about

I was born and raised in the city of Ribeirão Pires, in the state of São Paulo.

All my relatives, including my parents and two siblings, a younger sister and brother, live in São Paulo.

Additionally, I have several beloved nephews and nieces.

My mother is a resilient woman who has consistently provided care and support for our family. Her unwavering strength serves as an exemplary model for me.

I had been captivated by the idea of living abroad from a very young age. At thirteen, I took the initiative to send letters to schools overseas, aspiring to secure a scholarship. However, my efforts yielded no response.

Following my university years, I traveled to the U.S. as an international student and have resided abroad ever since. After two years of working in Tokyo, I relocated to New York City to start a new chapter in my life.

Thirteen years later, I moved to Florida, settling in the city of Aventura. At that time, my son was just three years old. The allure of the sunshine and warm climate proved irresistible, prompting my move.

Since my relocation, I have built a long and stable career in real estate. 

I have been working for the same real estate firm for ten years. I am proud to work with incredible people and to have built friendships with several customers.
Additionally, I am a Zumba instructor, and now it seems I am also a writer!

From left to right: Tibby, Mimi and Francesca.

Mimi has just turned seventeen years old. He was adopted from a shelter in New York City. His sister, Zoe, passed away in February of 2020. Mimi is a little deaf and can't see very well. Due to his old age, he dislikes playing or socializing, so Francesca constantly gets upset with him as she feels ignored.

Tibby was adopted from a friend in 2020, four months after Zoe's passing. He is fearless, vigilant, and intelligent. Interestingly, Tibby only eats his meals after the other two start having theirs. He never engages in conflicts, and he does not like to socialize much.

Francesca, our little princess, was a surprise addition to our family. My son found her on the street a month before my trip to India. Despite the unexpected circumstances, I couldn't resist her charm. Francesca loves to stir up the boys with her demanding and bossy nature. Her sassy personality is a constant source of amusement and love in our home.

Food: I love to explore different cuisines and dishes, but I don't eat eggs or drink milk, and I dislike jackfruit. 

The weirdest thing I had eaten was raw horse and raw chicken meat. What was I thinking?!

My favorite dishes are shabu-shabu, sea urchins, and Indian curries.

Activities: I rarely watch TV. I love taking Zumba classes and watching videos of old Brazilian soap operas.

Time with my son: since he is a teenager and prefers to spend his free time with friends, I cherish the moments I spend with him while driving him back and forth to basketball practices and games. He is a wonderful young man; I only wish he would enjoy school as much as basketball. I know I can't have it all.

Other hobbies: spending time with friends and family, traveling whenever possible, cooking, reading and writing.

I wanted to write the book in English for several reasons. One reason was to accomplish what I always believed to be impossible: to write a story not in my native language. 

Second, after experiencing such a remarkable journey during those months, I never expected to gain insights that would profoundly change my life, altering my perspective and influencing how I approach various aspects of life.

Third, many of us may occasionally feel hopeless about finding happiness, the meaning of life, or peace within. While we all strive to do our best, it's important to remember to pause and consider that anything could be possible or better. 

I wrote this book because I believed my insights could potentially impact some people or perhaps bring warmth to their hearts. Even if no one can relate to my story, I hope it can at least enrich your time spent reading it. Ultimately, I feel accomplished and happy to have completed a task I once thought was impossible. If I could succeed in writing in another language and bring about changes in my life, then you definitely can too.