CURRENT MISSION

To explore, by bike, the southwestern regions of Brazil and along its borders with Argentine, Paraguay and Uruagry while exchanging information with fellow explorers.

ABOUT ME

Just a simple kind of guy: at times stubborn, laughable, self-centered, happy-go-around, playful, cheerful most of the time; just human, subject to mistakes. Dual American-Brazilian citizen, I have lived in Brazil for the past 30 years. I have found a peace of mind in this part of the world. Happiness has meant making sacrifices, leaving my native backyard of San Francisco where I was born and raised. South America has given me a whole new perspective into this complex world. Tranquility. Peace. Free-time. Quality of life. Self-assurance. There must be something in the tropical air, the Brazilian culture, the people, their behavior, the sun, the music, the fine cuisine: feijoda with mangoes, papayas, and wonderfully fresh sea food -- that continues to subdue me here. I am happy and at peace here like at no other time in my life. It's a good feeling. That is my world in synthesis.

PHILOSOPHY

If it works, don't fuck with it!

What goes around comes around.

Perseverance. Patience with mankind. Peace. Tolerance.
Helping those help themselves. Kindness. In the Nursing field it is humanization of treatment that is the rule of thumb.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I would like to participate in the form of receiving people into my life here in Brazil, specifically, here in Belo Horizonte, in the southeast state of Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte isn't the number one tourist destination for most.

I've been a helper, a mover, a motivator for most of my life. I enjoy teaching English and Portuguese. I am a native English speaker and speak and write fluently Portuguese. I could also contribute in the area of health education in vulnerable, at-risk communities, where health and sanitation conditions are precarious. Finally, I consider myself a professional photographer, with a strong interest in black 'n white format. Today, I use digital photography, as it is difficult to purchase negative film.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

All my experiences with hosts have been unforgetable. One notable experience was surfing with Daniel Curé who lives in Valparaiso, Chile. Prior to arriving to his modest home, I made my way there peddaling my mountain bike a little more than 80 km from the Santiago International Airport. CS host Daniel is a devoted, 24-hour Pink Floyd fanatic. We spend the night drinking and listenting to Pink Floyd tunes many of which he played along to with his guitar.

Interests

It’s been a never ending search to understand why we exist in this complex world. I enjoy conducting research in the field of continued studies of child development in impoverished areas of Brazil; Outdoors: definitely traveling around on a bicycle. I try to rent one where ever I travel or bring my own bike; camping is another activity I enjoy. I like to be out with nature; Cuisine: I enjoy the aromas, tastes and colors of the foods I prepare. In my other life, I was a chef at a famous international restaurant. I must have been, for I definitely enjoy the art of cooking, and it IS an art. Going out to the market and purchasing the fresh ingredients for my planned feast is just half the fun. Preparing the meal and sharing it with others is the other half of the enjoyment of the culinary world. I found cooking with fresh herbs and veggies elevates ones perception of the taste of foods, combined with an appropriate and finely aged wine. It doesn't get any better. Finally, I enjoy being around funny people. I enjoy a good laugh, as laughing is good for one's health. It's scientifically proven!;) http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/wp-content/uploads//2008/08/laughing_horse.jpg

• arts
• culture
• books
• photography
• coloring
• education
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• walking
• news
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• camping
• surfing
• teaching
• history
• nursing
• playing tenor saxophone
• restoring antique cars

Music, Movies, and Books

"The Company", "The Insider", “Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets”, "Babe: Pig in the City", "Gone with the Wind", "Clock Work Orange", "Being John Malkovich", "Wonder Boys", "Requiem for a Dream", War of The Worlds", "Forrest Gump ", "The Incredibles ", "The Exorcist (1973) ", "Jaws (1975)". "The Sting (1973)", "The Godfather (1972)", "Grease (1978), "House", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), "Braking Bad", "American Graffiti (1973)", "The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)", "The Blob" (http://iconsoffright.com/news/blobremake.jpg), "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)"; "No Country for Old Men"; Documentaries: All the films by Micheal Moore. The latest: "Capitalism: America's Love Story."
The complete collection of Victory Canning; And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts; Mark Twain; 1876 by Gore Vidal; The compete works by Jorge Amado; The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre; Works by Luis Fernando Verissimo; as well as the works of James, Hardy, Tolsty, D Brown, Koontz and many, many more. Music: Jazz, Jazz, Jazz; Bossa Nova, Classical music and Classical Opera; some forms of electronic music; Samba - I love to dance to the sound of Samba and Salsa!; Cold Play, every song! Bob Dilan! Pink Floyd of course and many other favorites.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I participated in a Trans American expedition during 8 months with 5 Brits beginning in Panamá and ending in Brazil throughout 1990. It was very exciting discovering the Darien National Park, located in the south of Panamá. During our eight-month trek, traveling by planes, trains and automobiles, and a lot of walking, we traveled through Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and finishing the last leg in Brazil. That was a blast, and an experience that forever changed my life.
Another amazing experience was just after waking up on a Wednesday (8 November 1989) to the live CNN footage of the Berlin Wall being dismantled by East and West Germans alike. It was so exciting to see the event. So much so, that I caught a plan, that afternoon, to Berlin to take part in that historic occasion. I took wonderful black and white shots of people from all walks of life as they were picking away at the concrete Wall with hammers and chisels, sledge hammers and just about anything they could get their hands on to chip away at it. I'll never forget the moment when I saw a young child as he was scratching away at the Wall with a spoon trying to imitate his father who was hammering away with a 10 Kg sledge hammer! President Reagan once said "President Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!" in a speech to Berliners alongside the despised "Wall". That was one for the history books for sure.
Another: 25 December 1989. Panamá City, Panamá.
It was early Monday morning, 25 December of 1989. I had arrived into Panamá City to meet up with five young British guys as part of an eight month Trans-American expedition. We were housed in a cheap, five-story apartment about 400 meters from the local airport (small, mono motor planes). I slept badly that night. It was so hot and humid. Our noisy air conditioner couldn't cool our apartment enough. After waking up just before 6 a.m., I walked out onto the small back veranda, which had a view of the airport. I didn't have my glasses on and could barely make out small blurry green human figures walking around the runway. Strange, I thought to myself. I grabbed my glasses from the top of the coffee table in the small living room. What I saw made me feel as though I was viewing my first scary film. There were soldiers all over the runway. They were American soldiers on Panamanian soil! "What in God's name was going on?" I said to myself. I woke up the rest of guys. We turned on our portable radio that had a broken antenna. We heard the news flash in Spanish: "American military forces invade Panamá in an attempt to ouster President Manuel Antonio Noriega”, AKA Pineapple Head. It was then that I realized that we were witnessing history in the making in Panamá.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy teaching people to help themselves. I consider myself a very good logistic person. I enjoy planning and teaching others how to get organized and to plan for travel even if it involves a day trip. I love planning: the details of what is needed and not needed to take a trip. Photography. I am a great photographer. Black n' White, Color -- I like both; each one can evoke such strong responses. I enjoy helping people decipher the mysteries of using a digital camera. It is such a good feeling assisting people to take the best pics possible during their travels.
English. I have taught English in the past as a native. I think it's awfully important to communicate.
Nursing. I'm a registered Nurse. I work in Public Health, specifically in child and adolescent health. The health prevention field is one that I really enjoying working in.
What I want to learn? I desire to learn and experience new cultures from real natives. I want to understand other peoples' cultures and perspectives.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A queen-sized bed with sheets and pillows in a private room with a bathroom.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, United States, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, United States

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