Describe your personality and character: I’m very honest and straightforward. I am just now learning how to not tell the whole truth and omit the not so nice things that I think, and with that I mean that if you were to ask me if what I thought of your dress and I though it was ugly-before I would just say it was ugly, but now I’m learning to say things like “How do you feel in it? Are you comfortable?” and maybe suggest something else. But… I would rather give my honest opinion because that’s what I expect from other people. I would like to be told that I look bad or my work is wrong so I can correct it, rather than just staying bad. I see criticism as a way to grow as a person and a professional. I’m the best friend you can ever have-I’m loyal, faithful; I will stand by you no matter what. I would give my life to my true friends and family. I’m nice to everyone it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you look like or what your beliefs are. I always try to help people the way I can, from my friends to the homeless person on the street.
How do you think others would describe you? Nice, outgoing, a little intimidating.
What would you say is your strongest personal trait and why? Honesty, because these days it’s really hard to find people that are not afraid to say or do what they think is right.
What is your favorite sport? To practice is in-line skating, water-skiing, volleyball, soccer and I just started tennis. To watch is soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, gymnastics and figure skating.
Describe your own athletic ability/skills: I’m very coordinated and agile. I can play pretty much any sport. I might not be the best at it but I sure give a try at anything, giving 100% of myself.
What is your favorite type of music? Brazilian, Spanish, hip-hop, and pop.
Why is this your favorite type of music? It’s fun to dance to and there are great lyrics to sing along with.
Describe your own musical abilities/skills: I can’t sing in tune for the life of me but that doesn’t hold me back from singing my lungs out in the shower, in the car, or with my parrot. I never had the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument, but if I had I would have loved to learn how to play the transverse flute because it produces a very delicate, relaxing and romantic sound.
Describe any other special talents, skills, hobbies or interests you may have: I’m very creative, I’m always thinking outside the box. I don’t like the conventional way of things so I’m always looking for alternatives, even if I already made a decision, just to exercise my mind and have a plan B, C, or D if needed. As far as hobbies, I’m always searching for new ways to recycle, be nicer to the environment and with subtlety, make more people aware of their effect on our planet. I like to take my doges to the dog park. I enjoy being outdoors. My husband and I like to go water skiing and boating.
What is your favorite book? The Alchemist
Why? The Alchemist is my favorite book because this books shows why we humans “complicate” simple things. Had he listened to his dream, he would have found his treasure right where he was, but if he didn’t “complicate it”, he would have missed out on all of the wonderful experiences he had. It shows that at the end his dream led him to find two treasures: his life experiences and the one he dug up.
What is your favorite movie? P.S. I Love You
Why? I love to believe that the love that I share with my husband is as true and beautiful as the one in the movie. I cried the entire movie; it was so great that even though the man thought he was dying, he planned to help the woman with her pain of loosing him after his death. I don’t want to say much about the movie because I would like whoever is reading this to actually watch it. I like to watch movies that bring out good feelings-there are enough bad things going on in the world that when it comes to entertainment, I would rather see the good things in life.
Describe your own artistic abilities/skills: I’m very creative. I have great ideas but I cannot put them on paper-I need other people to draw them out for me.
Do you speak any foreign languages? Portuguese, Spanish
Have you had any unique travel experiences that you feel have helped shape your way of thinking and/or the way you live your life?
The first time I went back to Brazil after being in the U.S. for 7 years. While I was there, I saw and experienced many things that made me realize how fortunate I am and how much I had changed for the worst. My in-laws’ maids have to get up at 4am to take the bus to work in order to arrive at 8am, only leaving their job (which they say they are fortunate and happy to have) at 7pm, arriving back home at 11.30pm to do their home chores. As I arrived to my in-laws’, the maids who have been working with the family for over 20 years greeted me. As I extended my hand, they completely ignored it and gave me the strongest, warmest hug-I was shocked! I couldn’t believe that a person who I have never met would hug me like they missed me and knew me forever. Another incident happened when I was in a club and someone started talking to me even though I had told him that I was with my boyfriend (now husband). I asked my husband’s cousin if it was a friend of his and he said “No, why? Are you so special or important that no one can just talk to you?” These 2 incidents made me realize that I was distancing myself from others and I had learned with the culture that I was exposed to here in the U.S. It made me go back to my childhood and remember some of the things my mom had taught me. How I should be nice to everyone, how everyone has feelings, how to find the good in every person and every situation. The people in Brazil are very warm, friendly, and happy and I’m not using the cliché that says, “Brazilians are friendly, happy people.” Notice that I said PEOPLE in BRAZIL. It is the culture they are exposed to. Even though I have chosen to live in a different country with a different culture, I try to incorporate the Brazilian culture into my life as much as possible.
Have you had any unique educational experiences? Until the 5th grade I hated math and then Mr. Edson came along and taught math in a way that made sense to me. I have liked math ever since. I didn’t understand it then, but now I understand that we dislike things that we’re not good at and it is up to the teachers to find ways to make the subject more interesting to the students. I refer to the teacher not only academically, but to everyone that teaches anything to kids and teens. Instead of pointing out flaws, we should note and stimulate the things that kids are good at so that they will look forward to doing better in every aspect possible.
If you were given enough funds to spend one year of your life to engage in any recreational, political, religious/spiritual, or other endeavor of particular importance to you, what would you choose to do? I would go around the world, helping people in need and at the same time learn from different cultures because I like the way I feel when I help others.
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