Briana Leibowicz
Question: Hey Briana! Could you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to study in the United States, and at Boston University specifically?
Answer:I am originally from Brazil and moved to the United States for university. My goal has always been to pursue law, and as it is an extremely jurisdictional field, I knew I had to start my education in the place I intended to live in. As much as I loved growing up in Brazil, I felt compelled to practice law in the U.S. because of the level of obedience that is given to the law – a kind of respect I wish Brazil had as well. I chose BU specifically because of the Journalism program. It might seem contradictory to some, but I knew I wanted to pursue writing and law simultaneously, and I found Journalism to be the field that most intersects the areas.
Question: What were your first impressions when you arrived in the US?
Answer:The U.S. and Brazil have such different cultures, most noticeably in the way people interact with each other. It didn’t take long before I got weird looks for some of my Brazilian habits that were completely normal and expected in Brazil. Striking conversations in elevators and saying “good morning” to people in the street quickly evaporated from my personality.
Question: What aspects of American culture or campus life were the easiest for you to adapt to, and what were the most challenging?
Answer:The easiest adaptation was the “work first” mentality in America. I’ve always been someone that works a lot and prioritizes productivity over fun a bit too often – a habit that alienated me from Brazilian culture that is usually more easygoing. In this sense, it felt good to move to an environment with similar-minded people. The most challenging aspect was definitely the loss of interpersonal relationships that I mentioned earlier and the language barrier. I learned English in an academic environment so having to learn slang and just generally speak informally in English was very difficult for me – I still struggle with it.
Question: How have you navigated making friends or connecting with people from different backgrounds? Do you feel like you’ve found your sense of community on campus?
Answer:I love meeting people from different backgrounds. My parents are from Argentina, so my entire life in Brazil felt like a constant learning cycle, since many of my familial influences were not really Brazilian. Most of my friends that studied abroad in the U.S. decided to stick to Brazilian friends for their community on campus. I think it’s always great to have a “home away from home” approach, but it’s personally not for me. None of my close friends in BU are Brazilian, and I’m okay with that. I like the opportunity to learn about other cultures and don’t feel the need to stick to what is familiar. I think I probably get that from my lifelong “I’m an immigrant” status, but it has made me more well-rounded and conscious, and I do attribute that to my open-mindedness towards different cultures and backgrounds.
Question: What are some key differences between Brazilian culture and American culture in your experience?
Answer:It would be faster to ask me to list the chemical composition of crude oil. Brazilian and American culture are so different. Brazilian culture is truly more interpersonal and warm, while American culture is more introspective and cold. Another difference is that everything in America is very structured and planned, while Brazil is more easygoing and spontaneous. Don’t get me started on the food. Brazilians really do eat Brazilian food most of the time, and if they eat foods from other cultures it’s usually a Brazilian-[other nationality] fusion. I have found that, conversely, America tries to focus on letting the different cuisines shine in their own authenticity.
Question: Looking back on your time at BU so far, what’s something you’ve learned about yourself or your identity that you might not have discovered if you had stayed in Brazil?
Answer:I think the education system in the U.S. thrives with autonomous people. In Brazil, I felt like my hand was constantly being held – it was a very controlled environment. Although some people might like that structure, I think I learned that, in a “do-it-yourself” environment like the U.S., I thrived off of the ability to choose and pursue my goals at my own time. The U.S. taught me that I really value the trust and confidence that underlies the autonomous education system in BU and American universities in general. It allows me to pursue an education, without sacrificing my personal objectives, and all whilst encouraging my workaholism.
Question: What has your experience been like searching for internships as an international student, and what challenges have you faced along the way?
Answer:Finding an internship in the U.S. as an international student is like constantly being in that one scene of maze runner where Dylan O’Brien is about to be crushed by the heavy, giant destined-for-doom walls of the maze. There are several challenges. Many offices don’t understand the visa requirements of international students. Many offices are looking for long-term employees, but don’t want to deal with the burden of having to sponsor visas in the future. Their mentality is “this is excellent, I want this” and then they hesitate when they see the next candidate: “this is just okay, but so much easier…” The challenges definitely lie in the work authorization revolving around immigrants in the U.S. and the consequential stigma that comes with it. All in all though, I have found that mass applying goes a long way when you’re an international student. That and incessant praying. Someone is bound to hire you.
Question: Can you tell us about your experience interning in London? How did working there compare to your expectations and to what you’ve seen in the U.S.?
Answer:I adore interning in London. My work experience has been the perfect balance between challenging and social. My coworkers are extremely supportive and regularly encourage me to give my workaholicism up, but still allow me to push myself to get the most out of the experience. My London internship is focused on pro-bono work, while my experience in the U.S. has been more corporate. So, honestly the main difference is not so much a cultural reason but a I’m-in-a-completely-different-field reason.
Question: What advice would you give to other international students who are looking to gain professional experience abroad, whether in the U.S. or through study abroad programs like London?
Answer:The main piece of advice I would give to other international students is to accept your drawbacks. As an international student, you will have a harder time finding work opportunities in the U.S. It’s just a fact. It can be frustrating to see other American students get internships and professional opportunities when they seem to not be putting as much effort into it as you are. It is also very frustrating when you have to keep checking the “I will need work authorization sometime in the future” box which might as well serve as a “Scrap my CV” button. The sooner you accept the situation, the sooner you can understand that these extra miles you have to run are only benefitting you. Even if you don’t feel as if you are being successful, there is no rejection that can take away from the knowledge you obtained from personal effort, and that means way more than you might think. That one extra excel course you took for an internship application turns up in the future when your boss is desperately trying to create a formulated table. I truly believe these small lessons, and more importantly, the catharsis of rejection, are teaching you essential skills that, if you continue to pursue purely, it will only bring you more success.