Alexandra Diaconu’s Post

Life of an Immigrant: Erica Noqueira A heart-to-heart conversation between two immigrants. Host Charie Ilon engaged with Erica Noqueira, an immigrant from Brazil, and asked her for tips for international students and immigrants on how they can achieve their dreams. In this episode, Erica talks candidly about her immigration journey from Brazil to Vancouver as an international student. her reasons for moving to Vancouver and her happiness with her life in Canada. But before she was able to live her dream, she had challenges. Erica talks about the challenges she faced during her first two years in Canada, including adapting to a new culture and financial difficulties, how she found Vision2 Reality Foundation, and how that became a turning point in her life. Career growth and networking Erica discussed her experience helping the Foundation grow, networking, and making friends. She also shared how she stayed in her job at Surrey School Board and found the opportunity to grow further and work in the industry that she loves. Tips for Living Abroad as a Student Erica advises students not to expect the same standard of living they had in their home country and to be prepared for higher expenses than anticipated. She adds that students must be patient, focused on their studies, and not prioritize leisure activities or travel during their study program. Another tip is that students must focus on one thing at a time, keep their budget low, and invest in networking and volunteering opportunities. In the conversation, the need for dedication, sacrifice, and adaptability while studying abroad was emphasized. Envisioning Life in Canada Erica is living her dream. She envisions herself in a bigger apartment, wants to get a house, start saving for retirement, and travel more. She realizes that she doesn't need many things to be happy and values a simple lifestyle. Erica wants a future where she feels safe, can visit her family in her home country, and live a simple life with peace of mind, her plants, and her family. https://lnkd.in/gPByqrxs #immigrantlife #dreamsabroad #internationalstudents #immigrationjourney #globalconnections #achievingdreams #livingabroad #CharieGinete #LifeExpressions #lifeinforeignland

There is no single Caribbean American identity. The mix of cultures, languages, and religions across the United States and the islands reflects the diversity of spirit that defines the American story. June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month! Ascendo Healthcare is here to connect job seekers from all backgrounds with opportunities that not only highlight their strengths but also mirror their personal and professional values. #CaribbeanAmericanHeritageMonth #DiversityInHiring #AscendoHealthcare #StaffingSolutions #NowHiring #TalentAcquisition

Returning home after two years as an expatriate has been a journey in itself. 🎒 During my time abroad, I discovered a community that transcends borders: a human network built by very diverse individuals that truly understands the blessings and the roughness of being away from home. In those moments, I learned that connection surpasses cultural similarities; it thrives on empathy and the willingness to support each other, forming deep bonds that endure even across distances. However, I also learned how challenging it can be to face difficult times while far away from your family and loved ones. In those moments of adversity, the longing for home magnifies, making the weight of distance felt. Yet, it's precisely in those times when I discovered inner strength by confronting adversity solo, to overcome obstacles, and to seek light even on the darkest days. Being in a foreign country taught me invaluable lessons: I learned to cherish diversity and seek for it, and also understood that solitude can be an uncomfortable yet powerful teacher, between many others. It's a journey of self-discovery that enriches the soul, expands personal boundaries, and, above all, fosters a deep gratitude for experiences that allow us to grow. Would I do it again? Absolutely. What about you? What did you learn? What were your biggest challenges?

“I hate Brits,” said a taxi driver upon hearing that I’m not from the UK. He invites me to critique the country I moved to – no, thank you. But I don’t feel hostile towards him. Instead, I’m curious. During the next 20 minutes of diplomatic conversation, I tried to understand his worldview. He has lived eleven years in the #UK and still managed not to like this country. He is not the only #immigrant with such views I’ve met. This is strange to me. I understand #British people who don’t like their government – I rarely meet any person in the world who would be satisfied with theirs. But living for eleven years in another country yet disliking it, your second home, surely takes a unique skill. He shared the secret. “You must stay in your bubble. People from your country, who understand you. This is the way to keep your sanity.” Something is wrong with this approach. How can you like something if you are closed off to it, if you don’t learn another culture, history, traditions? Of course, such a person would feel disconnected from society! And the first thing they lose is their personal experience and enrichment from learning another culture. When I moved to the UK, I bought #books about its history, traditions, and #culture, the ones in the picture. Of course, this is just the theoretical part of learning culture, so I spent a lot of time doing field research in pubs, theatres, museums, offices, and pubs again 😉. It’s impossible to learn a culture in two years, but at least, I started to grasp some basics. I don’t feel disconnected from this society and I like British culture more and more every day. As a result, I start to perceive myself as a part of it and become angry when I see ugly graffiti on historical buildings. The right attitude for people who move to another country is to perceive themselves as a bridge between two cultures, connectors that make both parties stronger. I am learning and changing a lot while absorbing British culture and history – I admire its complexity and multifacetedness. At the same time, I also bring something valuable here and increase diversity by sharing some of my country’s traditions or being more direct, which is more usual for #Ukrainians. If a person follows this approach, they will never feel disconnected or be staying “in their bubble”. Instead, they will be connected to two cultures at the same time. If we look at this situation from the point of view of society or government, it’s beneficial to create policies that help immigrants to adapt, reinforcing cultural exchange and #diversity. At the same time, it’s rational to filter people who don't respect your culture because they don't add to it but add some cracks to its integrity. If a person comes to another country, it is not good for them, in the first place, to treat the country with disrespect. Instead, adding interest, friendliness, and openheartedness towards the country and its people can open many doors, smiles, and hearts. Cheers to it!

Oh yes, that’s me. Still love turtlenecks. This is my annual post to mark the anniversary of my arrival stateside 30+ years ago. Nothing as dramatic as Ellis Island. Just Minneapolis airport and heaps of snow. Lucky me - any time I hear the news from Russia, I am not just talking about the war, I feel incredibly lucky to live in a place that gave me choices. And lucky you because immigrants like me enrich this country in a profound way. Being "from somewhere" is complicated. You are not quite native and not quite foreign no matter who you are with. But at some point I overcame the discomfort of being “other” and embraced the bits that still resonate with me - and let go of the parts of my background and upbringing that do not fit any more. You call it a strong personality. I’ll just point to cultural holdouts from my background: 🔹Directness in interactions. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Focus on solutions. 🔹Iron discipline. You'll never hear me whining how haaaaaardd things are. Just get on with things. 🔹I expect excellence from myself and I expect excellence from others. Somehow my sons have inherited this particular trait and I am very pleased. 🔹Generosity and hospitality are core. I'll throw a charcuterie board together if you knock on my door and make you tea. Try me. 🔹We value being cultured to the point where we get a bit judgey about it. Kids participate in "Camp Mom" to enjoy culture under duress immersion. 🔹We are loyal whether you are flying high or down on your luck. I value and sustain friendships. You matter to me. #originstory #mystory #immigration #refugee #refugeeswelcome #journey #myjourney #communications

I don’t often delve into the world of politics, but a conversation I had the other day got me thinking. Today marks Australia Day, or January 26th, and with that comes the now annual conversation around what exactly this date means and whether it should, or should not, be changed. I feel that often a lot of the issue surrounding this conversation is how people approach it. Generally, I’ve found that a lot of people become very combative and have an attitude of ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’ which just leads to the conversation going round in circles. I think it’s an important conversation to have, especially if it is done in the right way, so I will attempt to respectfully put my thoughts and opinion on the topic into words. Not all of you may agree with me or everything I say in this post, and that’s okay, but hopefully you can at least see my point of view and understand where I’m coming from. Growing up for me, and I’m sure a lot of other Australians, Australia Day was a day to celebrate the amazing multicultural country we live in and what it means to be Australian. I believe that the majority, if not all, Australian’s who celebrate the day are not doing so to mark the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and raising of the British flag, the colonisation of Australia, or even the anniversary of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 coming into effect on this day in 1949. I also believe that the majority, if not all, Australians don’t celebrate out of a hatred or ill will towards the Indigenous population. As a proud Indigenous man I know I am not personally offended or hurt by the date as I have never once thought about Australia Day being a celebration of what occurred way back when. In saying that, I am also acutely aware that I never had to live through the stolen generation or experience some of the horrendous and traumatic things that my Indigenous ancestors had to. I, like most, associate Australia Day as being a day to spend with friends and/or family around the BBQ, playing beach cricket, and a day in which we as a collective nation can celebrate what Australia and its culture is, and more importantly, what it could be. Therefore the date itself is irrelevant to me. I say all that to say this, if the meaning of the day for people like me and so many others is not associated with historical events which happened on January 26th then why not just move the date to one which doesn't raise feelings of generational trauma and hurt for so many of the Indigenous population? A date which we can all get behind, and create tradition around, to celebrate our nations Indigenous roots as well as all the other cultures and traditions which make our nation so diverse and unique? The Australia Day public holiday wasn’t even nationally celebrated on January 26th until 1994 so why can’t we just go back to celebrating it on a floating date in late Jan / early Feb which would guarantee a long weekend and help us all move forward as a nation?

There is no single Caribbean American identity. The mix of cultures, languages, and religions across the United States and the islands reflects the diversity of spirit that defines the American story. June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month! Ascendo is here to connect job seekers from all backgrounds with opportunities that not only highlight their strengths but also mirror their personal and professional values. #CaribbeanAmericanHeritageMonth #DiversityInHiring #AscendoJobs #StaffingSolutions #NowHiring #TalentAcquisition

🌍 My Personal Expat Experience 🌍 When I first arrived in the Netherlands, I was excited but nervous. I had taken Dutch language classes and had a Dutch boyfriend, so I thought I was somewhat prepared. Boy, was I wrong! Despite my efforts, most people couldn't understand what I was saying, and I often felt like the odd one out. Thankfully, my colleagues were kind enough to switch to English, but it was still a struggle. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received was to be patient and perseverant. A friend told me, “Your Dutch will never sound native, but neither does the Queen’s!” (Fun fact: our queen here is Argentinian). This helped me relax and accept my accent as part of my identity. Through trial and error, I discovered strategies that helped me succeed and get promoted. I learned that trying is better than not trying at all—"Niet geschoten is altijd mis," as the Dutch say, which means not shooting is always a miss. I made an effort to blend in, never felt ashamed of my accent, and had patience with myself. Learning from others who were successful also made a huge difference. Today, I use these experiences to help other expats navigate their own journeys. If you’re struggling with language barriers or feeling out of place, remember that it’s all part of the adventure. Be patient, keep trying, and embrace your unique perspective. And if you want some help getting to grips with Dutch culture, come and join my workshop on Friday 31st May 🌟 #ExpatLife #CareerGrowth #DutchCulture 

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/jvq9o2V #newblogpost 💡⚠️ Identity crisis during expatriation (adults and children) #expatriation #expatriationfamily #expatsupport