I was born in São Paulo Brazil, but moved to the United States when I was 3. Since my parents are both American, I promptly forgot all my Portuguese, and have been speaking only English for the majority of my life. A few years ago, I started re-learning Portuguese (even spending a summer in Salvador da Bahia), but have completely fallen out of practice. I'd really like to become competent enough in Portuguese to be fluent so my wife and I can move to Brazil in a few years.
I went to Cornell University for undergrad (I studied Human Development), and Northeastern University for Grad school (where I studied educational psychology and early childhood intervention). I'm married to a beautiful woman, live in Cambridge MA (directly outside of Boston), and have two cats, Pula & Fitzy. I'm currently a youth program coordinator and instructor at Wu Dao Kung Fu. I love working with and helping children, and one day would like to work in the public health sector, helping youth at risk of educational failure, obesity and violence.
My interests are vast! I suppose the most notable ones are:
- Martial arts (currently Kung Fu, have studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Capoeira, Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Aikido)
- Running (I'll be running the Philadelphia marathon this November)
- Cooking (visit my blog! martialcooking.wordpress.com)
- Samba (my main instrument is the Pandeiro)
- Reading (who doesn't?)
- Movies (both foreign and domestic, usually comedies, but lots of dramas and documentaries as well)
- Music (pretty much everything besides classical, country, and more American pop)
Ask me whatever you'd like, I'm open to anything!