My Family's Expat Journey so far: Challenges and Big Lessons

When I received the news of my expatriation, a mix of excitement and apprehension took over me and my family. Moving to a new country meant saying goodbye to the comforts and routines we had in Brazil and facing the big challenge of immersing ourselves in a new culture with my wife and our two children. Well, this was what we wanted, so we went all in! And for those who think that an expatriate's life is all wonderful, well, in the first few months... It's one struggle after another, haha. But through all these challenges, we discovered incredible new experiences and opportunities that enriched our lives in ways we hadn't imagined.

The Departure

Starting in Brazil, navigating the bureaucratic maze to cancel phone, gas, electricity, and water accounts, deciding what to pack and ship, what to sell, and dealing with those sales! This pre-move period is really a big mess and rush. Sometimes you don’t even realize what you’re doing. It’s just something that needs to be done, and you do it! With so much rushing around, it’s normal for the reality to go unnoticed and for the reason behind everything not to cross your mind, but I remember three moments when reality and emotion hit hard and everything seemed to stop:

1. Seeing our brazilian apartment empty after removing all our belongings.
2. The emotional farewell with family at the airport.
3. When the plane finally landed in our new home, and the certainty that we were starting a new journey.

Despite the emotional farewells, we were excited about the new adventures and opportunities awaiting us.

Get Used to the Chaos at the Beginning, It's Part of It

Upon reaching our destination, we faced a whirlwind of activities. The rush to find both temporary and permanent housing in record time, and at the same time, finding a school for our kids, which should be close to the new house, and also having the resilience to accept that our lives would be temporarily in disarray while we waited for our belongings from Brazil to arrive. It was like living out of a half-packed suitcase, always searching for something and trying to piece together our new life amid the chaos, yet pretending everything was normal. However, exploring our new neighborhood and looking for meeting friendly locals added a sense of excitement and adventure to our days. I always had the curiosity about experiencing the North American routine portrayed in movies and series, and I was thrilled about it.

Culinary Shock

An unexpected challenge we faced was adjusting to the culinary landscape. As a family accustomed to a disciplined diet, the allure of American snacks presented a delicious yet caloric dilemma, especially for our children. Grocery shopping became an adventure in adapting local flavors and spices to our palates and diet. So far, we've managed to resist the snacks, but the struggle continues, haha.

How to Be Somebody in the United States?

We soon learned that in America, "being somebody" required three essential items: a Social Security Number, a phone number, and a credit card. Before obtaining these items, every task felt like a labyrinth, from opening a bank account to securing essential services. But how can you "be somebody" if the country has no record of you? Well, here comes THAT little folder that adults fear losing, filled with various documents, certified translations, stamps, authorizations, visas, records, and much more to ensure you start a new life with everything in order! Despite the complexities, each small victory feels like a significant achievement and brought a sense of accomplishment in our beginning.

Keep In Mind

Finally, throughout this journey, we learned some very important lessons. I’ll share a few here with you:

• Flexibility and patience became our allies in dealing with unexpected twists and turns.
• Seek guidance from experts! In my case, the Scania Group supported me with the services of Mariana Barros and her team at Differ?nce Intercultural Consultants , and all the information shared was crucial in navigating cultural nuances and practical challenges.
• "Embrace uncertainty and find humor in the chaos" became our new mantra.

And despite all the challenges and hurdles, this period of adaptation has been incredibly rewarding for me and my family. We're enjoying every minute, and the life we're building here feels like a dream come true. I'm thrilled with the warm reception from colleagues and friends who have been accompanying us and helping us navigate daily challenges.

To fellow expatriates embarking on similar journeys, remember: every challenge is an opportunity for growth! And to conclude, after navigating my own expatriation, I made a checklist to make your expatriate journey easier! It’s super simple, see the points below:

1. Be prepared for anything.
2. Good luck! ;)