Crossing the continents.

I met Lindomar through his wife Veronica; we became good friends a few years ago.  Veronica and I were introduced by another friend and I can say we connected right away.  Few months after we became friends, she invited my son and me to have lunch at her house; we were going to have a ‘Feijoada’ a typical food from Brazil. I don’t have to mention that it was delicious! Lindomar is an honest person, he is very helpful and a “people pleaser”; when I visit them he always cooks for us and he loves to take care of us. He and I love soccer, so we talk about sports and politics.  He is very smart and open-minded, gentle and he loves kids.  He makes sure that my twelve-years-old son doesn’t get bored.

One night, some friends and I were having tacos at ‘La Salsita’ and I was mentioning how hard was to get somebody to interview for one of my classes, Veronica was there and she told me that she could talk to her husband about the interview and we could set up an appointment, the only condition was no pictures taken.  Veronica called me the following day to let me know that he agreed to be interviewed. Lindomar and I talked on the phone for about 90 minutes and the interview was in both Spanish and English.  He scanned the interview released and emailed to me.                                                                                                                                     

Here is the phone conversation we had and I hope you like it as much as I did.

My name is Lindomar; I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.   I came by airplane to the United States when I was 21.  My sister was already living here and she invited me to come to live here. I remember that I was very excited; once I arrived I got disappointed! The U.S. was not was I expected. I stayed at my sister for awhile; she gave food and a place to sleep.

I came to the U.S. to better my life through schooling; there are better universities and colleges here and I wanted a chance for better education.  My sister was “my” bridge to the USA I came 22 years ago and I always had the desire to come the U.S. because the American movies I watched.  I believe that Hollywood had more influence than my sister.

I keep in touch with my family and friend in Brazil trough letters and phone calls. I have very closed friends from Brazil and we see each other at least once a week. I also belong to “Casa Brazil” a non-profit organization that we created, some friends and I, to keep the Brazilian Culture alive.  We talk in Portuguese, eat Brazilian food, dance “samba”, and keep our culture alive. I love to read books and newspapers; I also like the Internet and to watch T.V. trying to keep informed.

My closest family, parents, children, wife, sisters and their families live here in the U.S. so I don’t sent remittances to Brazil; I only go to Brazil to visit friends and the rest of the family. I was a college student before I came to the States and I was finishing my studies when I decided to come to the USA.  I found out that my studies were not good enough to get a well-paid job once I arrived.

I work to support my family; my children live in Chicago with their mother.  I have a Real State License and I am also an Inspector. I have applied to become a Police officer in the city of Glendale.

My first wife is an American citizen we were married for ten years before we got divorce and we have two beautiful children, a daughter and a son.  I became a citizen about three years ago after seven five years of having a residency or a “green card”.

I feel misunderstand by Americans?  Of course, some use to think that Buenos Aires is the capital of Brazil; some think that Brazil is a jungle with only Indians.  I would like to suggest to those to study more about history and geography, music and cultures of the world. 

One funny thing that happened to me?  I did think Americas have no sense of humor, that what I thought when I was learning English; I would tell jokes and nobody would laugh.  Later, I understood that they do have a different sense of humor.  I have no barriers now, since my English has improved a lot.

I preserve my culture through music and dance. As Brazilian music and dance is part of my heritage and there is no way for me to stop dancing.  I cook Brazilian food all the time well I cook Mexican food too.  I speak Portuguese to my kids and wife but the way my wife is Mexican and she is fluent in Portuguese as well as English and of course Spanish.  She taught me cook Mexican foods that is as good as Brazilian food but hotter.

I came to the USA and I expected everything being green or white (from snow).  That was a big disappointment! I arrived to Arizona during summertime, you can imagine my surprise.  I am sure that my worst and best experiences is learning to become an American and learning the culture as well as the language.  I enrolled in the ESL program at college as soon as I arrived, my classmates treated me well, and everyone was in the same “boat” that was great. I continued to study English until I became fluent. 

My first job in Phoenix was with my sister’s help, I was babysitting children and I learned the language and the culture. Children are better teachers than adults and have more patience.  They didn’t criticize or make fun of my accent.

Brazil is a multi-ethnic country and welcomes migrants from the world.  Some of my family (my sister) was already here; I stayed in because I was finishing University in Sao Paulo. Brazil supports migrants since is a country made of immigrants some came forced and some came willingly.  The only thing I have to say about my country is that is not racially diverse.

My life in the USA has been impacted in a positive way in every aspects of my life, economically, I have a better life because the opportunities are broad here and I speak three languages that give me more choices.  Since I have everything I need here I would go back to Brazil only to visit.  My biggest aspiration is to become financially secured.

The only negative part of mostly Americans is the fear they feel.  I don’t know if is because is a “young” country or because they believe everything they see on T.V. I found odd that being a county of immigrants much xenophobia in the last few years. I am dark skinned and I feel the “suspicious” eyes looking at me, I have to say that I believe that in order to feel discriminated I have to feel less than the typical person and it is not the case.  I am very proud of who I am. I am convinced that American should understand immigrants better than other countries since this is a country made of immigrants that came looking for freedom.

Another impression I have about Americans is that they’re very “cold” I am not saying it in a bad way. As Latino I am a person that likes to “feel” a person I am talking to, in Brazil we kiss on the cheeks we see each other.  I come to understand this culture

I hope you like my interview and don’t feel offended, that was not my intention.  My intention is an attempt to understand each other. 

Thank you!