Thank you for all the welcomes!

OK a bit more about me.

I have lived in Brazil now for almost a year now with my wife who is Brazilian. We met over in the UK during university. I came here hoping to continue my studies, but I am thoroughly enjoying teaching English (which was just a stepping-stone initially while I settled here) and have managed to get into a decent school here in Sao Paulo. I am having a great time here, especially as I am able to be with my other-half... I guess I thought being away from my past and with love around me my illness would go away. But it has been tearing up our relationship and my health (physical health included) and I finally took the step to get some help for it.

I was previously diagnosed with BP a few years back, but I never proceeded with the treatment as my episodes really get a hold of me (depressive I can barely get out of the house, and manic I thought I was feeling confident and OK).

I am a musician at heart, and this is my strongest skill (I am unable to remember peoples' names, but I can remember an entire symphony or album after listening a few times... weird yeah!?!?!). I hope once I get the BP under control I can get back into music recreationally. Basically, the only focus for me in a day is to find strength to plan and go to work, and to do the best job I can when I'm there... nothing else right now. Learning Portuguese is keeping me busy too, and it is a good thing to obsess about during my manic phases. I hope to start a blog soon to share my experience as a 'gringo' out here. It has been an exciting change for me.