Mayra Bertolla

My name is Mayra Bertolla, and I am from Sao Paulo, Brazil. My husband and I have been living in Chapel Hill since August of 2010 – he’s a Kenan-Flagler MBA candidate, class of 2012. When we were selecting which school to attend, the decision process wasn’t easy, but we knew we wanted a top school that was located in a region that provided a high quality of life for both of us. We couldn’t have chosen better!

Not only is my husband extremely happy with his classes, I’m also having an amazing time. During my first year in Chapel Hill, I’ve taken classes, and also volunteered at UNC. Moreover, it has been a great experience to develop friendships with people from all over the world. I’ve met partners and learned about different cultures with people from countries like Colombia, China, Mexico, Russia, Japan and many more!

Not only is our life in Chapel Hill great, but Kenan-Flagler has also opened many opportunities for my husband’s professional development. We are currently back in Sao Paulo for the summer, but very much looking forward to our second year. I’m glad we have made the right decision for our lives, and I am looking forward to spending more time in North Carolina!

Satoko Mano

This is my first time living away from my home country, Japan. When my husband decided which business school he would attend, I thought the most important thing was the circumstances where we can live for two years safely and peacefully, together with our two kids. My daughter was 4 years old and my son was 2 years old at that time. I couldn’t imagine how our lives would be, so my heart was filled with anxiety. He told me about Kennan Connection and said that we could enjoy life at UNC Chapel Hill as a whole family. Still I wondered whether I could get to know many people in a foreign country, but my concern gradually went down as I just joined several events of KC.
 
I was so pleased when I went to the KC international club picnic, which was the first event I attended. Everyone welcomed us so much even though I was the only mom who brought kids there. They helped me a lot and were willing to play with my kids. I felt relieved to talk with the international partners who had similar situations. I could exchange useful information with them. That encouraged me a lot.

One more thing that I have to mention is that especially through the KC families club, I had a lot of opportunities to experience American culture. I went to the pumpkin patch at Halloween, made a gingerbread house at Christmas, had an egg-hunt at Easter, and also did some other activities, such as strawberry patch at early spring, etc. Although I was interested in those activities, I, as an international spouse, didn’t know how to enjoy them, so it was very valuable for me to experience them through the KC together with my kids. Actually both my kids were so excited with every event.

I am so glad to see that my kids are enjoying their lives surrounded by nature and many heart-warm, kind people. These experiences make our lives happier. KC would be essential in order so that partners as well as students can enjoy school life. I am really looking forward to welcoming new members to our community.

Livia Braga Felinto

My husband and I, both Brazilians, have been living in Chapel Hill for almost a year; my husband is part of the Kenan-Flagler MBA class of 2010. When we were deciding which school would be the best one for us, we considered which one had a great program and which one would provide us with a good life experience. Prior to moving we were already living in North Carolina and we already loved the environment and the people.
 
Our final decision came after the Experience Weekend. This event, organized with the support of Kenan-Connection, was helpful as we learned more about the University and we were able to meet some MBA spouses. That was my first time in Chapel Hill and I was really happy to see how everyone here was so friendly. During the Experience Weekend we also got to know the area better and looked for places for us to live.
 
I am glad that we made the right decision to come to Chapel Hill. My husband is enjoying the program and I have a unique opportunity to meet wonderful friends. Moreover, as an international I am glad that I had the school and the support of Kenan-Connection to quickly feel at home.

Dina Fifadra

Moving to Chapel Hill could have been a lot tougher! My husband, Chirag (MBA Class of 2010), had spent half of his life in India and half of his life in the US, and I had moved for my job 5 times in the past 7 years, most recently from Chicago. Although we both were accustomed to picking up and moving to a new locations, we were also used to living in places that were known to be cosmopolitan - places that had large Indian communities where we felt we could display our culture and heritage.

We underestimated some of the benefits of being part of a smaller community. We soon found our favorite ethnic restaurants where we could get great Curry Mee at Penang on Franklin Street, Vegetarian Manchurian at Inchin's Bamboo Garden or Methi Malai at Tandoor in Durham. Granted that you may not find a Thai restaurant on every street corner like you do in downtown Chicago, as long as you find one that serves a mouth watering Pad Thai, what more do you need? We even found the local Indian grocery store and became more involved in the local religious community. I soon located a dance studio where now continue teaching Bollywood Dance. The fun part has been that when I walk into the local grocery store or Tandoor, I am no longer just a customer, but they know my name! The community embraces new residents, and we've welcomed the charm of the South and love the friendly atmosphere that we feel when we meet new friends.

It is not an easy transition by any means, no matter if you are moving within the US or from abroad, but the best advice I can make is to get involved in different activities on within Kenan Connection or within the community. Once you start to make friends, you'll soon be calling Chapel Hill home. If you're ever looking for good restaurant recommendations, just call or email me --- I'd love to take you to some place new!