It’s a choice to never give up.
I’m Angolan, 35 years old, and the change that had a general impact on my life was emigrating! I came with a dream of studying. A plan that would improve my future when I would return to my country. Portugal is a beautiful country. The culture is very similar to Angolan culture. We speak the same language, which is why I chose to pursue a master’s degree in economics there.
In less than one year the European reality showed me that it takes much more than a dream, a plan. It takes a constant courage to never give up in the midst of struggles, even when the circumstances around me were different from my dreams. Never give up was the choice I made…
I changed the way I see life, the world. I matured, I grew. I had to redefine my plan. I started to dream differently. My goal was my focus. I came to the Netherlands to study English. Today, I speak English fluently. I still plan to learn Dutch. I decided to stay in the Netherlands for now because of the cultural diversity. And it’s a place I could imagine myself living in the future! For now, I say I’m a daughter of the world, and I can’t wait to explore every corner and embrace opportunities.
As a person in an environment of change you feel challenged by a different culture, habits and customs. Never taking anything for granted – or set higher expectations – is key to keeping your feet on the ground and your mind focused…
I still have a long way to go, a lot to learn. After all I’m just human…
Being an emigrant is a constant challenge! You need to be strong enough to know how to deal with the ups and downs of life far from family and friends. It’s a choice, a desire of a life full of opportunities! Every day I learn, with open mind, humble heart and humility to respect the integration process, embrace opportunities, be fearless and never stop believing in the possibility of something better in the future: Simply not stopping independently of the adversities!