I started learning English as a child, in 1966, then lived in the United States as an exchange student for six months in 1974. I have a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, but most of my life I have worked as an English teacher and a translator and interpreter in English to Portuguese and Portuguese to English. In 1980 I began a German course at the Goethe-Institut in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil), where I live, which I interrupted to spend two years (1982/1983) in New York City, working at a film and video production company. Back home in 1984, I resumed my German course and got a scholarship as "Best Student" for a two-month course at the Goethe-Institut Berlin. I ended up staying there for eight more months, from January ´85 through November ´85. After returning to Salvador, I started working also as a Portuguese/German/Portuguese translator and interpreter.

I am married to an American who is a teacher of English as well. Having a native speaker around is really helpful!

I have also worked as a videomaker and videofestival producer, and have written a book of short stories that is ready to be published.