CURRENT MISSION:

Just make friends and be happy!

ABOUT ME:

I've joined CS when I started to think about visiting France, on October 2004. I thought at first that it would be a nice way of travel spending few money and maybe knowing new people. But rapidly I saw I was TOTALLY, COMPLETELY wrong. CS IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. On my first day I got a welcome message from a CSer that I've never met, who also registered me in my city group. From there I started knowing several very nice, polite, friendly, happy and lovely people from all over the world, and making new (and really good) friends.

Today I try to be the most active as I can, getting in touch with CSers from where I live and from other places, hosting whenever I can and respecting the best practices to keep CS safe and growing. Today I consider myself a pretty active member of Couch Surfing in Rio de Janeiro. Actually I act like a preacher!

PHILOSOPHY:

Sometimes it is hard to introduce yourself because you know yourself so well that you do not know where to start with. Let me give a try to see what kind of image you have about me through my self-description. I hope that my impression about myself and your impression about me are not so different. Here it goes... I am a person who is positive about every aspect of life. There are many things I love to do, to see, and to experience. I love my girlfriend Rebecca and my family. I love make Friends, travel and know other cultures. I love animals and I love to live with respect for all living creatures. I love science and documentary channels on TV. I love to read, I love to write; I love to think, I love to dream; I love to talk, I love to listen. I love to get my Harley Davidson and traveling with my lovely Backy on a good road and without a certain destination. I love to see the stars. I love to feel the music flowing on my face, I love to smell the wind coming from the ocean and I love swimming there. I love to look at the clouds in the sky with a blank mind, I love to do thought experiment when I cannot sleep in the middle of the night. I love to sleep late, I love to get up early. I love to be alone, I love to be surrounded by Friends. I love Rio de Janeiro; I love Coke, good wines, delicious food and comfortable shoes; I love good books and action movies. I love the land and the nature. And, I love to laugh.

I always wanted to be a great writer, like Richard Dawkins who wrote "The Greatest Show on Earth", or like Charles Darwin who wrote "The Origin of the Species" and changed the world. I also wanted to be a great psychologist, llike William James or Sigmund Freud, who could read peoples mind. Or a great scientist like Steven Pinker, Stephen Hawkins, Carl Sagan, Daniel Dennett... Of course, I am nowhere close to these people, yet. I am just someone who does some teaching, some research, and some writing. But my dream is still alive... We believe respect to the next one is the basic and most important rule to live together.

My personal philosophy?
1 - Follow the three res. Respect for self, Respect for others and all living beings, and Responsibility for all your actions.
2 - Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
3 - When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

ATTENTION!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! READ MY ENTIRE PROFILE (INCLUDING REFERENCES) BEFORE SENDING ME A REQUEST. AND PLEASE, USE THE COUCH REQUEST BUTTON, OK? TKS!

How to write a good couch request (my version):

- You should have a complete profile + pictures:

Please spend the time to work on a very detailed personal profile and be verified. To me, personally, this shows you are committed to the CS project and understand that it isn't about a free couch, but it is about being mutually respectful, teaching, and learning from one another!

I strongly encourage all members to put some decent time in having a nice, complete profile. You are a part of this community, it wouldn't exist without people like you, so stand up and be proud, and show it in your profile!

AGAIN: Try to fill out your profile before sending requests for accommodation. At least put up a few pictures of yourself and your life and take 5 minutes to write a few lines about who you are and what you're all about. You could be the most fascinating person in the world but if you don't put a little time into your profile nobody will know this!

So, how to get my Couch?

- Again: Read our (whole) profile first.

- Tell why you want to stay with me, talk about yourself!!

- Make sure you make it personal, I can spot a copy/paste request from miles away:!!

- Be creative, if you can.

YOUR COPY/PASTE REQUEST = COPY/PASTE REPLY: "NO, SORRY!"

I'm not a big fan of last minute requests as it doesn't provide any time to prepare. But sometimes it just happens that way. If it feels okay and I have time and space then we will try to accommodate you.

If you want to come and stay with me, live in my house and share my world, then I expect you to have at least read through our profile and to know who I am. The purpose of CS is "To internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding." So, CS IS NOT FREE ACOMODATION!!!

CS is all about making connections worldwide, it is all about establishing relationships between likeminded people across the world, it is all about improving cultural understanding and developing lasting friendships. It is most definitely 'not' about finding a free hostel for the night!

I expect you to both understand and promote these principles. Your message to me should clearly reflect these ideals and illustrate precisely why you think I should accept you into my home.

I try to reply to every message I receive, be it a couch request, a request for information or just establishing a point of contact. If you get no response then I am most probably away, either travelling or working or just relaxing at my other home. Don't take it personally. I'm just not here

VERY IMPORTANT: YOU MUST LOVE PETS! I HAVE 2 CATS AND LOVE THEM TOO MUCH!!! IF YOU MISTREAT ANY ONE OF THEM, I WILL MISTREAT YOU AND ASSURE YOU THAT THE DAMAGE I WILL CAUSE YOU WILL BE MUCH MORE. THEN YOU'RE WARNED!

"Nareba" and "Boris" like visitors a lot, and you should like them a lot also if you want to be happy at our home: If you don't want them to enter your room, just close the door. If you don't they want they will share your bed, jump over you, will expect to try your food and probably climb on you all the time, and all those things most pets do. And we will not do anything. I'll just be seeing and having fun with it. You are warned!

Please note: I would like to know, before hosting you, that you have no problem about the pets and that you've read our entire profile before asking. So if you include in your message the phrase "I like sleeping with a cat on top of my face" I will know both!

I work a lot (weekdays and sometimes in weekends also!), however if we have time, We'll be delighted to show you around (I tend to get up just before 6AM, so don't expect me normally to go to bed late).

I love guests (I've hosted over 1.000 people), you will always feel welcome. But I can't accept all requests, so don't be offended if I am unavailable :) Sometimes I host some friends from other cities, some times I travel to work... So I can't say my couch is always available. Sorry.

When asking to stay remember: Two weeks beforehand is a better time to ask.

CS QUESTIONS:

1 - What part of town do you live in?

Santa Teresa: one of the most famous neighborhoods in the city, known for cultural vocation and intense nightlife

2 - How many people live with you?

Just me and 2 cats.

3 - What is your couch/floor/bed like?

A sofa (which becomes a double bed) and shelves for accommodation of belongings.

4 - Do you have pets?

YES!!! AND I TELL YOU AGAIN: WE LOVE THEM TOO MUCH!!! THEY ARE PART OF THE FAMILY!!!

5 - Do you smoke?

No, no, no!!! I don't smoke, and hate cigarette smoke. It's not i'm being annoying. I just can't breath. If you not smoke is much better to us!

6 - What fun things to do are there around where you live?

Rio it's fun all the time, 365 days/year! With the most beautifull beaches, touristic places and people in Brazil. But you already know that, as you have certainly researched a lot about the city before coming. When you arrive I can give you some more personalized tips.

7 - Local landmarks?

Yes!!!

Rio: Pao-de-Acucar, Cristo Redentor, all the beaches, historical places and buildings in downtown, millions of night clubs...

8 - Public transportation?

A lot!!! Public transportation is pretty easy, good and relatively cheap. Contact me via CouchSurfing, and give me an idea of when you might come, and if you need to be picked up at the airport or bus station.

9 - Can you show people around? Or, are you busy working?

I work a lot (weekdays and sometimes in weekends also!), however if I have time, I'll be delighted to show you around (I tend to get up just before 6AM, so don't expect me normally to go to bed late). If not, we have friends that can do this to us.

10 - Do you prefer to go to bed early or late?

Not so early, not so late... (except in weekends) I work hard during all the week. I use to leave home at 5:30am and be back around 9:00pm. During the week, due to my work, I try not going out, at least not to be there until late. I usually sleep around 11pm. On weekends I forget the clock and usually go out meeting friends, and of course I can take guests with me. :-)

11 - Best times that you can host? Weekdays? Weekends?

In weekends is more easy to get to know more places, to walk and have fun!

12 - Do you have blankets?

We have sheets, towels, pillows and blankets. A lot!

13 - How many days is too many?

That depends on the plans I have already made and my work. I don't know how many days are too many. It depends on each person, and how good is the friendship and energy between us. So, just ask!

14 - Rules:

- Be respectful and gentle!

- AGAIN: YOU MUST LOVE CATS! And respect all living beings. Inside and outside my home!

- I don't smoke, and hate cigarette smoke. It's not i'm being annoying. I just can't breath. If you not smoke is better to us.

- I don't use drugs, but I don't care if you smoke pot on my roof. Almost all my friends smoke here at home. Cocaine or other hard drugs don't even think about it!

- I accept CouchSurfer's of all ages, religions, races, genders, sexual orientations and backgrounds. I expect a respectful CouchSurfer who in turn accepts everyone for who they are.

So, if you have come this far, understood and agree with my rules, there is a huge chance that I will host you. So come on! Show me that you are able to make a memorable Couch Request!

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

* Being Friend!
* Hosting a lot! (but with quality...)
* Volunteer
* Event Organizer
* Group Moderator
* Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Ambassador
* Leader Teams
* New Ambs Mentoring
* New Member Welcommer
* Portuguese Translation Group

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I joined the project in 2004 and my first activity was a host some wonderful CS friends, and since then I didn't stop participating anymore.

Interests

Visit more places, know other cultures and make new friends!!

• animals
• writing
• books
• documentaries
• dining
• movies
• tv
• traveling
• music
• surfing
• swimming
• business
• languages
• psychology
• science
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Blues, Rock, Jazz, Classic and Rock again!!!
Books: C. Darwin, Richard Dawkins, Nietzsche, Daniel Dennett, Carl Sagan, Schopenhauer, S. Hawking, James Trefil, Martin Gardner, B.F. Skinner, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris...
If you dont realize yet, i'm evolutionist and atheist.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Be a father.

Teach, Learn, Share

My skills: Logistics and Business, Cultural and Music Producer.

Countries I’ve Visited

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, France, Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, England, Portugal, United States

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