Ana Isabel Teixeina da Silva was casually leaning against a stone wall, playing on her phone when she was approached by three strangers for an interview. Her metallic red hair blew in the soft breeze as her perfect red nails tapped away. Although initially hesitant, she agreed to partake.

Ana is thirty years old and currently working at a gift shop in Porto, Portugal, where she has lived most of her life save a year she spent studying abroad in the United Kingdom.

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When asked what her goal for the future is, she simply says travel, and when asked if she has a destination in mind, she smiles, lighting up her delicate features, and replies the United States of America. She explains “I love America, I don’t know why. Don’t ask me why.”

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Ana loves her country and her city, avidly recommending for everyone to come visit, but she is also not alone in her desire to leave. Currently more than 20% of the Portuguese population is living outside of the country and Portugal is one of the few countries in the E.U in which the rate of emigration is higher than than that of immigration.

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Growing up, Ana’s mother always had her watching cartoons in English and since then, she has been set on traveling to the U.S.A.. Ana’s family even jokes that she was “born in the wrong country.”  Being exposed to American culture spurred her fascination with the states, particularly New York City.

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Ana says “If I go [to New York] and die, I die happy.” She doesn’t care what she does when she gets there, explaining she will take “any job, I don’t care. I just want to go there.”

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Ana makes it clear that when she goes to New York, she wants to “know everything, see everything, stay there.”

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Currently, Ana is saving money with the hopes of making the voyage next year. Her passion and specific plan to accomplish this goal are admirable.

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All of that being said, Ana is not naive. She understands it might be “totally different than what I think”, but she promises “If I be there I going to love it.”