(1) Introductory words

"In between the sky and the sea: stories of a post-doc experience," in my native Portuguese, "Entre o céu e o mar: registros de um pós-doc," is a personal initiative with the objective of keep tracking of this special moment in my life, and also sharing with special friends stories, feeelings, sensations, impressions, and so forth from home Brazil and faraway lands during a period of roughly one year. The whole "mess" began over a year ago when I submitted my post-doc project for a CAPES-Fulbright Scholarship Program to be held in any American university. Out of 12 recipients around the country, I was of them. For one entire year, I have been preparing myself and my dearest family for the experience. As I will be away from home, creating a new home, it is not easy to leave behind, even temporarily, your beloved wife and sons. But I am about to do it. And only God knows what awaits me between the sky and the sea in the distant state of Hawai'i, in the Pacific waters of the United States of America. I'll be leaving soon, but my heart already feels it is the time to look ahead and adjust the mind to the plans that are about to unfold. I'm excited, the day to leave is around the corner, but a lot has happened before I move on to board a plane that will initially take me to Miami, another to L. A., and, finally, a third one to Honolulu. Over 20 hours in the air. Join me in this adventure which has nothing to do with surfing or "radical" sports. It has to do, basically, with professional and personal development. Be my guest, if you will!!!