A New Person

      A New Person             

  I had never found my place until I moved to Chicago. Since I arrived in Chicago my whole life

changed completely. Everything I thought i knew in Brazil as a nineteen-year-old young woman, I had to

change to live in a new country. Living in Chicago made me became a new person with a whole different

personality. I changed my hobbies, the places that I was used to go when I wanted to relax, and even some

aspects of my life that I thought would never change. Besides all the struggles in the beginning with

cultural norms and people's behaviors, living in Chicago made me discover a new part of me.

   Living in Chicago made me discovery different hobbies that turned out to be my favorites

activities to do. I am a person who needs to have a routine during the weekdays, but in the weekend since

I was a teenager, I need to do something different. Living in a city like Chicago, I can do a ton of different

things. Going to an American bar was a game change for me; I love the loud sounds and crowded

environment. For me those bars with a lot of televisions showing some American sport represent a strong

American culture. My go-to activity living here is going to one of these bars and having a nice drink on

the balcony at the bar, while I have some conversation with my boyfriend, or friends at the end of the

week. While I love this nightlife lifestyle, I also need to be alone and in peace, and that is why I love to go

to parks. When I used to live in Brazil, my city that is called Balneário Camboriu did not have a park. The

the city has beaches but not a park. Beaches in Balneárig are amazing but super loud and full. I don't even

know how many parks exist here in Chicago, but parks are a moment of comfort for me. They are quiet

and beautiful in all seasons. When I go to a park it is the time that I have to be grateful for the

opportunity's that I have in my life. I guess I have this feeling of gratitude due the fact that most of the

time that I go there I see people in peace, with their family, pets, or just taking care and having time for

themselves. It just seems to me a place of peace and calmness in this agitated city.

   In the beginning when I moved to Chicago, I had to adapt in a lot of different cultural aspects,

especially people's behaviors. I am a person who adapts easily. In few weeks living in Chicago, I learned

new rules, education, food, and how to use public transportation, but I still struggle with people's

behaviors. Brazilians are known for their outgoing personality. For us it is easy to make friends and treat

others as family members, but in a city like Chicago things are a little different. Especially in Chicago, I

realized that most of the people are more closed, and they don't care about your life, they already have

their social cycle, and they don't want to let a stranger enter easily in their lives. To be honest I suffered in

the beginning because I did not receive an answer for my good mornings, also the rudeness that I deal

when I asked something, and the failures attempts to make new friends. Besides the struggles in the

beginning, I don't care anymore to receive a rude answer, or not have many friends, my mindset about

this changed a lot. Even though I don't care that much anymore, I miss sometimes the kindness in my

daily life, but I already understood that most people don't do this to be rude, it might be something more

cultural.

   In conclusion, I am just happy to live in Chicago, and I think I finally found my place. I am truly

obsessed with the rhythm of Chicago. Everything here seems like a movie, the daily routine is always a

rush, and full of things to do. The weekend has been so agitated, with so many different places to know.

At the same time, the parks have been the opposite, bringing me the sensation of completely peace and

gratefulness. I am just in love. Even though I still have some problems dealing with people behaviors

because of my outgoing and very Brazilian personality, I don't care because I am just proud of myself that

came here and truly embraced a new culture. It was the best decision I have ever made.