Meet the Fernandes Family

Meet the Fernandes Family! Paulo, his wife Viktoria, and their children, Sofía and Paulo, are visiting from Erkrath, Germany, just outside Düsseldorf. While they now call Germany home, the family’s journey has taken them across multiple countries and cultures. Paulo was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and both of his children were born there as well. Viktoria, however, was not. The couple first met while Paulo was living in Budapest, Hungary. They spent about 10 years there before moving to Brazil. Their travels didn’t stop there. They later accepted another job opportunity in Budapest, returned to Hungary, and eventually settled in Erkrath, where they live today.

For Viktoria, adapting between life in Hungary and Brazil meant adjusting to very different cultures. One of the biggest differences, she said, was safety. “It’s much safer to go outside at night in Europe than it is in Brazil,” she explained.

Public transportation was another major adjustment. In Europe, destinations are generally much closer together, making trains and buses a practical part of everyday life. That was a significant change after living in Brazil, where much greater distances often make travel more challenging.

The Fernandes family is currently enjoying a vacation in the United States, but the trip began with one very specific goal: attending a BTS concert in Boston. Sofía is a devoted fan of the globally popular Korean pop group, and when she asked her father if they could go, his answer was simple. “Of course!” Getting tickets, however, was anything but simple. He said, “I was there in a queue with 150,000 people before me,” Paulo recalled. “I said, ‘Holy shit, am I getting these things?’” Ten minutes later, every ticket was gone! He was determined to not disappoint his daughter. Paulo searched for tickets across the globe; from Germany, Italy, and Belgium to Los Angeles and even Tokyo! Surprisingly, the only place where he was able to secure tickets was Boston. The concert became the centerpiece of a much larger family road trip. They flew into New York before driving to Niagara Falls, then continued to Rochester and Letchworth State Park. From there, they headed to Boston, where they plan to visit Harvard University, tour museums, and attend the BTS concert on August 6th.

Along the way, the family noticed several cultural differences between the United States and Germany, especially when it comes to food. Paulo was surprised by the cost of fresh produce. He said, “If you put the healthy foods next to each other, the price is better in Germany.” Although Germany is famous for foods like sausages, potatoes, wieners, and burgers, Paulo admitted that many traditional dishes aren’t particularly healthy. The family makes a conscious effort to prepare nutritious meals at home, even if they occasionally indulge in the country’s delicious comfort foods.

Looking ahead, Sofía and her younger brother Paulo already have another dream vacation in mind. According to their father, every Brazilian dreams of visiting Disneyland. The siblings hope to make that dream a reality when Sofía turns 14. They plan to travel to California together, visiting Disneyland while also exploring the rest of the state.

Before their interview ended, Viktoria shared one final piece of advice with Julian. She encouraged everyone to see the world with open eyes, listen with open ears, and approach every new experience with an open mind. Paulo echoed that sentiment, adding that people should make the most of every opportunity that comes their way and always focus on what they can control to make a positive difference. We wish you safe travels. Thank you so much for visiting!