When Patricia Valdiviezo was 10 she moved with her family to California knowing very little English. It was a rough transition. When she was 16 her family moved back to Peru, while Patricia and her twin sister stayed to graduate from high school later that year. At 22, burned out, and tired of being far from her family, she returned to Peru with a college degree and not much of a plan, except maybe wanting to stay put for a while. 8 years later, she was off again. This time to Berlin and then London, but she wasn’t alone. Her husband went with her. Now she’s 10 years into living in Peru again, but she knows better than to say this is it.
We talked to Patricia about how immigrating shaped her, what were the hardest parts about it, and which countries were easier than others. Oh, and did we mention she’s our sister? Enjoy!
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ABOUT THE HOSTS:
Luciana and Claudia Valdiviezo know what it’s like to move to the U.S. – twice. They were born in Peru and lived there for only a few years until their parents moved the family to the U.S. The sisters kept in touch with their roots, speaking Spanish at home and every Christmas when they visited Peru for the holidays. Then, when they were 12 and 11 respectively, the family moved back to Peru. Growing up both Peruvian and American during those formative years gave Luciana and Claudia a deep understanding of what it means to belong, and not belong, at the same time.
The sisters eventually moved back to the U.S. Luciana is a marketing professional living in Washington D.C. with her husband and two young children. Claudia is a writer living in New York City.
What is Where We Land?
Hosted by sisters Luciana and Claudia, Where We Land is a podcast about immigrant experiences and what it’s like to live between two cultures. Luciana and Claudia share their stories and also sit down with fellow immigrants to ask, how did you get here? From navigating unfamiliar grocery aisles to embracing new customs – and holding on to old ones – every conversation brings out heartfelt stories about what being American means when you don’t take it for granted. Here, you will find warmth, humor, and candid conversations, no matter where you are from. So join us – everyone’s welcome.
Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear from you. Shoot us an email: WhereWeLandPod@gmail.com
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