Alessandra left her home in Brazil when she was in her teens to finish her studies abroad. Now she’s living in the American city of San Francisco in California, where she works in visual graphics. To travel extensively is in her future plans, hence her nickname. Here she talks a bit about her move to the USA and why San Francisco has captured her heart.	Alessandra de Souza, aka Alex, aka Gypsy Girl

December 10 2006

-Where were you born?
I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil

-In which country and city are you living now?
I currently live in San Francisco, California, in the U.S.A.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I’ve been living with my boyfriend for a year and half now. Before that, I lived on my own for 9 years. My family is in Brazil.

-How long have you been living in the USA?
I’ve been living in the US for 11 years, and in California for about 8.

-What is your age?
I’m 33 years old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in the USA?
When I was finishing college in Brazil, in 1994, I started researching everything there was to know about applying for a Masters Degree outside Brazil. I had a dream to experience one year of formal art education outside my country. As part of my research, I went to the British, Australian and American Consulates in Sao Paulo to get all sorts of catalogues. I was focused on English-speaking countries because I was comfortable with the language already. That’s when I ran into the Savannah College of Art & Design poster. It turned out that Savannah was a small city in the southeastern coast of the United States, in the state of Georgia.

I was immediately captivated by its gorgeous squares and its charming historic district’s architecture from the 1700’s. The fact that Savannah was a small place also appealed to me. I wouldn’t have to worry about transportation, since I would be able to bike or walk anywhere; rent was very reasonable (I paid $350 for a studio as opposed to $800av in California for instance!), it was not too cold (since I was coming from Brazil and all…) and I presumed that with the school practically being the main “event” in town, it would be easier for me to adjust and make friends. It worked out really well for me.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
The F-1 visa was done through the school and it seemed a very straightforward process. I sent them the info and they sent me the visa. At first, I was planning on just staying a year without having to work. But when I decided to get a Master’s Degree and stay 2 more years, I applied for a Part Time Work Permit which allowed me to work for 20 hours a week while going to school. This was also not hard to do with some patience for following up with the INS.

Once I finished my Master’s, I applied for a TN visa, which allows aliens to work in the US for 1 year after graduation and gain professional experience in their field of study. When my TN was about to expire, my employer applied for the H1B visa. The H1B can be obtained if a company is willing to sponsor a foreign worker, if the candidate skills are in demand and if there are not enough US citizens suitable for the position offered. There are many industry categories for this visa and it can be renewed for up to 6 years max.

When I was in my last year of H1B, my employer applied for a sponsored Green Card for me. The sponsored GC (or permanent residency visa) process is long and can take about 5 years. While the GC application is in progress, the company can continue to renew the H1B visa annually until the Green Card comes through. It’s been 2+ years since my application was submitted to the Dept. of Labor, and I’m finally on the last phase of the Green Card process. The info I have is that this stage can take up to 18 months.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I originally applied for student medical insurance through the school. I believe it was mandatory. After I graduated, I was lucky enough to be employed right away with benefits. I currently have Blue Cross through my work. I do know though, that in San Francisco there are good clinics run by non-profit organizations that offer free or inexpensive services for folks without insurance. (See Site Links below.)

-How do you make your living in the USA? Do you have any type of income generated?
I work as a Visual Effects producer. That means that I manage crew, schedule & budget for a computer graphics animation studio that creates special effects for movies. My latest project was Charlotte’s Web. I was responsible for producing the animation for the rat (Templeton) and the crows (Elwin and Brooks). It took me all my 33 years to get here. In the last 8 years, I’ve done various jobs within the animation production pipeline and I have worked on dozens of movies. I started from the bottom of the food chain. Before that, I studied Advertising, Illustration and I got a Master in Fine Arts with emphasis in Computer Art (which got my foot in the door in the film industry). But during school and while traveling around, I was also a nanny, a summer camp counselor, an innkeeper, restaurant hostess, gallery & exhibition intern, marketing intern, event organizer, photography intern, ESL teacher for kids, and I also served excellent cappuccinos in many coffee shops, which partially contributed to my caffeinated personality! Every single job I had along the way helped me get where I am today.

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak English and I believe that it is really important to learn the local language wherever you go. Making an effort to assimilate the culture in your area opens numerous doors, not only because you can get around easier, but because it shows a genuine interest and openness toward making friends and building meaningful connections.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss my family immensely. I also miss Brazil’s laid back atmosphere and my close friends. But this is where I want to be right now.

Here in California I enjoy all the benefits of good and beautiful outdoors. I love camping, hiking, dancing, skiing, surfing, going on walks in the city, practicing yoga and enjoying the amazing ethnic restaurants in San Francisco. Plus, the love of my life is here too!

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I love to travel and my boyfriend does too. Travel is the reason we live for. We’re planning on working really hard for the next year or two and going on a “year-long” trip around the world.

After our big trip, I plan on producing movies in a different capacity, perhaps not as hands on. My new professional dreams, include: travel writing, illustrating travel and children’s books, and having a guest house somewhere tropical (in front of a surf break), where Rich and I can promote creative workshops and yoga/surf retreats.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I currently rent a house in the Sunset district with my boyfriend. The cost for buying a home here is “out of line”! We love living here, but we are opting to use our money on other dreams for the time being.

-What is the cost of living in the USA?
The cost of living in San Francisco is pretty high. The average rent for a studio is about $800/month, for a 1-bedroom apartment it’s about $1500/month, for a 2-bedroom it’s about $2000/month.

-What do you think about the locals?
There are numerous immigrants from all over the world here and I think the locals enjoy the diversity. That is what makes California so interesting and progressive.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the USA?
I like living in California because of the general liberal and forward-thinking people here, the worldliness of those living in the area, the care for the environment, good weather, beautiful nature and the creative/artistic community.

The negative aspect is being away from my roots, my family and friends from Brazil. Well, and the potential earthquakes!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the USA?
Make sure it’s the right community for you. The US is a huge country and it is so unique in each area. Go through the right steps to get a visa and stay legal. Get a social security number, medical insurance and a driver’s license ASAP.

Build your credit. Learn how to do your taxes. Be open to embrace the differences in the culture. If you’re opposed to learning new ways of living, then moving abroad may not be the right experience for you. Know that it takes time to build a life anywhere. Be patient and believe in your dream.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the USA?
You can learn more about me at: Gypsy Girl’s Guide

Citizenship, Visas and Green Cards Download Immigration Forms: United States Immigration Support

Craigslist.org a resource to find anything you need. Work, housing, furniture, activity partners, free stuff, etc…

Alternative Care: Immune Enhancement Project