Introduction

A girl who grew up in the countryside of a big but not developed country who battle to come to the US, learn English and experience an adventure abroad. That is my history. Maybe I don't have many things to say, but I feel like someone who plans and runs after what I want. I am not a person who dream a lot. I used to be like that, but not anymore. I plan things, possible things, things I know I can reach and then I do my best for these things become true. Living on the US was never a dream, it was a plan. Things become much easier when you stop dreaming and start planning.

Background

I was born in a little city in the countryside of Brazil in an Italian origin family. A wonderful family! I grew up in this same city and lived there until I was 17 years old. It is really good growing up in a small city on one hand, lots of friends, play on the street until late at night, the contact with the nature and a lot of other advantages. On the other hand you grow up a little naive. Kids who grow up in big cities are usually smarter. Nothing with the education. I have always been the first of the class. It is just two completely different ways to grow up.

After all those years living in a small city, I decided that was time to move to a bigger city. In Brazil you have to do a test to enter to an University, so I tried this test just in public Universities in big cities. That worked and I passed in one test for the Business course of a state University.

Moving to a big city was a big challenge, but not the worst. Living far from my family became the most difficult challenge for me. It was not one, but many times that I thought in giving up and come back closer to my family. They are really awesome. They always encourage all my decisions. I missed them a lot. However I knew that my professional life was in check and I could not give up. I persisted until the end and the day of my graduation was one of the most important days in my life.

Professional Background

When I finished the University I decided to come back near home, so I found a job in a neighbor city. I have started my professional life with an internship in a pharmaceutical industry, working with import and export processes of raw material, laboratory substances and equipments and machinery. After the period of the internship they hired me and I continued working there just with more responsibilities then before.

I loved my job, but working with international business demand a really good English or at least Spanish. I've been studying English for seven years but my English was not that good. I could write really good, but not understand and talk as well. I was really insecure. Then I decided that was time to move to another country for a little bit and study to reach a good English level.

Moving to the US

In the beginning I started to look for exchange programs. The first idea was to travel to Canada and study for one month in an intensive English course. With this program I wouldn't need to quit my job and it wouldn't be hard to stay one month far from my home and home country. This first idea was not that bad, although it was expensive. So because of my financial condition, I had to give up.

The second idea was an exchange program to travel to the US and work in the Six Flags park for six months. Just work, not study. However it appear to be a good idea to stay on the US for six months just speaking English while working. Not a bad idea, still expensive though. I also had to give up.

The third idea was the Au Pair exchange program. The cheapest, but the one that I was not considering in the beginning just because one point: I knew that after six years living by myself, it wouldn't be easy to live in a family house again. I knew it would be hard for me but it was the only program that I could pay, so I decided to face.

The Au pair program demand some experience in taking care of children, so I started a volunteer work in a Day Care center at night. Yes, a day care center that worked until late at night. I used to work normally during the day until 6 pm and then I run to the day care center to start at 7 pm and usually worked until 10:30 pm.

When I found a family to work with I quit my job and started to prepare everything for the big moving.

Say goodbye was the hardest thing. I didn't cry at least. Maybe at that point I had convinced myself that I had to be strong and crying doesn't solve any problem.

All my effort was worth it when I got in the US. I felt like a winner, even when my year was just in the beginning I already felt like a winner.

Now that my year is almost done I am feeling really happy because I could reach the goals I had drawn for this year and I could live such a rich experience. Bad things happened for sure, but I will remember just the good ones. I see a great evolution in me.

Professional Challenges

Now that my head is already back in Brazil, even tough I still have more three months in here, I can see new challenges knocking on my door and I already started to make new plans. First of all I need to find a job in the international business area now that my English is developed. Then I plan to take part in a MBA course because it is really important continue studying.

Conclusion

My life is basically what I could write in these lines. A lot of changes and challenges once a while. I am not afraid of changes. Sometimes I don't know for sure what I want, but I always know exactly what I don't want. Today I am in peace with myself, because I know I am doing my best to be a better person and a better professional. I have plans for my personal life too. I want to get married and have kids. However I am better with the plans that involve just myself. Plans that involve other people plans are more complicated. And I am following my way, with a lot of faith and life's passion. I am just a woman trying to make difference with simplicity and humility.