*** We have a newborn baby and hope to start hosting again when he sleeps through the night! ***

In no particular order: translator, father, American and French citizen, JCI member, entrepreneur, trainer, surfer, MIIS alumni... for an exhaustive list, please contact me.

Others make me blush, describing me as... check the references!

Guiding philosophy is to smile and say yes!
And some recent quotes I like:
"The borders of your language are the borders of your world." - Wittgenstein
"If you smile, the world will smile back at you."
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - R.W. Emerson
"If you believe you can or believe you can't, either way you are right." - Henry Ford
"A 1000-mile journey begins with one step." - Lao Tzu
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
Every night I am hosted by someone, I purchase a $10 bednet in his or her name.
Since 2010, hosts, sponsors, trainees, colleagues, friends, family and I have raised more than $15,000 that will protect more than 1500 children from malaria.

Find out more here:
https://www.crowdrise.com/jcifrance/fundraiser/jmdirico
https://fundraise.unfoundation.org/team/136788

Interests

JCI.cc, Junior Chamber International, community involvement, languages, travel and most of all people.
I also like to surf, play soccer, scuba dive, read, and surf. Yes, I wrote surf twice—for emphasis.

• concerts
• cooking
• recipes
• traveling
• magic
• scuba diving
• soccer
• entrepreneurship
• languages
• software

Music, Movies, and Books

The Brothers Karamazov, Count of Monte Christo, The 4-hour Work-Week, Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, On the Road, Master and Margarita, Tropic of Cancer…

Stereolab, The Meters, J.B.s, Dandy Warhols, The Beta Band, Beck, Air, Mayor Hawthorne, Built to Spill, Les Grosses Papilles, Modest Mouse, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, James Brown, King Biscuit Time, Looper, Jurassic 5, The Meters, Simian, The Strokes, Prince, The Shins, Jackie Mittoo, Mason Jennings, Damien Jurado, The Hang-Ups, The Sea and Cake, Wilco, Taj Mahal, Bebel Gilberto, Beatles, Coldplay, Yo La Tengo, The White Stripes, David Guetta, MXPX, Sigur Ros, Calvin Harris, Kings of Convenience, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Paul Kalkbrenner, Golden Smog, Fat Freddy's Drop, Bob Baldwin, Neutral Milk Hotel, Reggae, Soul, Funk, Blues, Rock, Hip hop, Pop, Jazz, Classical... always trying to match the music with the moment!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitching a ride with a taxi-brousse in Madagascar, picked up by famous rock band Mage 4 on their way to a concert in Tamatave. Went to their concert and rocked out to their cover of “The Final Countdown,” then hung out with the band at a private table!

Teach, Learn, Share

Software for translators, Wordfast.

Language learning strategies.

I can also give you insights into:
- Public speaking, debating, parliamentary procedures
- Leadership and motivation
- Time and project management
- Entrepreneurship and networking
- Mind-mapping
- Coaching

I enjoy teaching so ask and you shall receive!

I would love to learn magic tricks, to speak Brazilian Portuguese, and your grandparents’ best recipes.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I like to cook for my hosts or take them out to dinner. If they are interested in anything translation-related, I have plenty of experience to share.
As far as travel stories, I've got lots of 'em.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, France, Germany, Martinique, United States, Viet Nam

• 

•