Biography

My name is Diego and I was born in Brazil, in a countryside city of Minas Gerais named Governador Valadares. I first went the United States when I was around six years old. I attended from first to fifth grade of elementary school there. My family and I had a normal life in the US. It was a great experience for all of us, but at the same time kind of confusing when we returned to Brazil. I had a hard time adapting to the country that I was born in and had been away for so long. But since I was still young I ended up getting used to it again.

After a few years living in Brazil my father had the idea to send me to visit Europe, Italy and UK to be exact. If I remember well, that same year I returned to Brazil and went to the US for the second time. I lived on Martha’s Vineyard for almost the two years and a half I stayed there, but in the winter time I would travel. I visited Florida the first year. The following year I visited NYC, then flew to California, afterwards I went cross-country from California to Indiana and back. While I was in California I visited other states as well such as Wyoming, Montana and Arkansas. Of course I also went through Texas and Las Vegas.

The same year I returned to Brazil, I wanted to see my folks and live here again. Thanks to the English skills I obtained, I managed to become a teacher, worked with visas and even in an NGO called Christian Children’s Fund, which now is called Child Fund International. By working in their main office in Brazil I had the chance to travel to many places here in Brazil that I had not visited yet such as the Amazon and Fortaleza. I also made many special friends and contacts as well.

Today I am attending a tourism course in college and starting my very own business with tours and also working as an interpreter.

Diego Dutra

Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil 10/04/09