My nickname is Taino. I was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. I have been translating for friends and co-workers since I arrived in Puerto Rico at age ten. It made me very popular with the girls who did not understand the English language... Since then I have had the opportunity to translate and interpret for various professionals including lawyers and ministers. My grandfather used to say; “If a day goes by in which you don't learn something and help someone, you've wasted that day. Might as well not lived it." This has driven me to learn many skills in my life to include: Soldiering (23 years), Diesel/Automotive Mechanic, Industrial Mechanic, Safety Valve Repairman, an Associate Degree on Digital Electronics, Certified Truck Drivers Instructor, Fire Fighter Certification, Safety Coordinator/ Quality Assurance Inspector, Cabinet Builder, Front Desk Clerk, County Court Volunteer Mediator, and more. Some would say I'm a "Jack of all trades and master of none"; I say God gave me a very wise grandfather who ensured I opened my horizons beyond his... My hobbies include: Sailing, traveling, cooking, volunteer firefighter, woodworking and computer use.

Although I was born in New York, I have lived in Texas, Kentucky and North Carolina for extended periods and these areas have very distinct pronunciations’ which I've also acquired. Through the years I've had friends from many countries that speak different variations of Spanish. They have enriched my vocabulary with their localized versions of Spanish or Castilian. I say this because the "Spanish" spoken in the Americas is nothing near the Spanish spoken in Madrid, Spain.