{"id":1106,"date":"2026-07-22T16:28:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marcosalencarpsicanalista.com\/?p=1106"},"modified":"2026-09-24T11:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:53:33","slug":"brazilians-in-vancouver-distance-and-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marcosalencarpsicanalista.com\/en\/brasileiros-em-vancouver-distancia-e-pertencimento\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazilians in Vancouver: distance, adaptation, and belonging."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Brazilians in Vancouver: distance, adaptation, and belonging.<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Living in Vancouver can represent a profound change. The city combines quality of life, cultural diversity, contact with nature, and new professional opportunities. At the same time, building a life in western Canada involves distances, losses, and forms of adaptation that are not always part of the plans made before the move.<\/p>

For many Brazilians, the experience is marked by a particular combination: satisfaction with what has been built and the feeling of being very far from the people, connections, and references that were part of their history.<\/p>

Distance is not just geographical.<\/h2>

Vancouver is separated from Brazil by many hours of flight and a significant time difference. This distance interferes with how connections can be maintained.<\/p>

A phone call needs to be planned. When the day begins in Canada, the family in Brazil has already gone through a good part of their routine. Parties, birthdays, and everyday events can occur while those who are away work, sleep, or try to keep up with everything through a screen.<\/p>

Over time, a person may realize that they participate in family life in a different way. They still belong, but they are no longer present in the small events that maintain a close relationship.<\/p>

Distance can also manifest itself in the face of aging parents, the growth of nephews and nieces, changes among friends, and the feeling that life in Brazil continues without their presence.<\/p>

Living in a multicultural city<\/h2>

Vancouver is made up of people who have come from many parts of the world. This diversity can facilitate adaptation, because being a foreigner is not an isolated experience.<\/p>

At the same time, living with different cultures does not automatically produce intimacy or a sense of belonging. It is possible to participate in international environments and still find it difficult to establish closer bonds.<\/p>

Many relationships begin at work, in studies, in immigrant communities, or in groups of Brazilians. Some remain connected to these contexts and don't evolve into friendships built over many years.<\/p>

Belonging doesn't just depend on being surrounded by people. It also involves feeling that it's possible to exist without constantly having to explain one's origins, way of speaking, or the cultural references that give meaning to experience.<\/p>

Language and different versions of oneself.<\/h2>

Working, studying, and organizing your life in English can become second nature over time. However, speaking fluently doesn't necessarily mean feeling entirely comfortable talking about yourself.<\/p>

Some people notice a difference between who they are in Portuguese and who they become in English. In another language, they may seem more objective, formal, or controlled. Certain emotions come across with less force, while others become easier to express precisely because they are distanced from their native language.<\/p>

Portuguese carries memories, humor, family relationships, and experiences that don't always find a direct translation. Some words can be replaced; the place they occupy in a person's history cannot.<\/p>

Living among languages can enrich life, but it can also create the feeling that different parts of oneself emerge depending on the language being spoken.<\/p>

Immigration, stability and uncertainty<\/h2>

The immigration experience in Canada often involves lengthy processes: visas, work permits, studies, permanent residency, and decisions about whether to stay or return.<\/p>

During this journey, life can seem temporary even after several years have passed.<\/p>

It is possible to work, create connections, and build a routine while a significant part of the future remains contingent on documents, criteria, and administrative decisions.<\/p>

This uncertainty can affect career choices, romantic relationships, family plans, and the ability to feel that the country has also become a home.<\/p>

When residency is finally obtained, the feeling of belonging doesn't always immediately follow the regularization. A document resolves a legal issue, but it doesn't necessarily answer where someone feels they belong.<\/p>

Work, career, and professional restart.<\/h2>

Many Brazilians arrive in Vancouver with education, experience, and an established career path. However, entering the Canadian market can require starting over.<\/p>

Diplomas may need validation, prior experience isn't always recognized in the same way, and some professions depend on local licenses. Some people accept positions lower than those they held in Brazil while trying to build a new career path.<\/p>

This process can affect self-esteem and professional identity. The person knows what they have built, but finds it difficult to have that experience recognized in the new context.<\/p>

For others, change offers growth, stability, and access to international environments. Even so, it can bring pressure to perform, fear of losing what has been achieved, and the feeling that it is necessary to continually demonstrate competence.<\/p>

In leadership roles or specialized positions, isolation can also occur. There are decisions that can be discussed with colleagues and teams, but there isn't always space to talk about the effect these responsibilities have on personal life.<\/p>

The cost of building a new life.<\/h2>

Vancouver is often associated with a high quality of life, but also with the high cost of housing and the difficulties of establishing financial stability.<\/p>

Even people with good education and skilled jobs can face concerns about rent, buying property, family expenses, and planning for the future.<\/p>

This can create a difficult contradiction to share: living in a city considered desirable and, at the same time, feeling insecure about the possibility of remaining there.<\/p>

To those observing from Brazil, the change may seem like a successful trajectory. This image can make it more difficult to admit to fatigue, doubt, or suffering.<\/p>

Then, a silent pressure arises to demonstrate that all the effort was worthwhile.<\/p>

Winter, routine, and isolation.<\/h2>

The rainy months, shorter days, and decreased sunlight can alter routines and emotional states.<\/p>

Winter doesn't affect everyone in the same way, but it can intensify isolation, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining social activities.<\/p>

For those who grew up in a country with more light, street life, and spontaneous encounters, the change in the relationship with public space can be felt intensely.<\/p>

Life tends to happen more within the home and depend on planned encounters. The spontaneity of relationships may decrease, especially when a consolidated support network does not yet exist.<\/p>

Relationships and Family Life<\/h2>

Moving to a different country transforms the dynamics of relationships.<\/p>

In a couple, one person may adapt more quickly, while the other faces professional, linguistic, or social difficulties. The difference in experiences can create dependence, resentment, or guilt.<\/p>

Intercultural relationships also involve different ways of showing affection, dealing with conflict, managing money, and relating to families.<\/p>

When there are children, other issues arise:<\/p>