Hi, everyone! I’m Nathan, and I’m from Long Beach, California, just outside of Los Angeles. I’m a junior at U.C. Berkeley, where I study Business Administration and City & Regional Planning. Basically, I’m interested in how cities are built, how people use them and what makes them work. My family is originally from Guatemala and Mexico, so food, community and culture have always been a big part of my life.
I have an older brother, a younger sister and a dog named Bruno who’s basically part of the family, too. Family means a lot to me.
I came to Rio de Janeiro because I wanted to experience a completely different city, learn Portuguese, and I wanted to see how another country approaches architecture and urban planning. Rio has been the perfect place for that, because between the beaches, mountains and neighborhoods, there’s always something new to explore.
Outside of class, I’ve started surfing. I'm still wiping out a lot, but I'm improving. I also play tennis at a local club in Laranjeiras, right underneath the Christ the Redeemer Statue! Since tacos are my favorite food, I’ve been loving trying Brazilian foods.
