Feature Story Interview
Adriana Bierwag:
1. Where did you live before moving to the US?
I lived in Salvador, Bahia in Brazil.
2. Why did you decide to move?
I moved to Austin after getting married to live with my husband.
3. Were you scared to move to the US?
Yes, a bit. I was moving to a foreign country, and I was leaving family and friends behind.
4. What did you do to prepare for the move?
I had to get an immigrant visa and new documents with my married name. I also had to decide what I would bring to the US and what I would leave in Brazil.
5. What did your family think of you leaving home?
They were okay with it but they said they would miss me. They asked if your dad and I would ever consider living in Brazil.
6. Was learning English hard for you?
I already spoke English so that wasn't an issue.
7. When did you move here?
April of 1998.
8. What was the process like to become a US citizen?
I had to first fill out a few forms which contained detailed information, a pay fee, and submit it to the immigration office and wait for them to schedule an interview. While I waited for that, I studied for the Civics test.
9. How long did it take to become a US citizen?
It took me about a month or so to prepare all the paperwork, and about 3 months to attend the Naturalization ceremony. Overall it wasn't a lengthy process.
10. Were you able to apply for dual citizenship?
Not immediately. I entered the country with an immigrant visa, then I was granted a conditional permanent resident card for 2 years. After that, I got a permanent resident card good for 10 years. Before the card's renewal date, I became an American Citizen. Since then I have dual citizenship.
11. What is something you miss about living in Brazil?
I miss the people I knew in Brazil. People are more friendly there and less reserved. I miss the Brazilian food, the good smells, the neighborhood bakeries. And I miss the beaches; the smell of the ocean too.
12. What is something you enjoy about living in the US?
I like the fact that life here is easier, safer, and more practical. Things work here, in general.
13. What made you want to go to UT?
I wanted to continue my education, get a masters, and also have the experience of being a student in America.
14. What did you major in?
Foreign language education.
15. How did you handle school and a kid?
It wasn't easy, but you attended a daycare while I was in graduate school.
16. What kept you determined and hardworking through school?
The desire to succeed, to prove to myself that I could do it, that I could handle it. I also very much enjoyed being a college and graduate student. I felt like I was part of a special group of people that chose to study, to learn more. It felt good.
17. Had you ever been to the US before officially moving here?
Yes, I had come here to visit your dad for 2 months, 3 years before I moved here.
18. How long did it take to get your masters degree?
I finished my master's in 4 years because I was a part time student. I chose to do it that way so that I would have time to take care of you. If it had been full time, it would have taken me 2 years.
19. Why did you want to go back to school?
Because I thought I needed more knowledge in my field to eventually get a job here. I also wanted to have the same level of education that your dad had. And I thought it was a good way for me to understand more about the American culture.
20. Would you say the lifestyle you gave up and the sacrifices you made were worth it?
Yes, definitely. I would even go back to school if I could.
Alex Bierwag:
1. How did you meet Adriana?
I went to Brazil with a friend who was Brazilian and stayed with his family at his house. I went to work with his mother one day because she worked with many young students in a tourist information agency. The mother wanted me to meet people my age. so I went and talked with a few people who were free throughout the day. one of them was Adriana. She had specialized in English and so gave info to tourists who spoke English. We talked a lot. I liked her, and she liked me.
2. How did you persuade her to move?
I went to Brazil several times as the relationship got serious. One time I asked her if she would consider moving to the US to be with me. She said maybe, so I knew it was a possibility. I looked into how to do this and figured out that getting married in Brazil would allow her to travel to the US. So then we decided to get married in Brazil. Then we waited for the paperwork to be completed by the US government, and once that was done, she traveled here.
3. Were you excited for her to live here?
Yes. We worked hard to be together. Also waited many months for the immigration documents. The first few months of the relationship were exciting for sure.
4. How did having her in the same country change things?
Being boyfriend and girlfriend and being on different continents is a weird kind of relationship. You can only talk on the phone or send letters to each other. Once we decided to get married and be together then it was a more serious and permanent kind of relationship. On her arrival we had to learn how to make it work. There were adjustments since she had to learn how to drive and begin to meet a new set of friends since she left all friends and family behind. She had to figure out more slang, and ways of speaking English.
5. Were you also in school at the time?
Yes.
1. Where did you live before moving to the US?
I lived in Salvador, Bahia in Brazil.
2. Why did you decide to move?
I moved to Austin after getting married to live with my husband.
3. Were you scared to move to the US?
Yes, a bit. I was moving to a foreign country, and I was leaving family and friends behind.
4. What did you do to prepare for the move?
I had to get an immigrant visa and new documents with my married name. I also had to decide what I would bring to the US and what I would leave in Brazil.
5. What did your family think of you leaving home?
They were okay with it but they said they would miss me. They asked if your dad and I would ever consider living in Brazil.
6. Was learning English hard for you?
I already spoke English so that wasn't an issue.
7. When did you move here?
April of 1998.
8. What was the process like to become a US citizen?
I had to first fill out a few forms which contained detailed information, a pay fee, and submit it to the immigration office and wait for them to schedule an interview. While I waited for that, I studied for the Civics test.
9. How long did it take to become a US citizen?
It took me about a month or so to prepare all the paperwork, and about 3 months to attend the Naturalization ceremony. Overall it wasn't a lengthy process.
10. Were you able to apply for dual citizenship?
Not immediately. I entered the country with an immigrant visa, then I was granted a conditional permanent resident card for 2 years. After that, I got a permanent resident card good for 10 years. Before the card's renewal date, I became an American Citizen. Since then I have dual citizenship.
11. What is something you miss about living in Brazil?
I miss the people I knew in Brazil. People are more friendly there and less reserved. I miss the Brazilian food, the good smells, the neighborhood bakeries. And I miss the beaches; the smell of the ocean too.
12. What is something you enjoy about living in the US?
I like the fact that life here is easier, safer, and more practical. Things work here, in general.
13. What made you want to go to UT?
I wanted to continue my education, get a masters, and also have the experience of being a student in America.
14. What did you major in?
Foreign language education.
15. How did you handle school and a kid?
It wasn't easy, but you attended a daycare while I was in graduate school.
16. What kept you determined and hardworking through school?
The desire to succeed, to prove to myself that I could do it, that I could handle it. I also very much enjoyed being a college and graduate student. I felt like I was part of a special group of people that chose to study, to learn more. It felt good.
17. Had you ever been to the US before officially moving here?
Yes, I had come here to visit your dad for 2 months, 3 years before I moved here.
18. How long did it take to get your masters degree?
I finished my master's in 4 years because I was a part time student. I chose to do it that way so that I would have time to take care of you. If it had been full time, it would have taken me 2 years.
19. Why did you want to go back to school?
Because I thought I needed more knowledge in my field to eventually get a job here. I also wanted to have the same level of education that your dad had. And I thought it was a good way for me to understand more about the American culture.
20. Would you say the lifestyle you gave up and the sacrifices you made were worth it?
Yes, definitely. I would even go back to school if I could.
Alex Bierwag:
1. How did you meet Adriana?
I went to Brazil with a friend who was Brazilian and stayed with his family at his house. I went to work with his mother one day because she worked with many young students in a tourist information agency. The mother wanted me to meet people my age. so I went and talked with a few people who were free throughout the day. one of them was Adriana. She had specialized in English and so gave info to tourists who spoke English. We talked a lot. I liked her, and she liked me.
2. How did you persuade her to move?
I went to Brazil several times as the relationship got serious. One time I asked her if she would consider moving to the US to be with me. She said maybe, so I knew it was a possibility. I looked into how to do this and figured out that getting married in Brazil would allow her to travel to the US. So then we decided to get married in Brazil. Then we waited for the paperwork to be completed by the US government, and once that was done, she traveled here.
3. Were you excited for her to live here?
Yes. We worked hard to be together. Also waited many months for the immigration documents. The first few months of the relationship were exciting for sure.
4. How did having her in the same country change things?
Being boyfriend and girlfriend and being on different continents is a weird kind of relationship. You can only talk on the phone or send letters to each other. Once we decided to get married and be together then it was a more serious and permanent kind of relationship. On her arrival we had to learn how to make it work. There were adjustments since she had to learn how to drive and begin to meet a new set of friends since she left all friends and family behind. She had to figure out more slang, and ways of speaking English.
5. Were you also in school at the time?
Yes.
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