Real People. Real Lives. Women Immigrants of New York: Vitoria, 27, from Brazil

Photo by Sasha Nialla

Vitoria’s photograph and story were curated as part of the photo and storytelling exhibit, “Real People. Real Lives. Women Immigrants of New York.”

I moved to New York after my boyfriend (now husband) proposed. He was living here and coming to the US was the only way we could be together. I left my career in Brazil and I enrolled at Pratt University. I had to learn to be humble; here I was a student living on my savings. In Brazil, I was someone, here I was nobody.

I guess I was lucky enough to have a good knowledge of English and a partner who was here for me. But very often, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of loneliness, even a longing of my former self. Despite friends and family supporting me from near and far, making a new home felt like a daily battle.

Adjusting to US culture in particular was very hard. There were no hugs and kisses, no personal conversations, just politeness. And I still find myself in awkward situations sometimes, where I feel “culturally unfit.” For example, once during a business meeting I referred to a case with a lot of potential by saying that it would “open a Chinese fan of opportunities,” an expression that makes no sense in English.

Opening a bank account, tipping, going to the doctor, using the postal service, or dealing with a landlord may sound like annoying but simple errands for an American, but for me they were always very different and extremely hard to understand and adjust to.

“Real People. Real Lives. Women Immigrants of New York” was a one-time event hosted by New Women New Yorkers at the Centre for Social Innovation on March 24, in honor of Women’s History Month. Read a recap of the event here.