domingo, 5 de junho de 2016

Expatriate hearts

New changes are coming in my life and I’m definitely sensible. My eyes got wet rereading a lovely card received from an international new friends, at an unforgettable lunch two weeks ago. On behalf of the group, the extrovert and leader Tomoko gave me traditional Japanese gifts and special words that I will take with me forever. “You will be a piece of our expatriate hearts”, she wrote at the end. This was the inspiration to this first chronicle that I publish in English, a kind of an open letter.
     Actually, it´s my farewell.  I´m going back to Brazil in a few days, after long seventeen months living in a calm and beautiful Katy, Texas, at the border of Houston. Both are cosmopolitan cities where the increase in offshore jobs have brought companies and people from around the world. The English as a Second Language (ESL) course *, where we met each other, shows how the Earth can be magically big and small. Our advanced level class was able to join students from at least 18 countries. I had there one of the most fantastic experiences in my life.
     In common we have typical expatriate hearts: opened, strong and healed, looking for knowledge. It doesn´t matter that some were closed, week and have bled so much in a recent past, missing people and places that love but are so distant… Each one of us had different problems, sufferings and fears, such as various dreams. Like plants, all of us feel rootless, but gradually (as ourselves gardeners) we revolve the new land to fertilize the life again. So we turn to grow up and learn to overcome everything.
     Slowly or faster, during in general one semester, the adaptation abroad is never easy and has so many steps as you need or want to climb, for destine or choice. I deeply lived each one that I took, sometimes forcing myself to face them. Being honest, in the beginning I almost got a depression because my loved father passed away exactly one week after my arrival here. Although I already expected it, my sadness and the feeling of lost were enormous. I only wanted to be alone or with my husband and our kids.
     My loneliness echoed in our huge and empty new house. It was important because made me write more to understand what I was feeling and intended to do about it. I preferred to leave memories written, while I was transforming that place in a home, the cold or sad moments in warm and happy ones. As in a popular saying, nothing like a day after another. Seven months after having left Brazil, I created a blog called, not for coincidence, In Another Connection and I also started the English classes.
     The life is incredible because suddenly it can surprise us. It´s only necessary to leave the experiences and differences enter. An expatriate life is one of the best ways to be a better person, with less prejudice and more acceptance of others and who we really are. So far from my place, I met kind and different people: American, foreign and Brazilian.   I could improve my English, being so thankful to our nice and smiling teacher Teresa, but I especially learned about diversity of the planet and similarities between us: words, habits, foods, impressions and also feelings...
     When I thought my adaptation was concluded and my life organized, another cycle arrived to restart everything. Now my husband´s job can be done from our home town, Rio de Janeiro. We are disassembling a house and redoing plans… and soon the moving company will take our things! I already miss what I lived in Texas, but I´m happy to go back, although my country lives a turbulent but historical and democratic moment, when cases of corruption have been discovered and punished. I´m hopeful this is a cleaning to develop a strong nation, where I see the future of my children. Even this, I know we will feel as homeless again. Our furniture will be shipped by the ocean, while we will stay in a flat, full of expectations.  
     Goodbye, girls! I wish the best for you. Anywhere, a lot of days born sunny and clear, but others start rainy and cloudy. Each one can have their value, if we expect growth or happiness with what we lose or get. Each one can change unexpectedly, by weather conditions or due to our vision, behavior and faith. The world can be in our hands. Sometimes it looks like the time is only passing by, through us, but in special moments or for periods we feel really alive, crossing the time and removing the most important of it. An expatriate experience is like this as well. Beyond our passports, it stamps a piece of our hearts and souls forever.



Text:Nadja Bereicoa
Images:Nadja Bereicoa (2) and Pixabay (1 and 3)




* Observation:
I´d like to highlight my appreciation to the amazing initiative of the Katy ISD (Independent School District) in offering the ESL (English as a Second Language) free courses to foreigners parents, demonstrating how open and warm the city and its people are.  The second picture shows the entrance of Alexander Roosevelt Elementary School, during an International Week. I´m also thankful to the teachers and staff from this excellent school, where my kids studied and became bilingual due to the same course and the effort of the involved
.