it is to become older?

What is older? Do you ask yourself that question?

I want to talk about age over 50.

In many countries that seems to be the threshold for women at least. They are sent home from work so the younger generation can take over.

If you are over 50 and a lady you might consider several times what to do, do I change my work, the work I don´t like, or do I continue until pension strikes?

I decided quite young not be become old in Iceland. I saw how the elderly were treated and I wanted to leave. I also wanted to travel a bit around the world and get to know different cultures.

For many years I was stuck in a job I did not like.

I was too late to change. When I really wanted to and I tried the doors were locked, everywhere. I was too old, even though just 45 or something like that. They want young people, I was told.

So I did hung on and even though quite unhappy I did not leave until I was 60 years old.

When approaching 60 years I decided, either I stay and continue my miserable life or I change and do something different, something exciting and something few would do.

I decided to go to China.

I went there and lived for some years and loved it. I taught English and dance and I got to know the culture and the people.

I loved it.

But, there was a but.

Even though I had my own house, my car, my bank account and my income, the government would not give me permanent residence and unfortunately I had to leave.

When I look back and think about the situation now, the weather, the covid, the change in freedom in China I feel in a way a bit lucky and grateful to the government not wanting me!

Strange to say, but that is how it is.

Because of global warming the heat is extreme and my heart would probably not have made it.

I left China and went to Portugal.

Now I have been living in Portugal almost nine and a half year and I love my little land.

I love my people here just as I loved my people in China.

Everyone is nice and we get along well. The Portuguese are nice people. They are in some habits not too different from the Chinese.

So,

I am going to write a bit about how it is to get older and will talk about people over 50, I think.

I will write this in Icelandic but might translate to English and this is a goal for the next weeks or months.

See you soon and we might share some ideas if you do make a comment.

Hulda Björnsdóttir