Between Two Worlds: Portuguese and British Roots

I was born and raised in London, England. But my family’s Portuguese—on my mum’s side, deep roots in Alentejo. On my dad’s, Lisbon through and through.

I speak fluent Portuguese. I’ve lived in Portugal for a few years now. And still, sometimes I feel like a guest in both countries.

Too English to be fully Portuguese. Too Portuguese to be fully English.

Born and raised in London. But every summer throughout my childhood?

I was in Portugal, picking olives. Playing in the dust. Eating fresh bread with butter that tasted different somehow.

Then back in England, I’d be the one bringing pastéis de nata to gatherings.
The one who talks about Cristiano Ronaldo like he’s a distant cousin.

It’s weird.

In one country, I’m the outsider because of my background. In the other, I’ll speak Portuguese—and still get replies in English. Not out of disrespect. Maybe they want to practise. Or maybe my accent gives me away.

But either way—it’s a reminder. I’m not quite one of them. And that’s a lonely place to sit—somewhere in the middle.

Not quite here.
Not quite there.

But over time, I’ve realised something:
Maybe “in between” isn’t a flaw. Maybe it’s a strength.

Because being in between teaches you how to adapt. How to listen better. Pick up nuance. Blend in when you need to, and stand out when it matters.

It’s that same adaptability I’ve leaned on everywhere I’ve lived—whether it was in Vermont or Japan too.

All places gave me a taste of something new. All left a mark. And all taught me that feeling a little unrooted sometimes is okay.

I used to feel like I was missing something—like I didn’t quite belong anywhere.

But as I’ve grown older, and now nearly 30, I’ve realised:

You don’t need to belong to one place completely. You can belong to moments. To people. To memories. To new friendships and experiences.

And when I think about it like that? I don’t feel torn anymore. I feel fuller than I’ve ever felt.

Not because I chose one identity over the other. But because I stopped trying to squeeze myself into one box.

There’s a quiet kind of strength that comes from that—from learning to carry all the places, cultures, and experiences that made you.

And the more I’ve grown, the more I’ve realised:

That same strength—the kind built through identity, resilience, and lived experience—is the same kind I want to build in my body too. Not just to look better. But to feel more grounded. More capable. More like myself.

So if you’re on a similar journey—and ready to build a body that reflects the strength you’ve built inside, here’s a short YouTube video I made that might help:

👉 How Heavy You Should Lift for Muscle Growth
(For anyone who wants to feel stronger, inside and out.)

Speak soon,

Leo