I moved from Brazil to the Midwest at 19. My parents were born in the US, but I still wasn't prepared for the culture shock.

I was surprised that the neighborhoods near big cities weren't all dense and urban. When my friend said he lived "just outside Detroit," I assumed his town - Lake Orion - would resemble the neighborhoods of a dense city. But when I arrived, I learned the township about 40 miles outside Detroit was filled with woodland and expansive, open backyards.

I expected my Michigan neighborhood to be like those in the movies and TV shows about New York City, complete with sky-high apartments, bustling subway stations, and bars and restaurants on every corner. Adjusting to the quieter township was a challenge I would eventually overcome.

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