hobbies

Writing has always been a passion of mine. Beyond academic papers, project proposals, and technical reports, I'm drawn to writing stories that explore connection, longing, and the quiet moments between people that often go unspoken. I love shaping emotions into words, capturing the tension of a glance or the warmth of a shared silence.

There's something deeply satisfying about finding just the right language to make a feeling vivid, intimate, and real. I usually write these pieces in my mother language, Portuguese, since expressing emotion demands a different kind of fluency and sensitivity to nuance. Sometimes I translate them into English, trying to preserve not just the narrative, but the feeling behind it.

‹

›

I’m an avid reader, especially drawn to romance and historical fiction. I’m particularly fond of Portuguese authors like Eça de Queirós, José Saramago, and António Lobo Antunes, as well as Brazilian writers like Machado de Assis and Graciliano Ramos. I also deeply enjoy Latin American literature, especially works by Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Isabel Allende.

‹

›

I'm fascinated by human behaviour, not as something shaped by the past, but as something directed toward a future we choose. I find Alfred Adler's teleological view deeply compelling: the idea that every action, every habit, every struggle is ultimately in service of a self-chosen goal, often unconscious. It reframes how I think about motivation, growth, and the courage it takes to change. That same thread runs through Robert Sapolsky's Behave, which traces the biological roots of why we act the way we do, and Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow, which reveals the hidden machinery behind the decisions we think we're making freely. Together, these books have reshaped the way I see both myself and the people around me.

‹

›

History has always felt personal to me. Growing up in Portugal, a country whose footprints stretch across continents and centuries, you absorb a sense of time that is hard to shake. I'm drawn to the grand sweep of it: the Age of Discoveries, the rise and fall of empires, the quiet moments when ordinary people changed the course of events. But above all, it is the history of Portugal that captivates me most: from the founding of a kingdom on the edge of the known world, through the daring voyages of Vasco da Gama and Fernão de Magalhães, to the long shadow of the Estado Novo and the liberation of the Carnation Revolution. It is a story of extraordinary ambition and quiet resilience, and it never gets old.

‹

›

Cooking is where I find both creativity and mindfulness. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, especially exploring Portuguese cuisine and the flavors of the many places I've visited. There's real joy in sharing a good meal with family and friends, and I find the process of cooking from scratch genuinely meditative.

‹

›

For me, eating is just as much of an adventure as cooking. I love exploring new restaurants, tasting different cuisines, and discovering dishes that tell a story. Whether it's a comforting hometown classic, an innovative creation, or a memorable meal from my travels, here are some of my favorite plates.

‹

›

Travel has been a constant companion throughout my life: from growing up in Ponte de Lima, Portugal, to living and working across Europe and now the United States. I love immersing myself in new cultures, discovering local food and history, and meeting new people. Every place has a story to tell.

‹

›

Music is part of my daily life. Whether it's the backdrop to a long work session or the main event on a quiet evening, music is always there. I enjoy a wide range of styles, from classical and jazz to contemporary and folk. Music, like good science, has the power to move you in ways that are hard to articulate but impossible to ignore.

Portuguese/Fado

‹

›

Brazilian

‹

›

Metal

‹

›

International Pop/Rock

‹

›

Electronic/EDM

‹

›