11:00
Read the following message
Nina,
I’ve been bursting to tell you: I got promoted to Regional Product Lead for EMEA, and the role is based in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s an 18-month assignment with a renewal option. When the offer came through on Monday, it still felt unreal—like the kind of thing we imagined over late coffee and sticky notes, not an actual email in my inbox. But it’s real, and I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled.
Timeline first. I fly out on October 1 at 13:10, onboarding is October 3–4, and my first official day is October 7. The company is putting me in a serviced studio near Alcântara for 30 days while I hunt for a place; I’m eyeing Graça or Campo de Ourique because I want hills and bakeries within walking distance. I’ll be working 8:30–4:30 Lisbon time, which means I’ll ping you before your lunch back home.
Logistics: I’m shipping six boxes (books, winter clothes, kitchen gear) and storing the rest. I’m selling the Civic—photos are ready, I just need the listing live. Mochi will stay with Zara for the first two months while her pet passport clears the rabies window; if all goes well, I’ll bring her in early December. HR covers language classes, so I signed up for evening A2 Portuguese twice a week. Salary is a modest bump with a cost-of-living allowance; the exciting part is the scope.
I’m trying to leave without turning my apartment into a tornado. I’ll host a tiny send-off at Patio 99 next Thursday at 7 p.m.—no speeches, just tacos and loud hugs. If you can help me label the “ship vs. store” piles this weekend, I’ll buy your cinnamon buns for a month. Also: if you have Marketplace energy, I would love help listing the car and a spare dresser.
I know it’s far and new, but it feels like the kind of stretch I’ve been working toward. Text me your questions; I’m keeping a shared doc with passwords, flights, and “don’t forget” items. Lisbon, here we come.
—Aisha
I’ve been bursting to tell you: I got promoted to Regional Product Lead for EMEA, and the role is based in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s an 18-month assignment with a renewal option. When the offer came through on Monday, it still felt unreal—like the kind of thing we imagined over late coffee and sticky notes, not an actual email in my inbox. But it’s real, and I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled.
Timeline first. I fly out on October 1 at 13:10, onboarding is October 3–4, and my first official day is October 7. The company is putting me in a serviced studio near Alcântara for 30 days while I hunt for a place; I’m eyeing Graça or Campo de Ourique because I want hills and bakeries within walking distance. I’ll be working 8:30–4:30 Lisbon time, which means I’ll ping you before your lunch back home.
Logistics: I’m shipping six boxes (books, winter clothes, kitchen gear) and storing the rest. I’m selling the Civic—photos are ready, I just need the listing live. Mochi will stay with Zara for the first two months while her pet passport clears the rabies window; if all goes well, I’ll bring her in early December. HR covers language classes, so I signed up for evening A2 Portuguese twice a week. Salary is a modest bump with a cost-of-living allowance; the exciting part is the scope.
I’m trying to leave without turning my apartment into a tornado. I’ll host a tiny send-off at Patio 99 next Thursday at 7 p.m.—no speeches, just tacos and loud hugs. If you can help me label the “ship vs. store” piles this weekend, I’ll buy your cinnamon buns for a month. Also: if you have Marketplace energy, I would love help listing the car and a spare dresser.
I know it’s far and new, but it feels like the kind of stretch I’ve been working toward. Text me your questions; I’m keeping a shared doc with passwords, flights, and “don’t forget” items. Lisbon, here we come.
—Aisha
Choose the best option according to the information given in the message:
1. Main purpose?
2. Where moving?
3. Start date?
4. Mochi?
5. “It” felt unreal?
6. Tone?
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down
Hey Aisha,
7.... Lisbon is so you—walkable hills, coffee, and big ideas. I can help with the chaos. 8.... and handle test drives if you send the spare key. For packing day, I’ll bring labels, tape, and a marker army. Does 9.... work for a video call to map ship vs. store? I’ll take two plants and water the rest until handoff. If Zara needs a break, Mochi can nap at mine.
I’m already saving taco room for Patio 99. I’ll peek at rentals in Graça after work and send anything promising. 10...., and you’ve always got my couch if you boomerang back for a week. 11.... so I can spam you with emojis and weather updates.
Proud of you. Let’s make this move smooth-ish.
—Nina