My reasons for not watching World Cup 2014 games

Dear teh mEEz,

I know none of us is a huge football fan, but sometimes watching games with friends is always fun. I also like the opening ceremonies, with all the beautiful performances and stuff. However this year, I don't have a good feeling about the games. Here are my reasons:

1- Brazil is the country with the highest rate of child prostitution in the Latin America and the main destination for sex tourism in the Region. I am pretty sure the World Cup, with an estimated number of half a million international football fans flowing there is not gonna help the situation. In fact the games are likely to increase the number of people who would tend to use sexual services "offered" by these little girls and boys, who are in some cases as young as 8 years old.
I know you might think that I am being emotional and am referring to non credible sources, but I actually read an academic paper on the topic while writing my thesis. The living condition of these kids is sickeningly sad.
Now I am by no means an economy expert, but I personally believe that instead of spending 14 billion Dollars in preparation for the World Cup, the Brazilian government could invest in poverty eradication programs and capacity building within the vulnerable families who send their kids off to work on the streets, law enforcement training on the topic, crime control programs, basic education, family planning,... and the list goes on.

2- Many Brazilians are against the games. As far as I have learned, there has been quite some economic pressure on people in the past year or two, especially after the adjustments made in the infrastructure in order to suit them to the international standards for hosting the games. People's protests have led to many arrests and incidents of police brutality. It is annoying that instead of spending the money on subsidizing education and healthcare the government has actually raised such costs in the past year, preferring the "glory" of hosting the Cup over the "actual" needs of its people.

3- World Cup should aim at bringing nations closer together. What is the point of all the hassle if it is only gonna result in more gain for the economic cartels and deepening the currently existing gap?

So these are my main reasons. Of course I would never despise anyone for choosing to watch the games, it is simply my personal choice. I won't be able to keep out of my mind the image of those innocent little glue-sniffing kids in Brazil who will be lost in the shadows of the  huge stadiums every time I turn on the TV to watch a football match. 

                                                                                                                 XOXO
                                                                                                             Nana Pomzy

Our ultimate list of travel destinations

Dear Teh mEEz,

I have been thinking of the places I'd love to visit with you a lot. We might have visited see of them separately before, but nevertheless I'd love to see them with you. Feel free to add your favorite destinations. (The list will be updated over time and there is no order of preference!)

1- Santorini: I love the idea of spending a spring break here with you, with a lot of Greek food and wine, swimming and sun and of course Greek music! OPA!

2- Puerta Vallarta: So many amazing things at the same time. Seeing little Santiago for the first time, then spending time on different fabulous beach resorts. It is just another world!

3- Southern Sweden and Denmark: Great destination for a mid-summer break. I'd love to experience Scandinavian summer. I imagine it with a lot of berries and walking barefoot on the grass under a weak sun. However I have a sneaking suspicion I might be wrong!!

6- Berlin: I would love us to explore the European capital of alternatives together. Long walks and visiting the historical attractions, seeing the remains of the wall, and spending all night out drinking German beer and experiencing the city vibe. 

7- Iceland: I know it might sound crazy, but then again I Am crazy! ;)  I'd love to explore the unique nature of the country, go hiking, cycling, and taste the foods. I have seen TV show on the Icelandic cuisine, which got me curious!  

8- Tenerife: Again the nature. The nature parks, the water park, sun and sea and of course the fabulous architecture! We should plan the trip for either the carnival time in March, or the Santa Cruz festival in May.

 

9-Wadden sea islands: This is a fabulous choice for a weekend, or even for a calm and easy summer break. I'd love to cycle around the island and take long barefoot walks on the beach with you. I'd also love to pick berries, eat them right away and then lick my red-all-over fingers!  These islands are really something for us: they have been mentioned as environmental jewels after all! 

(to be continued)

Just because...

Dear teh mEEz,

Next time we see each other, I am gonna hug and kiss you like this:

I just miss you so much...
                                                                                                         xoxo
                                                                                                   Nana Pomzy

Our Routines

Dear Nana,

Our routines determine how we look and feel. So, from the beginning onwards, we will not sneak into a lazy or unhealthy routine! Instead, we will put some time and effort into creating our own healthy and happy routine! One week with a bad routine in foodies and sports won't make you unhappy or unhealthy, one good week wont make you happy or healthy either, so it is only routine that counts.

 So, I was thinking, we should reserve some evenings for sports, and in the weekend, on Sunday, we will also do some sports, either a long walk, jogging, cycling or the gym.

Also, on Saturday morning we'll plan our foodies of next week, and do some major groceries. Ofcourse we will use the blackboard for it! When we get the right stuff for our routines, we can make our routines fun! I now have this great leather gym bag, which makes it cooler to go to the gym!

Also, Sunday is for relaxing together and charging our batteries for the next week. 

I was thinking Friday evening we should make sure to do stuff with our own friends, so you can go and do fun things with your new expat friends or Dutchzy friends, and Ill have a drink with some dude friends and do dudy stuff!

I also have this idea of organizing the house in such a way that it reflects our routines. So, we dedicate a corner to Sports, where we organize our sporting gear. Another corner will be foodies shopping, which is the blackboard! I would like to have a very nice relaxing bed, which will be for sleeping and relaxing together. We should create the bedroom in a very relaxing atmosphere. We should not read complex books in there or play with our smartphones. We should associate the bedroom with just relaxing and chatting.

So, this post is about our routines! Next tym Ill write about sports we can do!

Kisses, 

teh meeEeezzz

Weekly menu planning

Dear teh mEEz,

We have been lazy in updating the blog, but I am sort of planning to be more active. Anyhow, one think I thought of, is a small chalkboard for our kitchen.

I'd love it to be:

1- Framed, preferably in an old style frame.

2- Big enough for the weekly menu and the ingredients we need to shop for (in a small handwriting!!), like this:

Monday: Cous-cous and Tofu (Tofu+pickles)

Tuesday: Cesar salad (lettuce+ chicken breast)

If you think it's gonna be too big, we can just go for the weekly menu. :)

3- I guess it would be a great DIY project for you. See here for a nice example. However I sort of like the frame to look more oldie, like this one (but definitely NOT in black):

 Or this:

Every Saturday morning after breakfast we will write down a menu together, and we do the shopping right after, unless if it is vegetables or other thingies we should buy fresh.

Well, that is it for now...

xoxo
Nana Pomzy

Making our future home a cool place to be

Dear Nana Pomzy,

Our future home will be a cool place to hang out! On this website I saw some great ideas. Most of them are too expensive or difficult to create, but others are doable for us! Some of them I added here as pictures. I can do a lot myself because I have tools and I downloaded some do it yourself manuals on working with wood and storage creation.

Also we should definately work with design wallpaper. in the living room all the walls except one should be white. One wall should have arty wallpaper, be it an art work or a theme from nature.

Kisses, teh meez

Butterflies in the snow

Dear teh meez,

We haven't updated here for quite some time! So this is gonna be our first post ever as an engaged couple.

Deep down inside I knew we will never let go of each other, but nevertheless the moment you popped the question I got a million butterflies. I even think some of them secretly flew off my chest and started dancing over the snow covered mountains. :)

I have legally been a grown up for over a decade, but having our own little family makes me feel more like a real grown up. 

I cannot believe how much we have both evolved in the past 3 years. I have become a much better person and I should thank you for that, for not being judgmental and being supportive of me in doing all sorts of stupid little things that have made me happy and led me to be the woman I am now, at 2:12 PM of January 28th, 2014.

I love you puppy, that is all. Boyfriend, fiancé or whatever, you are my one and only. 

XOXO
Nana Pomzy

PS. Maybe sometime we should write the story of how we met here, about the two many lucky accidents that brought us together...

Image source: colormehappy