Skilled Migrants - Good or Bad?

Last night, I got drinks with a girl who I know from Danbury (!) who I know from the church I used to attend there who has just moved to São Paulo through GE. She worked in one of the Connecticut offices and is not working in SP with ex-pats!! Which is funny because she's the ultimate ex-pat - Brazilian who went to the US at a young age (like me!) and is now back to Brazil after 16 years.

It was fun to catch up, talk about how neither of us regret coming to Brazil one bit, how our friends who are in the same situation I was in should come, and overall what I always say in this blog... how Brazil is SO much better than the US, despite all its downfalls, for us in particular. Note I said "us" as in the two of "us." No need to get all frantic bashing Brazil in the comments, mmkay? ;-)

Discussing her position working with ex-pats it was funny to think about how there are really so many ex-pats all over the world. What's even more funny is how "ex-pat," refers to a skilled worker whereas "unskilled worker," or in Portuguese (I HATE this word), "sub-empregado" (meaning you're "sub-employed," ugh, doesn't it sound so degrading?)... I have nothing to say about that yet, but it's something to think about for your comments on this post or an upcoming post.

As much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE living here, I've come to one barrier. I have a degree from the US. In order for me to get a masters in Brazil, it needs to be approved by MEC which is the federal department of education here. I've considered getting it approved here, but just to go through the process of POSSIBLY having it approved, I need to pay a lot of money with translations, and still need documentation from my college and the Brazilian consulate in Boston. One option I was considering was to get a masters in Europe. Whenever I mention this, I'm either given a response along the lines of, "DO IT!!!" or "Ugh, there goes another qualified worker and intellectual mind to leave Brazil..." Which makes me sick. Who's to say I'm not coming back? And even more, what does that say about the people who will be left here and minds that will be enlightened by the masters programs here?! That there's a limit to qualified workers and minds in this country?

I've never had a backed up argument for this until I read a GREAT article in Foreign Policy today (it's lengthy, but a worthy read). They give every reason for skilled emigration being a BENEFIT to both the receiving and originating country. The arguments are endless ranging from the fact that oftentimes emmigrants are skilled workers the country has too many of, to high levels of remittances, and my favorite - PEOPLE DO COME BACK!!!

I would love to travel the world. Live in at least another handful of countries. But one thing I've learned over the past two years... there's no place like home. And home is where you're accepted, not discriminated, where you are considered a citizen not by merit, but by birth and/or cultural afinity, and especially where you're not considered an "ex-pat." So sitting where I am now.... I think I'll find it hard to "settle," anywhere else but here.

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Reform Immigration for America

"We need a bill that says if you come here to hurt our communities, we will not support you; but if you are here to work hard and to make a better life for your family, you will have the opportunity to earn your citizenship" - Representative Luis Gutierrez

I couldn't have said it better myself... and I HAVE said it in one form or another for many a years.

There's nothing that makes me happier than peaceful rallies for a cause people are passionate about. I may not even be in favor OF the rally. But seeing people manifest their passion for reform, hope, solidarity... it gives me goosebumps. The good kind. Today an immigration rally was held on Capitol Hill in DC and about 20 other cities across the US much like those I participated in when I was in the US and immigration reform was actually being discussed in congress in 2006 and 2007. I often wish I could be in D.C. since I spent two of the best months ever interning there and miss the happy hours, lying on the mall and salsa dancing there oh so much - but I must admit, I would have LOVED to be there today for this rally, where thousands marched in a peaceful rally for immigration reform.

I think this rally was important and powerful because it wasn't asking the government to choose sides. It was asking for SOME sort of immigration reform. Whether you're for legalizing undocumented immigrants or not, most people are looking for some sort of answer. For those who read my blog, you probably have gotten the feeling that I am all for legalizing all immigrants, but I'm not. I agree with Rep. Gutierrez 100%. I think those who are in the US working, trying to make a living that benefit their families and are making a contribution to their societies and local communities' economies, deserve a path towards citizenship, regardless of how they got there.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this bill to be discussed fully, with lots of love and care and hope for the best outcome for the country!! (but obvi on the immigrant community's side ;-))

For further reading - here's the site on the movement - Reform Immigration for America

beijooss amores!!

ps - thanks to those who responded in my little quiz last week. i've decided to just go with what i was going with, but i may talk a little less about "i did this this and that," because i've realized that can get quite boring, and more, "i saw this great band this weekend - here's a clip" or "i'm planning this vacation, does anyone have any advice," etc. :-)

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Blogger Crisis.

Yes, Blogger Crisis. You know, like mid-life crisis when you don't know what to do with yourself? You feel like you've done all there is to do... except those things you regret not doing. I must confess this is one of those reasons I haven't been writing as much. I feel like since I've been in São Paulo for a while and in an established routine, I don't have anything interesting enough to write about anymore...

Do I regret writing about anything I have written about thus far? No. Never.

Do I regret not writing about some other things for fear of being embarassed or think that you wouldn't be intereseted in reading about them? Maybe a little.

So I want to hear from you guys what you like and don't like about my posts. I know there are a good number of you out there reading this because I know how many subscribe to my feeds and I'm a Google Analytics expert. ;-)

What are our options? After all, the blog is not only for you guys, so I have to give options, right? haha

1.) Keep doing what I'm doing - a little bit of poly's life. a little bit of immigration policy. a little bit of brazilian society/politics.

2.) Talk a little less about my life and a little more about politics and the economy.

This week's examples had I dedicated more time to this blog:

- Senate Committee Considers Immigration-Related Amendments to Health Care Bill (baby steps?)

- Rio is being considered for the 2016 Olympics - if Brazil gets it, will it be good or bad? (there was tons of debate at work!)

- What's up with the USD?!

3.) Talk a little less politics and a little more ME.

- I ran a 5k last Sunday (the one before this one... sorry I didn't write about it).

- I went to a GREAT stand-up show and the comedians were 100% female.

- My curator friend put together a wonderful photography exhibit by a pretty amazing photographer on the Curd Nation.

4.) Keep doing what I'm doing but get a little more personal.

This is what I've been afraid to do. I don't want this blog to be a Dear Diary where I vent about my problems, or where I coo about how cute my boyfriend is (he really is so sweet though...). I also don't want to lose too much focus and talk about work related things (SEO and Search in general) or fashion finds and such...

I'd be more than happy to go with any of the above options - but I need to know if my readers would be as well :-) See what a democratic blogger I am?

beijjooss!!

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