Scouting Trip Lessons: Healthcare, Family Travel, and Daily Life

Dream Trip

When we dreamed about our month-long scouting trip to Portugal, we imagined long walks through cobblestone streets, sipping espresso while our kids played in city parks, and soaking in the everyday rhythm of a slower, better life.

Instead, on our first night in Lisbon, we were in our Airbnb in the Graça neighborhood, unpacking bags, jet-lagged, and hopeful, when our toddler suddenly threw up in our bed.

By morning, all four of us tested positive for Covid.

It was not how we envisioned starting our scouting trip abroad.

Covid and Health Care

There we were, thousands of miles from home, caring for two sick toddlers while being sick ourselves, completely disoriented and exhausted. And yet… what happened over the next ten days gave us one of the most honest and important glimpses into what daily life in Portugal might really be like.

That same day, we ordered a doctor visit through Uber Eats, of all things. A local doctor came right to our Airbnb. He checked all four of us, gave us prescriptions, and even walked Brett to the pharmacy around the corner to help us get the right medicine. It was fast, affordable, compassionate care, without any paperwork or the hassle of having to schlep toddlers to an urgent care office.

Adjusting To New Trip

In between rest and recovery, we had to improvise. We masked up to go to the little grocery store up the street and found comfort foods like simple soups, Portuguese bread, and herbal teas. We made easy meals in the Airbnb kitchen and watched Frozen roughly 100 times, flipping between the English and Portuguese versions (highly educational, by the way).

When our girls had a bit more energy, we carefully chose quiet times to go to the neighborhood playground when local kids were in school and we had the park to ourselves. They needed sunshine and movement, and we needed to breathe fresh air out of the apartment.

Scouting Trips Matter

Those ten days were a blur, but they were also incredibly grounding. We weren’t tourists anymore, we were living in Portugal, sick kids and all. And we were okay. We did it.

The experience gave us an unfiltered look at Portuguese healthcare, community rhythms, and how we could handle life’s curveballs abroad. It wasn’t the start we wanted but it showed us that even when things go wrong, we could navigate life abroad with confidence.

And that’s exactly why scouting trips matter.