The Story of a Storyteller

Exactly four years ago I was landing in London with my life partner to pursue a whole new life; new dreams; new everything.

We thought: “Well, things are not so great in Brazil, so we can try a new life in the UK where there are a lot of good opportunities for people like us, with plenty of experience and professional skills in our areas!”

Not so fast fella!

When we left a whole life behind us, we did think it would be only a continuation of what we had started in our Tupiniquin version, but life didn’t take too long to bite us right on our necks. And we bled. A lot!!

One of my personal motivations to leave Brazil, other than the great political and economic crises there since 2014 (I guess; I really lost track of it), was the terrible professional experience I had had last in my own country. You see, I was doing a great job as an executive in a medium-sized company – reorganized the tax regime that granted them millions in tax savings back then and moving forward, for instance – but being great was not good enough if you are not a straight enough. Anyways, water under the bridge and, thanks to that, here I am in lovely London.

When I came to London, I really thought that all my experience with international companies and the skills I have acquired from such a peculiar and complex business environment as Brazil would make finding a job in my area so much easier. Not at all!! In fact, being an immigrant is not the same as being an expatriate. Expats are like royalties going overseas with all the perks and comforts. Immigrants must start all over, including their studies in many cases (me included) as, for some reason, our qualifications and experiences are said not to be valid here. I didn’t judge: if you must, you must!

Looking for a job in your field is the hardest part and, while you`re at it, you must be willing to do whatever it comes your way as breadmaking: my partner and I both worked for some time as waiters (we are very proud of that!); my partner way more. One thing I`ve learned is that our best chance to get a job as someone coming from a background from elsewhere is to get an interview directly with an employer, not agencies or head-hunters. My personal feeling, at least since I got here, is that they will never really pay close attention to our qualifications or CV. Well, we do not have any UK experience. This has always been the excuse from all (ALL) these places I sent CV to, whereas 3 out of the 6 interviews I have got directly from the employers, I got the jobs. Hence, 50% success.

And there I went: I came to the UK on the 1st of June 2017, worked for a few weeks at a warehouse, carrying 20 kilos boxes for 8 hours a day making minimum wage, and literally sleeping under stairs at my brother`s house (Thank you, bro! I`ll be always thankful to you to make us space! Love you!). My husband used to cry every night, asking me to go back to Brazil. But we did not give up.

About a month later, we quit our jobs at the warehouse and moved to London (it would be our last shot) and I started studying for my CIMA (and also started writing my first novel!) while he and I started working at a sushi restaurant while living from shitty Airbnb to shitty Airbnb (cheap choices!!) until we found ourselves a nice place to live.

My first opportunity in my area was as a cost analyst for a small firm where I stayed for 6 months until I got my first position as the finance manager of a small construction company. It was a great and challenging experience. My former boss is a nice man, and he quickly recognized my skills and competence granting me almost a 20% raise after my 6 months probation. The best part was that when I felt compelled to tell him about my sexuality, a month after I started working for PSS, as I had just had another bad experience with homophobia (in LONDON!!), he looked at me and said: “Why are you telling me this? I do not care if you are gay or straight! I like you and I like your job!”. And added to that, we had almost two hours of pleasant conversation. And no, I`m not making this post about sexuality. I truly believe that if you want to change someone`s heart about something, you must do it with love, not by imposition.

I spent over two years at Portclean and I am very grateful for that and even more grateful because when I told my former boss I had found another job in a bigger company he was genuinely happy for me. We are still in contact till these days.

And here I am, exactly four years after I first set foot in Heathrow as a Brazilian immigrant, working for this great company (it`s been two months), with great people, in a great environment, filled with new possibilities and new things to learn and teach. I must say I am truly in love with my new job, and I think that there will be lots of new accomplishments within the years to come. I do hope that I`ll be able to contribute. This is what I wish and what I plan to do.

Yes, I made it! It was not easy, but WE MADE IT, MY LOVE!! Yay! \o/

And to you, reader, I can only say that, if you have a dream, follow it, and never give it up. No matter how hard it might seem. Believe me, you`ll make it! ??