Well, I don't really have much to say about myself: I'm Fernando, co-founder and director at Taioba & Co., bibliophile and food lover. I currently live with my parents, after having lived by myself for some years; I plan to move back to Belo Horizonte soon, as long as I find a place that has a nice kitchen (one has to keep cooking) and space where I can keep my 3 dogs (Fidel, Cássia and Morena).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I just love the whole idea behind this community: people save money and meet other people! What's better than keeping in touch with folks from all over the world? I love hosting and surfing people's couches, even though I haven't really done any of those lately (for the past two years, I've been working a little too much). HOWEVER, I'm looking forward to rediscovering this incredible community.

I guess I just want to meet people, share books/quotes and recipes, and learn/teach as much as I can.

Interests

Whoa, this one may be difficult.

I love my four dogs: Fidel and Shantala (golden retrievers), Cássia (labrador) and Morena (Australian Cattle Dog); they are my best source of fun and companionship; Dog-related? I'll like it! Besides, my parents have two lovely mutts (Nikita and Valeska) - which I have basically adopted as my own.

I also cook. [Yep. Every day.] From bread to fancier stuff, nothing makes me feel better than hitting the kitchen and making good food. Sharing recipes is maybe one of my favorite things about CS. I've got a lot of pots and pans that are just waiting to be used.

Books. [Many of them.] I am a voracious reader and try to keep up with my favorite authors and genres. García Márquez, Saramago and Faulkner are timeless masters. Brazilian genius Manoel de Barros is the best poet of all time. In literature, Latin America is the place where dreams come from.

I also run a startup company that believes everyone should know where their food comes from; I grow some veggies and herbs and collect some cookbooks, then.

• dogs
• books
• literature
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• running
• socializing
• cycling
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

I am really eclectic; can't really choose one kind of music. I guess MPB (that's Música Popular Brasileira, or Brazilian Popular Music) is what I listen to the most; I also love Radiohead and The Beatles. Plus, I love discovering new stuff. Isn't Hozier great? How about Ray LaMontagne? [Damn, I love that guy.]

I own a few DVDs and BluRay Discs; favorite movies off all time? The Godfather, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, A Single Man, Scarface, Volver, Manhattan, Into the Wild, El Secreto de Tus Ojos, The Lives of Others, Incendies...

BOOKS! I love García Márquez, Saramago, Toni Morrison, Mia Couto, Eduardo Galeano, Manoel de Barros, Virginia Woolf, Faulkner, Llosa, Coetzee, Borges, Vonnegut, Orwell, Amado and Whitman. I try to read as much as I can and will love to get suggestions from couchsurfers and hosts.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I quit everything and started my own company: Taioba and Co. is hot off the blueprints.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know how to cook and could teach that to anyone who also enjoys food. Also, I have taught English and Literature - I guess I can also teach some Portuguese, right? :D

I really need to practice my Spanish. I guess I have forgotten everything I once knew. D:

What I Can Share with Hosts

Meals, books, plants, some running tips, my bike and my dogs! (:

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