Chave Movel Digital

The citizens area

We were able to get our Chave Movel Digital, today. What is that, you ask? It is the government sponsored account that allows you to identify yourself, via your cell phone number and a 4 digit code you select. It is used in banking, healthcare and many other areas.

All the operations are visible

As non-citizens, we had to appear in person at our local town hall after making an appointment. This is a citizen's area where such transactions are handled. It was done very quickly and efficiently and in the end, we were able to log onto our health network, easily. With access to SNS (national health system), we can view our prescriptions and appointments. So this is a big help.

After that, we went over the the clinic where we had our blood drawn for tests, yesterday and received the results. When I have my next appointment at SNS, I will bring these. The costs for the blood tests were a whopping $0.00. Of course, that is in euros.

Centro de Saude (Central Healthcare Clinic)

We had planned on using our private healthcare system, the cost of which is quite reasonable. But having had an examination for the driver's license exchange (which has to be done through SNS), apparently we are in their care system.

That is why I received my first Covid shot last week and am scheduled for the second one in a few weeks. Again, at the whopping cost of $0.00. They seem quite intent on keeping us healthy, here.

I got my first Covid-19 vaccine shot from the Public Health Service in Portugal. This was a free service and I was very impressed with the process.

First of all, it was offered to me via messaging on my phone. Obviously it is linked to my SNS account information. They gave me the option of accepting or rejecting the vaccine. Normally I don't take vaccines. Not out of any great bias, one way or the other... simply I'm usually too lazy. But it was free and that appealed to me. After accepting the offer, I was immediately given an appointment day and time.

Then a day or so before my appointment, they texted me and after that a person called me on the phone to confirm. Wow! That was unexpected.

I showed up a little beforehand and was ushered right in to a table to fill out a simple, one-page questionnaire. Then they took me to a private room where the vaccine was administered. I was given an appointment for the second dose and the card they issued stated the type of vaccine and the batch number (should anything go wrong).

After the vaccination, they kept me there for an additional 30 minutes to make sure I was OK and then let me go home.

Very efficient and I am appreciative. BTW - the shot was administered without any discomfort.

So far, the care we have received and the help to acquire necessary paperwork have been very helpful. Portugal has been very good to us.

2021 Portugal Census

City Hall - Ilhavo

We just finished filling out the 2021 census. Having lived in the U.S. for many years and responding to many requests for census information, I found the Portuguese process VERY detailed, and yet somehow comforting.

The U.S. census asks a few questions, and at this point, there are a lot of questions they don't ask, because of various restrictions. But Portugal has no such restrictions. You log onto the census website, using the code and password provided on the form they leave at your door. This quantifies the information to the local.

Some of the questions for which they wanted answers were: Where are you from, How long have you been here, When did you arrive, Have you lived out of Portugal for more than a year at any time, Do you own or rent your home, How many people live there and what are their ages, Do you have health problems with hearing, seeing, getting around, understanding, being understood, memory... What is the square footage of your house, How many rooms are there, What is your religion (Jehovah's Witnesses are listed on the form)?????

And that was all I can remember off the top of my head. Now some would rebel at the thought of revealing so much personal information to a government, but it was surprisingly reassuring, as it seemed that the questionnaire was designed to provide the country information on how to best care for it's residents.

I found out through the process that we are "reformados" or retirees. I am finally reformed after all these years.

Errands

 

Such a wonderful, sunny day, today. It seems like the first time I have finally enjoyed our little community in Ilhavo. We moved here to be within walking distance of services and today sure proved that to be the case.

First thing, this morning, I bought bread from the delivery person who comes by our street every morning (except Sunday), announces her presence with a loud bicycle horn and parks right across from our house.

A nice clothing store

Our little shopping strip

Then I went walked less than 5 minutes away to: 1. mail a letter to the Washington DC embassy with a notarized copy of my wife's driver's license 2. Went to the store a few shops away to buy a dress shirt for meetings 3. Stopped by the pharmacy a few doors from our house to pick up a prescription 4. Picked up flowers for Denise - the first of our stay here.

Then - took my little cart and went grocery shopping at our local Continente, and picked up 2 wine glasses, a free bonus from purchases I made the last month.

My shopping bonus

Denise was able to walk over to a frame shop a few blocks away, and put in 2 posters that she had purchased to get framed, so we can start having a little decoration in the house.

When we both got back to the house, we went down the little Chinese store (we have 3 of them in town) just to pick up some miscellaneous items. I was able to find some nice fitting sandals, so I was happy that I went along.

This might not sound like an exciting day, but after so many dreary months locked away (it seems), getting out and running errands was a day off.