It's hard, but it's not impossible

When you decide to move abroad, looking for better opportunities, you are off to a rough start. The trick is remaining realistic and determined.

The current generation of Latino immigrants to Canada has different characteristics than previous waves. Most of us are professionals and speak the language. Having a bachelor’s degree leads us to have different priorities. We are not here to settle for less and we are not looking to simply survive. We are coming to countries like Canada because we want a better quality of life, we want a chance to realize our potential.

Our expectations are different and sometimes unrealistic. Among some, there is an aspiration to keep certain lifestyle. We've been accustomed to going out and sharing quality time with friends. We enjoyed long holidays and lots of spare time. Most importantly, we are used to having the constant support of our family. All of this changes when you move to a different country.

The reality is that, unless a company recruits you, when you get here you are Mr. or Mss. Nobody. No one knows you and your fancy degree is pretty much worthless, unless you prove what you can do. This means you have to start from scratch, be open and flexible cause chances are you will end up doing things you never imagined doing in your home country.

Your first two or three years in a new country, like Canada, will test your ability to adapt. You need to work hard to make your way into the culture and the society. There won’t be long holidays to share with your family, and there won’t be much spare time to hang out with your friends.

My advice is to be realistic, keep your feet on the ground because it is all worth it. No matter what you are doing or how difficult things are, don’t lose sight of your goals. It’s hard to leave your family and friends behind, to start from zero, to prove yourself and others that you can do it... but it’s not impossible! It just takes hard work. 

Bienvenid@s to my Latin blog!

I’m part of the fourth largest ethnic group immigrating to Canada: the Latin community. We are a growing minority not very well noted, but with a strong voice. Latinos started to come to Canada in the 70s for different reasons, mostly political, and we haven’t stopped since. Now, we form a community of nearly 1 million people primarily concentrated in the city of Toronto.

But, who are Latinos exactly? It refers to Spanish speakers from Latin America –not Spain- including Brazil... and this blog is meant to talk about our culture, our needs, our wants and our story as immigrants. We are not the largest force in the country, but we still matter. That’s why this blog is not only intended for the Latino community, it is also meant to show and educate others about our culture.

So, why talk about this minority? Because I felt the urgent need to create a space where I can get in contact with my roots. I want to offer a friendly site where we can recreate our experience as immigrants, laugh about it and learn from others. Because no matter how long ago we left our countries, being Latino is still part of our identity and it defines us everywhere we go.

Here we won’t only talk about food, music or family. NO! I’ll try to talk about different topics, like why we leave our countries, what moves us to immigrate and how it's like to arrive to a new country. Truth be told, I'm not the expert when it comes to this topic. In fact, I'm still learning... every single day is a new opportunity for it! My only intention is to share part of my experience and hear from others. 

I already have a list of possible topics and ideas in mind, but there’s always room for new ones. That’s why I encourage every reader to comment –no matter what your nationality is. You can ask questions or make suggestions for future postings! I’ll be more than glad to share your story and respond to your question.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.