I was born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in Goiânia (Goiás state). I moved to the United States in 2000, living in Kansas for over a decade. I lived in Decorah, Iowa (one of the best small towns in Iowa, by some measures the whole country!) for six years after that. Now my family and I live in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. So, whether by chance or by choice, I am a Midwestern. My love for ranch dressing is 100% the Midwest's fault!
In my previous life I was a basketball player. In the last millennium I was a member of teams that placed 3rd in the U-17 and U-19 Brazilian tournaments and 2nd in the U-21 Brazilian tournament. Decades ago I played small-college ball at Baker University, where I ended my career with 1100 points. I still hold the record for career block shots. My older brother holds the other two records (game and season). Both records he holds I was behind him by one block shot, but who's counting? I was also an assistant coach at Baker during the 2009-2010 season, Coach Weaver's last season. I officially retired in 2011 in Brazil (with a relapse in 2013 also in Brazil). Iesplan/Planalto placed 2nd in the Center West Regional Championship (both in 2011 and 2013). Today I continue to follow the Brazilian basketball league, as a number of my former teammates and friends have become coaches.