I was born in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. The city’s known for international hang gliding competitions and “exporting” Brazilians to far off countries. After almost to 20 years in the U.S., I moved to São Paulo, where I work as a Search Engine Marketing Consultant.
I was two years old. My parents went after the “American Dream,” so to speak.
I guess I never completely felt out of place. I did grow up in a very wealthy part of the US though, in Fairfield County, Connecticut and attended prep school for high school. My parents worked blue collar jobs my whole life, so I would feel left out more socio-economically than culturally for the most part.
Since our family was undocumented and risked not returning had we left the US, I didn’t visit Brazil at all. When I was 11, my dad applied for his green card through an employer and was denied. In my senior year of high school, he was ‘grandfathered’ in through the same law and applied through another employer. I was “safe,” under this application.Despite never being back, I was a lot more Brazilian than American. The Brazilian community also grew significantly in my town, so there were a lot of us at school and church. We went to a Brazilian church and we spent a lot of time at the community center.We watched Brazilian TV, I would go to Brazilian concerts, perform dances at all sorts of events, and World Cups were sooo much fun (’94 and ’02, what?!). When I got to Brazil, people couldn’t believe I spoke Portuguese without a “gringo” accent and knew how to samba!
When did you start to consider moving back to Brazil?
When graduating from college, I tried applying to a number of jobs and was recruited by top organizations… until they would discover I was undocumented. I did land a non-paid summer internship in DC at a think tank post graduation though, so I decided to take that and buy some time.
There I learned about how Brazil was growing and a good place to be at the moment and decided to “come home.” I discussed this with my parents, and a few months after being in Connecticut, I bought my plane ticket (although my mother refused to believe it for a while). I saved up some money working under the table at a restaurant and came to Brazil in February 2008, and after briefly visiting family in my hometown, settled in São Paulo.
Was readjusting to life in Brazil challenging at all?
It was easier than I thought it would be! Fortunately, my Portuguese was good enough to get through job interviews pretty well and I landed a job teaching English as soon as I got here. I quickly made it to a digital advertising agency through a student’s referral.
I’m pretty out-going, so making friends wasn’t too tough and I couldn’t ask for better ones! What was most difficult was adjusting to all the bureaucracy of every little thing here and also the insanely high prices. I still order loads of clothes and electronics to my parents’ house because everything’s so expensive here!
Do you ever miss America?
I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would. I do miss my family and friends miserably! I also miss little things. Just tonight I was telling my roommate about Olive Garden bread sticks! But we were having that conversations while we ate fresh black bean soup we’d just made with homemade papaya and coconut paste with fresh cheese for dessert. I guess there’s a balance among the little things?
What advice would you give to someone else who feels out of place where they live?
My biggest advice is surrounding yourself with people you trust who you can vent to and cry with. Having good friends to talk to who I can relate to has always been a great way for me to keep my sanity and not go around pessimistic about everything.
And also, always be positive and try to see things in a good light. I’m you’re average “Pollyanna,” and think this was all really just meant to be!
Any questions for Polyana? Have any of you ever considered permanently relocating to another country?
P.S. You might also like these True Stories: I had a green card marriage & I met my birth mom.
Wow that is a pretty great story. I'm really curious but do you remember anything about crossing the boarder? That would be a story in itself and could only imagine how your mom felt. It takes a brave woman to do it with such a young child.
hey samantha! no, i don't remember! all i know from what my mom tells me is that my mom kept telling me to be quiet, but all i wanted to do was sing brazilian kids' songs in the car on the way over to the US, haha.
Hi Polyana! What a lovely story, thanks for sharing! You actually just made my heart very happy in that I don't feel quite so alone in also being an ex-pat who wants to go "home".
I emigrated from South Africa just before I turned 17, and have been living in Canada for the 8 years since then. I like Canada (not the city where I live, necessarily, but that's another story) and am SO grateful for the opportunities this country has presented me, but I miss home terribly; Africa makes my blood sing. Unfortunately in my case, SA is really not a feasible place for a single white girl with a baby career to be, so I won't be moving back anytime soon, if ever, unless the socio-economic situation changes. But you have some great tips in this interview that I'll certainly be making use of, so I thank you for that! God luck in Brazil!
Poly! What an awesome story. I had no idea. I love that your fantastic personality has gotten you so far regardless of all the challenges you've faced/taken on. Cheers!!!
Thank you ladies 🙂
Hi i am a student from design lab early college high school , i am a 10th grader am i am doing a project on why people immigrated to the US , If you don’t mind i would like to interview you ? there are only 10 questions.
Oi Polyana! Adorei sua história 🙂
Morei nos EUA por 3 meses, mas não tem nada como o Brasil, né?
Sempre acesso esse blog e tive que ler quando vi a foto com a camiseta do Brasil!
Moro em São Paulo também e trabalho em uma agência de publicidade na área digital… sei lá achei conhecidência.
beijos!!
*coincidência