Ten years ago, I arrived in Montreal, Quebec, in Canada filled with excitement and uncertainty. I knew my life would change, but I had no idea just how profoundly. Now, at 42, I look back and see how much I’ve grown, challenged myself, and rebuilt my life.
I came here with my family—my husband, who is now my best friend, and our son, who is now the same age as the time we’ve spent in Canada. Life alone can be challenging, but having my family by my side made all the difference. Together, we faced every obstacle, turning Canada not just into a place we live, but a home.
Learning to Speak a New Life
One of the biggest challenges—and triumphs—of this journey was learning two new languages. Portuguese was always my comfort zone, but here, English and French became essential.
Learning a new language as an adult is not easy. It’s humbling when you can’t express yourself, frustrating when you don’t understand others, and often isolating. But over time, I got better. Little by little, I learned to laugh at my mistakes and celebrate small victories. Today, I navigate three languages effortlessly, opening doors and deepening my connections with people from different cultures.
Building My Place in the World
Moving to another country is about much more than learning a new language—it’s about relearning how to live. The seasons, the customs, the way people interact—everything was new. Canadians are warm yet reserved. The winters are long, but the kindness of the people makes them easier to endure.
Over time, I learned to appreciate the beauty of a silent snowfall, to understand that “let’s grab coffee” doesn’t always mean a guaranteed meeting, and that being part of a community is built through small, daily gestures.
Challenges That Became Lessons
There were difficult moments. I deeply miss Brazil, and I always will. But the Brazilians we’ve met here have become much more than friends—they are family, life partners who share the same struggles and victories, offering support and keeping our roots alive in our hearts.
Beyond that, I faced feelings of being an outsider, professional challenges, and my son’s adaptation to a new environment. But every challenge came with a lesson.
I had to reinvent myself professionally while also facing not only the usual struggles of immigration but also new motherhood. When I moved, my son was just seven months old. Adjusting to a new country is already intense, but doing so while learning to be a mother made it even more challenging. And just a few months later, we received his severe autism diagnosis. But that… that’s a story for another article!
I learned to reinvent myself, to find support in new friendships, and to appreciate my family even more. My husband became my partner in every challenge, and together, we watched our son grow up in a country that now also belongs to him.
A Future Rooted in Experience
Today, I feel like I carry two worlds within me. I am still Brazilian, but I am also a little Canadian. My identity has expanded, my perspective has evolved, and the woman who arrived here ten years ago is not the same woman writing this now.
If I could give advice to the Thais of ten years ago, I would say: be patient—adaptation takes time. Embrace change, even when it feels scary. And most importantly, trust that one day, you’ll look back and realize that you didn’t just move to a new country—you changed yourself for the better.
To those just starting their journey, my message is: go with courage. The unknown can be intimidating, but it’s where we find the best versions of ourselves.
With a good vibe, Barbara -uVibeThrive.
All photos in this article are from a personal archive and belong to uVibeThrive. All rights reserved.
