I studied foreign languages
since I was a child in Brazil, not only for being the product of a
multi-cultural heritage, but also because I wanted to travel and deeply experience
different cultures by communicating effectively with the local population.  I studied Latin and learned how to speak,
read and write in French, English, Spanish and Italian and I could manage German.
  While in my country, I talked to
whomever spoke those languages as added practice -which later were used in my
travels.

I received my BA in Foreign Languages
and Methodologies and taught Portuguese and French in High Schools and
Colleges. Before I came to the US for my post graduate degree, I spent some
time in the Amazon and was introduced to the Tupi language in some of its
dialects. While working on my certification, taught ESL, Spanish, French and
Portuguese, while having a chance to being exposed to Canadian French and
English. By the time I received my Masters in Linguistics, I had been
introduced to 150+ languages and had learned some Russian and Arabic.  My graduate work in International Relations took
me to translating free-lance in French/English/Portuguese/Spanish in the areas
of politics, marketing and finance and doing simultaneous translation in these
areas.  Taught ESL, English writing and
Portuguese at the University.  Back to
Brazil for a while, worked as a translator for a Business school, shortly before
moving to Jamaica for a diplomatic assignment with the OAS, again working with foreign
languages in the diplomatic/political language training and doing simultaneous interpretation
for the Jamaican Government.  I had parallel
assignments to French and British Caribbean and a few Central American
Countries, so I became exposed to other variations of English French and Spanish.
After the OAS, went back to Brazil, again, and worked as French/Spanish/Portuguese/English
marketing interpreter/ translator for a Food and Beverage Company, followed by
another job as writer editor/translator/marketing/sales specialist for a
Publishing Company.

Was transferred to Dubai for
two years, and did similar work as both translator for Embassies and
educational and business institutions while improving my written and spoken
Arabic by teaching it.  Back in the US, did
more freelance translating work and get introduced to the cosmetic field.  A few years later, was back to the Middle East
and during the four following years, returned to teaching and translating -
this time in areas of Finance, trading, language basics and literature.  Traveled extensively to Southeast Asia,
North Africa, Russia and Europe and while using the languages as a cultural
tool – the way I had dreamed of growing up. Another year in Brazil took me to
medical and dental translations, and poetry through music translating. I have
been back in the US, since and kept on translating – and teaching for my 4-core
languages as first and second languages in colleges, universities and the public-school
system, while developing my own language/business consulting company – PIB –
Passport to International Business. 
Throughout the years, teaching and translating in my core languages in
the areas of marketing, advertising, finance, public relations, manufacturing,
travel industry, language and literature and music have become part of who I am
today. My studies of languages and their applications opened my horizons in
some many fields, so many cultures, so many opportunities.  Yet, there is so much more yet to experience…and
learn!