Hi everyone, how are you? Today’s video is about my adaptation and how it’s been during this time that I’ve been here in Portugal. I confess that it hasn’t been easy at all and that I really want to go back to Brazil, but I also know that this is part of the process and that if I overcome it, the reward will come. Below, I’m leaving a text about the immigrant’s adaptation process, in which I saw myself a lot, and I believe that every immigrant will also identify with at least 2 points that the text talks about. The first phase of an immigrant’s adaptation is the honeymoon phase – you arrive and are enchanted by everything. “I’m going to start a new life, everything is going to be wonderful”. You look at something and think “Wow! That’s so cool!”, “Wow, that’s so different!”, “Wow, that’s so much better!”, “WOW! Look at the supermarket, there are so many interesting things that I’ve never seen in my country!” You become fascinated with the United States, everything is new and you want to go to tourist spots and see everything. Anyway, it's a phase of fascination. Then comes the phase of rejection – after the first phase of fascination and admiration, you start to look at the negative side of things. It's true that there are many things that are better, that are more interesting, but there are also many things that are difficult for you. There are many things, perhaps, that you don't agree with. You will have a struggle of principles and values ​​within yourself. And you start to get real and have to adapt to the day-to-day, you start to think about how you will survive and earn money, how you will settle here and feel all the stress of setting up a new house, getting a driver's license, putting the kids in school and many other things that start to affect you. And then, it starts to sink in that not everything is rosy and that not everything is so perfect and so cool. You then realize that you are an immigrant, that perhaps you don't speak the language or are not fluent enough. And you come to the conclusion that you will have a long way to go until you adapt. The American dream exists, but it is not as easy as you thought. Common phrases during this period are: “What a place!”, “Wow, these Americans…”, “I can’t stand these people!” And it is also at this moment that you start to miss Brazil, the people you left behind, and you start to feel that nostalgia. And it seems that Brazil is so much better than here, after all. You, then, start to want to go back to Brazil. “No, because in Brazil it is like this…”, “Ah, in Brazil it is so much better! (sigh)” And I know some American husbands who get upset and say: “If Brazil is so much better, why does everyone want to come to the United States?” And it is true, but at this moment you are experiencing the pain of estrangement and separation. So, you look at your country and the whole context that seems so familiar to you, to which you were already so used to and adapted, and it starts to seem better than what you are experiencing at the moment, which is the stress of what is unfamiliar and challenging. The third phase is the Acceptance phase – And what is this phase like? You start to see that, yes, there are differences. Yes, there are difficulties. But, after a certain amount of time, you have adapted a little more, the children have adapted to school, you already know where the supermarket is, you already understand how some things work, you already know what you can and cannot do, you have overcome that cruel homesickness a little more and you start to think: “Ok, I can survive here”, “Ok, I can carry on”. After that, comes the fourth and final phase, Adaptation – In this phase, you start to be happy here and feel more integrated. You are no longer who you were before, you have become a new person with new values, new principles and new customs. Perhaps you have maintained some of your original cultural identity, but as you have been influenced by the new culture, you have come to understand that there may be principles of this culture that are interesting and better. At this point, you have made a complete change in your mind and established your new values ​​and habits. And you are now able to be happy here, although you know that you will never be able to solve the longing for your family and friends, but you have learned to live with this reality and, at this point, you have managed to establish a slightly larger support network with new friendships and social groups; everything seems to fit together and you are happy here. So, if you are still in the first, second or third phase, be prepared for the following phases and know that in the end everything will work out, if you can get through the critical phase. Some people don't make it and return to Brazil. But, if you can "hold the fort", you can then reach the final phase, which is a phase of happiness and adaptation. TELEGRAM GROUP: https://t.me/+wUEEmFo-95NhYzc8