Living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sonya Pizani was 17 when she told her mother she planned to move to the United States.
‘It’s something I always wanted,? she said. ‘I learned English with Carole King and James Taylor.?
After 11 years of living in the country, she and her husband became a part of it when they were granted citizenship last month in a ceremony at Cobo Hall.
‘It was very exciting, a very emotional day,? said Pizani. ‘I cried very much. It was a beautiful ceremony with wonderful spirit.?
The new citizen said 3,000 people representing 88 countries were in Cobo that day.
‘The judge, the anthem singer, the guards, everybody was from another country. It was very nice to see people from India and China, dark and red, everybody together,? she said.
Now in Lake Orion, the Pizani first moved to Troy with her husband’s job transfer. The couple lived in South Carolina for several years before moving back to Michigan.
Pizani says she’s a citizen with all her heart and doesn’t miss much about Brazil.
‘It’s chaotic,? she said of her native country. ‘It’s wonderful to visit, like the Caribbean. I don’t know if you can live the Caribbean life all day and night ? it’s too much.?
Her goal in moving to the US was to complete higher education in homeopathic sciences. With a master’s degree in nutrition and training in massage therapy and iridology ? or alternative medicine ? Pizani opened Arthemiz, a revitalization center, in her home.
Her work focuses around the BioMat system, which includes far infrared light, negative ion energizers and amethyst conductors. Together, these things help with pain, detox, cellular regeneration and relaxation, according to Pizani.
‘The goal, the purpose is to restore vital energy and detox,? she said.
Now that she’s a citizen instead of an immigrant, she says life will be easier sans green card.
‘When you don’t have citizenship, everything is more expensive, everything,? Pizani said. ‘Our taxes were different [being immigrants], and I was still paying taxes in Brazil. Everything is really complicated; the politics and paperwork is kind of expensive and complicated.?
Pizani says she has important advice for other immigrants: embrace your new country.
‘You come with your culture, you idioms, your language, your background, your food and everything, but in your heart you have to believe you’re living in America,? she said. ‘Some people just watch Brazilian TV every day, they do the same thing people do in Brazil and they’re not well adjusted.
They have a hard time making friends, and then life gets boxed up ? limited. Be with your country. If you embrace the country, the country’s going to embrace you.?
The new citizen notes she loves Michigan’s seasons, but is still adjusting to cooler temperatures.
‘We see such beautiful days in each season [in Michigan]. Brazil is, oh my gosh, 100 degree most of the time,? she said, noting a closet full of clothing is important for the wide range of mid-west weather.
‘I’m getting used to it,? she said.