Paulo Costa Trio Entrevista - Luciana Lassance
Paulo Costa Trio Entrevista
Paulo Costa Trio presents a new series of interviews with Brazilians, Latinos, and people connected with the Brazilian culture who live in Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to build a stronger community among Brazilians living in the city, telling their histories, promoting their work, and helping new members to feel welcome in Cleveland. We will post one new interview every week! Every guest will have an opportunity to sing a song with us. We hope you all enjoy it. - Paulo Costa, Felipe Brito, Davi Lira
Interview with Luciana Lassance
March 19, 2018 | Cleveland, Ohio
Luciana Lassance is from Rio de Janeiro. She got her Ph.D. in Austria and came, almost by accident, to Cleveland. She jokes that her favorite band is “Paulo Costa Trio,” after the Beatles, of course.
Tell us a little bit of your story.
I am a carioca (Portuguese term for the people born in Rio de Janeiro) from the North Side of Rio. I’m a biologist and did both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Rio de Janeiro. I studied and received my Ph.D. in Austria. I lived there for 4 years. It’s an amazing country. Through my Ph.D. counselor, I ended up moving to Cleveland. I now work in the field of Ophthalmology, studying the healing process of the cornea. All the things I learned during college and my masters I can apply to my job.
When did you move to the United States?
I arrived in Cleveland in April of 2012. In the beginning, it was very hard for me. There wasn’t a lot going on in the city, and I didn’t know many people. But then I joined a Brazilian community, began meeting new people and making more friends. Now I really love Cleveland, but it was a tough relationship in the beginning. I truly fell in love with it during its growth, which has been happening in the past 5 years attracting more young people, since there are more job opportunities nowadays.
Cleveland is a magnificent city. There are amazing bars and restaurants—lots of breweries, all very close to the lake. I really like the fact that it is close to nature.
I know you like Brazilian Carnaval, do you miss your family and friends in Brazil?
In Rio, I have “Salgueiro” as my favorite Samba school. I participated in many parades because my dad was super involved with the Carnaval, organizing the parades. My mom’s favorite school is “Vila Isabel,” but there was never a reason for a fight at home. My dad has always been a very musical person. He was a drummer and had a Beatles’ cover band. I miss Brazil, Carnaval, and Rio de Janeiro a lot, but I’m used to living in America now.
So, your husband is American. How did it happen?
I met my husband in Cleveland. We started dating casually. I took him to Brazil, and he met my entire family and became very involved. Loud, loving Brazilian family, rice and beans, all the excitement! One day, we were leaving a bar in Rio de Janeiro, and on our way home, out of nowhere, he proposed to me in the backseat of the car, and I said yes, I love him so much!
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Paulo Costa Trio
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