BALISA, A COLONY OF BESSARABIANS IN BRAZIL. THE IMMIGRANTS WHO FOLLOWED THE COFFEE ROUTE AND THE RAILWAYS

Abstract

The migration processes took place in all periods, including for the territory of Moldova / Bessarabia. An interesting and less well-known episode may be the emigration of the Bessarabians to Brazil in the 1920s-1930s. It is estimated that over 10 thousand people from Bessarabia was left overseas to Brazil, settled in the state of Sao Paolo in particular. After a long trip, through the Czechia and Germany or Italy, these Bessarabians arrived in completly new environment and must adapt to climatic, natural and social conditions. One of the most compact settlements of the Bessarabians in Brazil was Balisa, an agricultural colony with the majority of Bessarabians. Most emigrants from the territory of Moldova were  of Bulgarian, Gagauz, Russian, Ukrainian or German ethnicity. The historical- geographical identiy of the Bessarabians is maintained until the present day, traditions, cuisine and memory of the origin still play an identity role for Bessarabians in Brazil.