u/gasschw

I know this is not what any of us want to see in this forum. I don't want to appear as if I am spreading negativity. I simply need to vent, and believe this might be an appropriate space to do so.

I am Brazilian, both parents jewish secular, very classical middle class jewish-Brazilian upbringing. My family is not rich, so the first time I ever visited Israel was when I turned 18 in 2019, for a 2-month-long trip with a Midrasha for secular Brazilians.

Back then, my life was hard and I was a very traumatized kid. I had always been a nerd, but as life got harder I couldn't be my best self. However, when I got here, I felt something unexplainable, I knew.

Brazil has amazing universities, so I chose to get my bachelor's there and make aliyah for my masters. I followed the plan, got my bachelor's in Biology and came to Israel for a 4-month-long internship before graduating, in 2024. After graduation, I came back to Israel for a Masa Ulpan Kibbutz, where I stayed for 8 months.

Then, I went home, packed everything, and made aliyah with my mother. My only sister already lived here, as she made aliyah 3 years ago. My mom chose to come along when her only other daughter made the final move.

I have an Israeli boyfriend of 8 months, as well, who is quite fantastic.

However, since my arrival 3 months ago, all I do is cry. Everyday, I cry. We are so very poor here, as our Brazilian cash is worth nothing. My mom is 64 and barely speaks Hebrew, and Ulpan might never be enough for her. So far, this woman who has 3 bachelor's and had a stellar carrer could only find physical labor here, since she knows no Hebrew and very little English, and of course she can't do that at 64.

I speak intermediate Hebrew and will start another Ulpan in November, but so far my Hebrew depresses me. The Masters I had aimed for and researched in depth now seem unattainable, so expensive and difficult. I have no idea if I, a 25 year old Biologist, will ever have a carrer here. In Brazil, it would be so much easier.

I have no idea how we will survive with the cost of living in this country once our Sal Klitah ends.

What gets me the most isn't even this entire long-term-horror. It's daily life.

It is so, so, so very rough. People are rude (not mean or anything, just so tough), Haifa is dirty and incredibly hostile, our building (where we are the only jewish inhabitants) has a cockroach infestation and neighbors who I could only describe as my worst nightmare embodied (loud, dirty to the point of leaving raw meat in the staircase, throwing literal doors out of the windows, etc). Everything is so expensive I have been eating only lunch because dinner is impossible. I haven't been paid for August at my part-time gig and its October. Life is a daily struggle, we have no cars and just getting places takes hours each day, everything is so intense and literally a fight. No day goes by without a fight. All that, topped by the insane bureocratic loopholes, absurd services and the fact that we got barely no help from any governmental services, including Misrad Haklitah.

I had a good, good life in Brasil. I know it's not supposed to be about how easy life is, I know we should search for more, for meaning, for belonging.

But I can't do that when daily existence is so hard it gives me no times to calm down before I burst into daily tears. And, before you ask, I am in therapy, very stable with my past struggles and I take an antidepressant. It's just the environment. I can't stress enough how much it is the environment.

I came because I am a zionist, because I want to build a life and a family in our land, because I look for meaning and belonging. But I might go back because I can't destroy myself like this. This is too much.

I know it hasn't been long enough and things get easier. But I have no perspective at the moment, as all I can see is my current situation, which is worse than anything I could imagine.

Yes, I am an immigrant and immigration is rough. It's normal. But I can't see enough reason.

I am not sure which replies I am expecting. Please bare with me, this is a lot to get off my chest and I am babbling.

We can try to get a little community going, even

I (25F) have a bachelor's in biology degree witb 2 published thesis and 3 internships. I moved to a new country about a year ago, coming from Brasil. I'm doing research assistant work in a university lab with psychology and psychobiology right now, mostly because it's the only thing my current language level lets me do, not because I necessarily want a research career. I don't. I thought I did, but after seeing how it would actually look like (no stability, bad pay, no fixed working hours, horrible and very hierarchical field, etc). I can't even see myself being happy in the specific lab I have the strongest connection to and had already gotten approved for a master's in psychobiology.

What I actually want is something hands-on that helps people, or lets helps tell their story. Part of one of my undergrad thesis were face-to-face interviews with people about their conflict with wildlife where they live. And getting people to open up about something hard was the part I loved, way more than the data afterward. I have always been fascinated by people, stories, writing and understanding the human experience.

The problem is almost everything that fits that (social work, counseling, anything patient-facing) is taught entirely in the local language here, and I'm nowhere near fluent yet. So by default I keep ending up back in research, because it's the only door language doesn't lock. I have no possibility of spending years learning the language to only then enroll in a psychology/ social work track.

I don't want to spend 2-3 years parked in academia just because it's available. But I do want to get a masters (immigrants here get that for free) and find some career path. I thought about a masters in biomedical and then looking for private laboratory / hospital laboratories / biotechnology jobs. Still, it doesn't fascinate me.

I wish I could have a more "real" job with people.

Can anyone please help me brainstorm? What career paths do you think could possibly fit me? I just want to feel like I can actually help people or, at least, hear them.

Mudei definitivamente, trazendo até minha mãe, há somente dois meses, mas já morei fora antes. Cara, que vontade de voltar. Todo dia choro de saudades do meu povo, meu país tão lindo, a comida boa, a felicidade de viver, a natureza... como não voltar? Isso passa? Melhora? O tempo ajuda?

My mother and I made aliyah from Brazil a month ago. Both highly qualified, but still job-hunting, starting from zero without much help. We only had one week in the misrad haklita before they made us leave.

So we rushed to find an apartment that fit our budget. We're in a small rental in Haifa with just a mattresses (beds coming soon via Keren Leyedidut) and literally nothing else (No table, chairs, sofa, whatever makes a home). We had a good life in Brasil, and we planned our aliyah the best we could. But this is way way harder than expected.

Buying new isn't an option right now, and even secondhand prices have been out of reach so far (we have some savings, but these need to stay as an emergency fund as my mother is 64 and we need some security).

For those who've been through this: where did you find furniture and basics for cheap or free? Gemachim, Buy Nothing groups, Facebook marketplaces, municipal resources, anything that actually worked for you as a new oleh/olah would help a lot.

Not trying to furnish a mansion, just trying to make this feel like a livable home for my older mother. Appreciate any pointers, truly.

I am an Olah. My life isn't easy here, it wasn't back when I was in Masa and other programs and it isn't now, as an olah. I am 25, and my crying breakdowns are somewhat frequent. I have had a very rough time not comparing the hard life I have to the smoother ride my friends and extended cycle that were born and raised here get to live. When your family has been here for a while, you have no clue the huge challenge that it is to be an immigrant here, specially during this time. The connections, the language, the family, the money (even more so considering I come from a poorer country), the culture, the smoothness of everything. Today my boyfriend invited me to his friends big ass fancy ass *house* in the center of TLV and I just cried and said I was going home. I frankly just couldn't bare the thought of beinh around these intelectual elite people while I have the Hebrew of 6 year old and no money to buy a falafel. How do you get over it? I don't want to be sad all the time. I know comparison is the thief of joy, I know we all have struggles. But I understand why some many olim go back to their origin countries, this is so hard.

\- dad beating mom, sister and I until I was a teen

\- mom fucked up and made him our only financial provider even after their divorce, keeping him in a horrible cycle of psychological and financial abuse until now

\- mom made us her emotional caretaker and made us all share a room until we could move out because wasnt wiling to move somewhere cheaper or work harder for a better place

\- faced insane amounts of bullying and racism in school and insane academic pressure to keep my scholarship

\- got in a "relationship" when i was 13 - 15 yo with a 20 - 22 yo who raped more than 1000 times, my parents did nothing

\- got a wrong diagnosis and was medicated with stuff that got me obese and suicidal

\- went through multiple attempts and years of cutting

\- was raped again at 16 yo by a random guy

\- in uni, i went through a fire that destroyed my lab and my entire department, too

\- then my uni boyfriend raped me hundreds of times, too

(All while this, my dads abuse never stopped)

\- suffered a new level of racism in uni, with death threats and being followed places and with someone attempting to run me over

\- was abused by my research advisor for 3 years and couldn't tell anyone

\- moved countries alone with no money

\- went through 2 horrible wars in my country, months of horror after horror

\- saw my dad develop dementia

\- graduated with 2 internships and years in research and am about to go homeless because i cant get a job with my biology degree

These are the main ones

As an olah hadasha, I always have a billion questions as to what is, to me, a whole new universe. I often ask them on this sub, and you guys help so much. Last time I posted, I asked about a contract for an apartment and you pointed some bad points about it. Based on that, I had a meeting with the renter and we changed these points. I often ask for tips and tricks here. And I always get help from you, fellow israelis, tsabras or olim. Thank you. Am Israel Chai is always stronger together.

Hi! My mom and I made aliyah 9 days ago and we're about to sign our first rental contract in Haifa. Since we're new to Israel, we'd love to know if this looks like a standard lease or if there are any red flags. It's just so hard to know if we are being taken advantage of as olot.

Main terms:

₪3,300/month for 1 year

₪3,300 security deposit

12 post-dated rent checks

4 blank checks for arnona, water, gas and electricity

Promissory note (shtar hov) and 2 guarantors

90 days' notice if we leave early, and we have to find a replacement tenant approved by the landlord

Landlord can also terminate with 90 days' notice

We have to repaint the apartment and repair nail holes before moving out

Apartment is rented "as is"

Does this sound pretty standard in Israel, or would you try to negotiate any of these terms? Anything here that seems unusual or unfair?

Thanks!

Fiz 3 programas de longa duração antes da aliyah, sendo que já tinha morado aqui por 3 meses, 4 meses e 1 ano antes de fazer aliyah. Estive aqui durante as guerras recentes e já conhecia essa e outras dificuldades do país. Mas agora voltei de vez como olah. Vim junto com minha mãe de 64 anos, e minha irmã já mora aqui há 3 anos, mas é religiosa. Tenho 25 anos e bacharelado em ciências biológicas pela unesp. Agora to conhecendo ainda mais dificuldades, como o custo insano de vida,a dificuldade em alugar um apartamento decente, os empregos muito difíceis e pesados, etc. Como foi seu primeiro ano aqui? Melhorou, depois?

Pessoal, preciso sair de um ruivo artificil de volta ao meu loiro acinzentado natural. O salão que costumo ir me orçou em 1300 reais. Conhecem algum bom colorista, em qualquer lugar em SP, por um preço mais aceitável? Obrigada demais

Hello everyone!

I am 25 years old, and recently graduated in Brasil with a Bachelor's in Biology, having written 2 thesis and done a lot of research during my 5 year long Bachelor's (Brazilian standard).

I am immigrating to a new country and am not yet fluent in the language spoken there, although I am working on that and am already fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

I am attaching my resume, so you can give me any insights on how to market mysef. Bottom line is: I NEED TO WORK! Any job, specially office or lab jobs, would be a start. I must begin a career, and my very demanding and long Bachelor's hasn't allowed me to start quite yet. It is now a bit weird for potential employers that I am 25 with almost no job experience, and I need some perspective beyond academia. I plan on starting a master's October 2027, but I need to work before that.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I am a young professional and I believe I might have some potential in me. Just not sure how to explore it...

My resume:

Biology Graduate | Research & Data Analysis | Multilingual Professional | Human-Centered Research

PROFILE

Biologist and multifaceted professional with experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, ethics-approved human-subject research, field interviews, and project coordination. Skilled in designing research instruments, managing complex datasets, synthesizing qualitative and quantitative findings, procedural routines in multiple laboratories and communicating results to diverse audiences. Experienced working in multicultural and multilingual environments, with strong competencies in research ethics, public engagement, complex protocols and data management. Fluent in Portuguese and English, with advanced Spanish and working proficiency in Hebrew.

EXPERIENCE

APR 2023 - DEC 2025

(Redacted name) Laboratory — UNESP - Undergraduate Researcher and Thesis Student

Systematic collection of behavioral and ecological data in the field (five locations in the interior of São Paulo);

Conducting semi-structured interviews with residents and rural workers in sensitive contexts, applying protocols to minimize social desirability bias;

Maintaining research records, data quality control, and qualitative coding;

Integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in a long-term research project on anthropogenic pressures and human-wildlife interfaces.

DEC 2024- FEB 2025

Gazelle Valley Park — Location x - Intern — Environmental, Educational, and Habitat Support

Environmental monitoring and habitat maintenance in the field;

Participation in multilingual guided tours and environmental education activities.

MAR 2025 - AUG 2025

Sala Verde — Environmental Training Center - Intern — Environmental Education

Development and management of educational programs for schools, support centers for people with disabilities, and other visitors;

Support in team training and production of teaching materials.

OCT 2025 - MAY 2026 - Freelancer Writer

Produced informational and educational content for diverse audiences;

Researched, organized, and synthesized information from multiple sources;

Edited and adapted content to ensure clarity, consistency, and audience appropriateness;

Independently managed deadlines.

EDUCATION

2020 - 2025

São Paulo State University (UNESP) — Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences.

Total completed coursework: 3,900 hours (mandatory and elective courses, curricular internship, and final project)

Grade point average for the final year (2025): 9.35/10 — grade 10.0 in the Curricular Internship; 8.7 in the Final Project

Overall Grade Point Average: 7.79 | Average Performance Index: 98.01%

Particularly relevant disciplines: Animal Behavior, Microbiology, Biostatistics, Human Physiology, Immunology, Parasitology, Molecular Genetics

Undergraduate research and final thesis

“Redacted title”:

Research approved by the Ethics Committee for Research with Human Beings of UNESP;

163 semi-structured interviews conducted in person in five locations in the interior of São Paulo (snowball sampling);

Development and piloting of a semi-structured questionnaire (37 questions, 10 categories) with a pilot study at opposite extremes of the anthropization gradient;

Content Analysis: definition of sampling units, elaboration of a codebook with explicit anchors, systematic coding of responses;

Construction of an ordinal index (0-3) by category and locality, combining quantitative synthesis and contextualized qualitative interpretation;

Data collection managed via KoboToolbox™; data organized in spreadsheets coded by question and locality;

Results contribute to the management of human-wildlife-forest interfaces from a One Health perspective (integrated human, animal, and environmental health).

SKILLS

Research with human participants: ethical protocols, semi-structured interviews, snowball sampling, minimization of response bias;

Qualitative analysis: content analysis, codebook, systematic coding, index construction;

Quantitative analysis: descriptive statistics, biostatistics, KoboToolbox™, Excel, Google Workspace;

Research design: instrument development, pilot study, methodological standardization;

Scientific writing and communication; multidisciplinary teamwork;

Work in intensive environments, with rotating shifts;

Fieldwork under variable climatic and physical conditions;

Environmental education and multicultural communication.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

Neurons, Synapses and Brains — Hebrew University of Jerusalem;

Body, Movement and Cognition — UNESP;

LANGUAGES

Portuguese — Native

English — Fluent (Cambridge Certified)

Spanish — Advanced

Hebrew — Basic-Intermediate