hobbies
life beyond academia...
✍️ writing
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.
📚 reading
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.
🍳 cooking
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.
🍽️ eating
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
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
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
