Dani Paim

Growing up

NataliaTo begin with, can you tell us where you come from and what your childhood was like?

DaniI come from Brazil originally. I was born and raised in Porto Alegre, which is a hard word to say but means happy port. It’s a big city.

I come from a very humble background. My mum, her main focus was raising me and my two siblings while my dad was working full time. Growing up, we lived in a very small apartment. It was 32 square metres, actually more of a studio. Kitchen and one bedroom. And we would all sleep in that one room. Me and my mum and my sister would sleep in one bed. My dad and my brother in a bunk bed. Five of us.

Money was always an issue in the household. Always a very stressful conversation. There were always fights about money management. We had food on the table, they would never let anything go missing for us. But we didn’t have luxury. We didn’t eat out. We didn’t travel. A lot of things I would see other people doing, we wouldn’t.

The fights got worse over time. When I was 15, my parents actually separated. Often people say, ‘Oh, that’s really sad,’ but honestly it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Living in a household that was quite toxic, parents fighting due to money, obviously not in love anymore, was really hard.

From a young age, I decided that I didn’t want the lack of money to dictate my own life.

From that pain I drew a lot of strength. I thought, ‘How can I make sure my life doesn’t become the same as my parents’ life? Living in struggle and not happy, and having to be together because my mum never worked before and was dependent on my dad?’

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

DaniI started working when I was 16, and I never stopped since. When I was working, I was saving every penny. Because I never had anything. So even when I started making money, I didn’t feel the need to spend. I was saving, saving, saving. Then I had about $1,000 in Brazilian reals.

When I turned 18, I read the classic Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It was such a mindset shift for me. I realised, okay, so my whole life I’ve been living with the poor dad mindset, but I don’t have to. There is an opportunity for me out there. And this idea of buying houses to build financial independence became my main goal.

I’m gonna get rich with property. Somehow I’m gonna make it.

At that point I was working in a multinational called Dell Computers. That was the first time I started seeing there was a world outside of my life, my town. Managers were based overseas, and they would speak English. And I’m like, ‘Oh, what is this thing, English?’ So I started getting curious. What else is out there?

I didn’t speak English until I arrived in New Zealand. They try to teach you at school, but no one really learns. They teach you just enough for you to get your grades, and you move on.

The visa lottery

NataliaHow did you end up in New Zealand?

DaniWhen I was 20, I finished uni. In Brazil, if you do some tests really well, you can get a scholarship. So I did that from 17 to 21. When I finished, I’m like, ‘Okay, what’s next for me now?’

I started looking at visas. How can I have an experience overseas? I had little money, so I’m like, ‘No, I’m gonna make this work. I’m not gonna take no as an answer.’

I realised there was this working holiday visa, but for Brazil, you only have 300 spots. It’s like winning lotto. You go at a specific time and date. Everything crashes because everyone is trying at the same time. Your internet connection has to be good. And you only have 300 spots. First in, first served.

I got one of the 300 spots, and I’m like, ‘Okay, this is meant to be.’

Arriving at 21 with no English

DaniI had a year to come to New Zealand. That year I was just working as much as I could to save the minimum for the tickets, and the money they ask you to have to get into the country.

I managed to do that, quit my job, and came to New Zealand. I came with my partner. He did speak English. I didn’t. I was 21 and I worked in hospitality.

NataliaHow can you work in hospitality taking orders not knowing how to speak English?

DaniHonestly, I don’t even know to this day. I would work during the day and then at night I would go home and study so much. The best way to learn something is just throwing yourself in the deep end. Now you have to learn. So in three months I could communicate. Obviously my English improved over time.

Then my visa finished, and then the whole journey of ‘how can we stay here?’ I found a job in technology, a fibre company. After lots of challenges I managed to get a working visa, and then mine expired, my partner got a working visa, and six years later we finally got residency. That was the best thing that happened.

If there is a place on earth that’s heaven, this is it.

Now that I have citizenship, I can be and do anything I want. There is no dream that’s too big because here in New Zealand, anything is possible.

And it’s not just my life. The fact that you have come here, and any other immigrant, you’re not just changing your life. You’re changing your generation’s life. You might never know the impact you’ve created.

Obviously, you can see your kids growing up and building their dreams and pursuing their lives. But your grand-grand-grandkids? They will have a much better life than they would ever have if you had never made this decision to be here today.

You’ve changed a whole generation. You’ll be far gone, and you don’t know the impact you have created.

First impressions of NZ

NataliaWas there anything about life here that surprised you in those early days?

DaniEverything was a surprise. Coming from South America, everyone knows it’s a bit more dangerous back home.

On my first week here, my friend and I were walking up Queen Street trying to find the bank. We couldn’t find it. So we asked a stranger. And literally, they walked us for five blocks. ‘Oh, here’s the bank.’

I never forget how kind a stranger was with us.

I was like, oh my God. What is this? How come you can trust people?

Another funny one. When I was working in hospitality, I had a client ask me for a cup of tea. And I’m like, ‘Cup of tea, cup of tea…’ The first thing I thought was cappuccino. So I went, ‘Oh, here’s your cappuccino.’ And they’re like, ‘No, I want a cup of tea.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’

That’s how you learn. Through those very embarrassing moments.

Now I know cup of tea is cup of tea.